Ludwig series 2: Joanne Kemper walked free in masterful ending which sets series 3 up perfectly
Best comedy drama on TV ever?
Ludwig series 2 was as brilliantly executed as the 2024 debut, and the truly inspired ending left us wanting a series 3, like, now please.
A murder mystery like no other, the David Mitchell comedy once again proved itself to be the very best of British TV. Its masterful storytelling, brilliantly likeable characters, and comedy genius makes it a very precious jewel in the BBC’s crown. Six episodes just weren’t enough.
The season finale saw John Taylor desperately trying to find out who killed Chief Constable Ronan Ziegler, and it most definitely wasn’t who anyone expected. And while the nefarious villain of the show walked free in the closing minutes of episode 6, the writers gave us hope for the future. [Anybody else hoping they never catch the villain so the show runs on and on?]
Here’s the Ludwig series 2 ending unpacked, including how Chief Constable Ziegler’s death wasn’t quite enough to throw MP Joanne Kemper in prison… A tale of missing detectives, multiple murders and high-ranking cover-ups, there’s plenty of loose ends for a series 3 and beyond.
***Warning: spoilers from the ending of Ludwig series 2 ahead***
What happened in the ending of Ludwig series 2?
The season finale of the simply brilliant comedy drama began just hours after the events of the penultimate episode… With John Taylor, Lucy, and her son Henry reeling from the previous night’s discovery – Chief Constable Ziegler turning up dead.
Was MP Joanne Kemper responsible for this latest death? The secretive constable was hiding a lot of secrets, so perhaps it was only a matter of time.
Of course, DI Russell Carter had a vested interest in the case. Chief Constable Ziegler had almost become his father-in-law. However, yet another tragic death prevented that from happening. Russell had been engaged to Ziegler’s daughter Mandy, until she was killed in another shady cover-up. (More on that below).
A copper to the end, albeit a corrupt one, Ziegler had left clues for Russell and John before his death…
Who killed Chief Constable Ziegler and why?
Chief Constable Ziegler was not murdered, although he’s pretty much the only one in Ludwig who wasn’t. In fact, Ziegler took him own life. Viewers know that, for years, he had helped cover up a series of crimes – and we now know that Joanne Kemper or one of her cronies was almost certainly behind them. However, it wasn’t guilt that caused him to take his own life…
Ziegler had discovered – via James Taylor’s encrypted letter – that Joanne Kemper was responsible for the death of his daughter Mandy. He had genuinely believed that his daughter’s death was a tragic car accident. But James knew better. Having discovered the truth, Ziegler was understandably devastated that he had been helping the woman who’d had his daughter killed.
Although he’d worked for Joanne Kemper for years, covering up her crimes, he was no monster. Corrupt, yes. But a bad father? No. Seeking justice for his daughter, he staged his own death to look like a murder, when in fact he killed himself as a sacrifice. Ziegler attempted to frame Joanne Kemper for his death, by killing himself with the gun he stole from her.
John Taylor put the clues together and realised that Joanne Kemper had not killed Ziegler. The black-blooded MP would once again walk free.
Ludwig series 2 ending: Who was MP Joanne Kemper?
Sian Clifford’s addition to Ludwig series 2 as MP Joanne Kemper was truly inspired casting. The shadow cabinet minister certainly lives a shadowy existence behind the public face, with the potential to become “the first serial killer prime minster” (as far as we know anyway).
The character was introduced in Ludwig series 2 as someone with a suspicious connection to several deaths. This alongside an old conspiracy theory about the elite Kemper family…
Online blogger and conspiracy theorist Roger Sinclair claimed that Joanne Kemper, and her father, kept their power via ritualistic sacrifice every 10 years. They “kill someone every decade in order to stay rich and powerful”. Although, of course, pragmatic John Taylor doesn’t believe the sacrifice story at all, there’s obviously some truth behind the deaths.
After all, Joanne is connected to two deaths 10 years apart, both written off as unsuspicious…
Who has Joanne Kemper killed?
