: The episode begins with the funeral of Theo Graves, where Sam (Zachary Quinto) collapses.

: Throughout the episodes, the hulking figure known as Big Daddy is revealed not to be a literal killer, but a specter of death and the virus itself, relentlessly stalking the characters.

: While hospitalized, Sam experiences a surreal journey led by the ghosts of past lovers who confront him with his moral failures and the reality of his illness.

: Patrick (Russell Tovey) suffers from AIDS-related blindness. His former wife, Barbara, appears to him as a guide to "inner peace" before he dies in the arms of his partner, Gino. Part 2: The Aftermath

: Gino (Joe Mantello) continues his activism and writing for years as his friends die around him. The episode concludes with a long montage showing his eventual decline and death in 1991, leaving Adam as one of the few survivors. Themes and Critical Reception

The finale tracks the decline and eventual passing of several main characters as the decade progresses.

: Adam (Charlie Carver) discovers that Hannah (Billie Lourd) died after unknowingly contracting the virus during her pregnancy. Her tapes reveal her early scientific understanding of the contagion.