The new year has kicked off with a seriously gripping and moving drama Lockerbie: A Search for Truth that retells the story of the Lockerbie bombing in 1988. It sees Colin Firth star as Jim Swire, the father of passenger Flora, who died on board the plane, and his decades long journey to uncover the truth of what happened on Pan Am Flight 103. But how does the series end?
The new five-part drama starring Firth, is a dramatisation of the Lockerbie bombing which occurred on 21st December 1988 on the Pan Am Flight 103 from Frankfurt to Detroit. A bomb went off 38 minutes into the flight after its first stopover in Heathrow. The attack caused the deaths of the 259 people on board the plane and 11 residents of Lockerbie, Scotland where the plane crashed.
The series sees Firth as Jim Swire, the father of Flora, who died on the plane, and his tireless efforts to find out what really happened to his daughter. Over the course of the series we see his relationship with his wife Jane (Catherine McCormack) struggle, his visits to Libya to see Colonel Gaddafi (Nabil Al Raee), his friendship with Abdelbaset al-Megrahi (Ardalan Esmaili), who was found guilty for the bombing, and his work with journalist Murray Guthrie (Sam Troughton) to bring justice.
So what happens in the final episode of Lockerbie: A Search for Truth and does Jim get the answers he's looking for?
What happens in the final episode of Lockerbie?
After working with al-Megrahi to secure his appeal in episode four, Jim is shocked to discover at the start of episode five al-Megrahi has been released on compassionate grounds back to Libya.
The episode opens with al-Megrahi leaving the prison and feeling the wind of his hands. Jim watches his release unfold on the TV, where al-Megrahi is welcomed back to Libya with open arms by the public.
Jim later visits al-Megrahi's legal team who reveal he was allowed to return to Libya but only on the grounds he drops his appeal and will therefore be known as the man responsible for the Lockerbie bombing, which throughout the series he has denied.
Not one to give up Jim is convinced al-Megrahi didn't make this decision on his own and tries to find out more about what happened. It also turns out the initial prognosis al-Megrahi was given about his prostate cancer was incorrect and he could now in fact live for another decade.
Jane and Jim's relationship then worsens during a commemorative ceremony for the victims of Lockerbie, after Jim declares al-Megrahi one of the victims too.
There's then a time jump to 2008 where Jim is reunited with the journalist Murray, who brings him information about Wikileaks. During the leaks Murray argues there's a document about al-Megrahi.
We then see another time jump to three years later to 2011 and Libya is in chaos. Having not heard from al-Megrahi since his release Jim is still concerned about him, and at Jane's encouragement to find out once and for all what happened, he ends up flying out to Libya to see him.
After a rather difficult journey and hostile welcome Jim is finally able to see al-Megrahi at his home. The pair talk, with al-Megrahi bringing up with importance of spending time with the living and the priority of his family to Jim, who has been ignoring his for years in pursuit of finding out what happened to Flora. It shakes him, and sets off a lightbulb moment in his head about how much he's been neglecting his own family, and upon returning to the UK he agrees to go on holiday with his family.
On their way to the trip, Jane and Jim stop off to visit Murray, with Jim convinced evidence was planted to frame al-Megrahi, but given the involvement of Colonel Gaddafi Murray thinks there is a larger game at play and has given up his fight in getting the truth out there.
We then get another time jump to 2012, while Jim and Jane are on holiday, which sees Jim continuing to email editors about the evidence he's uncovered when the death of al-Megrahi is announced.
Jim tells Jane the news while their family plays on the beach, and they reflect on the night of Flora's death, with Jane revealing she's been able to go on in life because she accepts they might never know what happened on board the flight. She also acknowledges Jim isn't going to be able to give up the fight and the pair embrace before Jim plays on the beach with his grandkids?
How does Lockerbie: A Search for Truth end?
The final scenes of the series depicts Jane and Jim preparing to move out of their family home and reflecting on their journey to find out what happened on Pan Am Flight 103.
The series ends by giving us an update on the true story the series is based on. On a black screen texts pops up and reveals Abdelbaset al-Megrahi is still the only person to be convicted of the bombing and his family continue their fight to clear his name.
It also reveals that during his second appeal "the British Government signed a public interest immunity certificate to prevent the disclosure of secret intelligence documents allegedly implicating Iran and the PFLP-GC."
It continues: "In 2020 they signed a second immunity certificate to keep these intelligence documents secret. They remain classified to this day.
"Contradictory documents, declassified by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office have revealed several Libyan intelligence officials admitting involvement in the bombing including Gaddafi's 'right hand' Moussa Koussa.
"In 2022 the US Government extradited Libyan national Abu Agila Mas'ud, whom they claim built the bomb used on Pan Am Flight 103, conspiring with Megrahi and Fhimah to get it on board. His trial date is set for 12th May 2025."
The series ends with the statement: "Jim Swire and many others still believe in Megrahi's innocence. They maintain that the PFLP-GC, supported by Iran, was reposible for bulgin and loading the bomb that killed 270 passengers, crew, and residents of Lockerbie. Jim Swire continues to campaign for truth and justice."
Lockerbie is available on Sky Atlantic now