Well, Joanne Kemper had Roger Sinclair killed for starters. He’d stumbled upon the connection between the Kemper family and the crimes, and was silenced. The professional hit was then filed as a burglary gone wrong. They set up petty burglar Rhys Bowen for the crime, who later “died by suicide” awaiting trial. That’s two victims right there.
Her first victim? Dominic Kennedy drowned in a hot tub during a party at her house in 2004. Ten years later, in 2014, Ryan Oakley – who Joanne Kemper had shared the house with – died by drug overdose. But incidents were declared tragic accidents. That’s another two victims.
Then, of course, there was the death of Zeigler’s daughter Mandy. She had contacted James Taylor out of the blue asking for a meet up. She claimed to have incriminating evidence that implicated her dad in a number of crimes. That’s victim number 5. With DCC Clint Radley in her pocket, and the all-powerful private members’ club The Hedge Assembly behind her, Joanne Kemper’s murderous actions seem unstoppable.
Crucially, there’s no evidence linking Joanne Kemper to any of the crimes. And, so, she walks free. Meanwhile, this leaves James Taylor in grave danger as he knows too much…
Ludwig series 2 ending: Where is James Taylor?
Series 1 of Ludwig centred on the disappearance of John Taylor’s identical twin brother James. He had understandably won into hiding after the death of Roger Sinclair and Mandy Zeigler, and the subsequent cover-ups.
James, a good policeman, believes that the deaths are all his fault. In a coded letter to his wife Lucy and brother John, James swore to get “justice by any means necessary”. But what did he mean? Zeigler was prepared to kill himself in an attempt to get Joanne Kemper stopped. But what will James do? Only a series 3 will be able to tell us.
At the end of the series, despite being no nearer to arresting Joanne Kemper, John Taylor delivered a hopeful speech to his ever-increasing rabble of comrades.
He tols them: “We’re going to win.” And we are in NO doubt whatsoever that John ‘Ludwig’ Taylor – with his brother helping from afar – his clever enough to pin down Joanne Kemper eventually.
Who is the sixth victim?
In James’ letter, he laid out the bare bones of the terrible conspiracy. He said: “On the 2nd January 2024, I received an anonymous phone call from a woman asking to meet me in person. She claimed to have evidence linking Chief Constable Ronan Ziegler to the death of Ryan Oakley. A case I’d closed as an overdose. I know now this woman was Mandy Ziegler, killed in a fatal car crash on Knight’s Path that same evening.
“Her death is on me. As are the deaths of three more people whose lives were taken after I had abjectly failed to differentiate a murder from an accident.”
As newspaper editor Gareth Fisher – another sublime addition to the cast – admitted: “We do seem to be missing a victim.”
We know of Dominic Kennedy, Ryan Oakley, Roger Sinclair, Rhys Bowen, and Mandy Zeigler. There’s one more victim – at least – to unearth in the upcoming series 3.
Is there a Ludwig series 3?
BBC One has commissioned Ludwig for a series 3. Of course, they have! It’s a no-brainer, hardly needing a puzzle expert to work it out. The comedy drama is easily one of the best series of the past decade. Our only fear is that once John Taylor cracks the case of his missing brother, the series will have to end…
For now, though, David Mitchell will be returning as John ‘Ludwig’ Taylor, alongside Anna Maxwell Martin as Lucy Betts-Taylor, the wife of John’s missing brother James. Series 3 will, once again, be six episodes of one hour long. And there’s much to explore. James Taylor is still missing and in danger, while killer Joanne Kemper continues to walk free.
Talking about filming more episodes, David Mitchell said: “I am delighted that Ludwig will be returning to solve more of Mark Brotherhood’s brilliant mysteries. I can’t wait to get started and have renewed the subscription on my denouement-learning app.”
Jon Petrie, BBC Director of Comedy Commissioning, added: “Ludwig has sharp writing, a compelling story, big laughs and, naturally, a generous helping of puzzles.”
Series 1 and 2 of Ludwig are available to watch in full on BBC iPlayer.
