‘Physical’ Series Finale: How the Rose Byrne-Led Apple TV+ Dramedy Ended After 3 Seasons

Warning: This post contains spoilers for the final season Physical.

The aerobics class has come to an end.

Physical is finally saying goodbye as the series ended on Wednesday. The Apple TV+ dramedy followed Sheila Rubin, the titular actress Rose Byrne, who trades her ordinary life as a tortured housewife for a successful career as a fitness guru. Along the way, Sheila fought her way out of her marriage to Danny Rubin (Rory Scovel), had an affair with real estate mogul John Breem (Paul Sparks), and dealt with her dark inner thoughts that led her to an eating disorder. All in all, she did whatever it took to come out on top.

In its third and final season, Sheila’s status in the fitness world is challenged by rising celebrity Kelly Kilmartin, played by Zooey Deschanel. Kelly quickly became a professional menace who even managed to get inside Sheila’s head. However, she eventually put her fears to rest that Kelly’s competitive ways would get the better of her in the 7th episode of the season.

(LR) Rose Byrne is cast as Sheila Rubin, while Zooey Deschanel appears as Kelly Kilmartin in the Apple TV+ drama ‘Physical’.

Paul Sarkis/Apple TV+

The final episode began with a time jump, fast-forwarding from 1981 to 1986. Sheila, with the help of her best friend and business partner Greta Hauser (Dierdre Friel), has found great success with the launch of her new fitness venture, Strength in Numbers, rebranded from her previous Body by Shelia endeavour. Strength in Numbers has become a growing franchise, taking shape across the country and giving dozens upon dozens of women the opportunity to become business owners.

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As for how her personal life took shape during her climb to the top, Sheila had a beautiful home on the beach. She also had a great and loving relationship with her now pre-teen daughter Maya.

Although the audience initially saw Sheila preparing to have dinner with her ex-lover John, it was soon revealed that Sheila was single and not romantically involved, as the sequence with John was a dream fantasy. However, in that dream sequence, she discussed the idea of ​​potentially changing things up, “delegating some of the travel” so she could focus on “other priorities,” including her only child and her physical health.

“I have to think about my health,” she said. “My own continued recovery, mentally and physically.”

Rose Byrne has been cast as Sheila Rubin in the Apple TV+ drama ‘Physical’.

Katrina Marcinowski/Apple TV+

Sheila’s ex-husband, Danny, hosted a radio show where he talked about environmental issues that he was very passionate about. In fact, one of the financial backers was Sheila’s non-profit organization, Strength in Numbers Foundation. But it was later revealed that he has completely moved on, after getting into a new relationship with Sheila’s former assistant, and they are expecting a baby together.

Shelia, however, continued to talk to John while she was alone. Because of her focus on growing her business, she wondered if she had to “be alone” for the rest of her life.

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But Sheila realized she wasn’t as alone as she thought, as she heard a stranger moving around her property. Although she couldn’t find anyone there, she eventually discovered that the culprit was Tyler (Lou Taylor Pucci), who fans know from the first two seasons as Bunny Kazama’s (Della Saba) devoted surfer beau. (Sheila previously learned, and later stole, the aerobics techniques Bunny taught her to create the Body by Sheila business.)

Tyler admitted that he “stalked” Sheila because he is still “very angry” at her for her betrayal. He then explained how his relationship with Bunny, who had resumed aerobics classes, fell apart after Sheila’s lawyers went after them. But Sheila knew nothing about it.

Tyler then discovered that Bunny had gone to Mexico to get revenge on Shelia, through whom she intended to seduce a “mall man” named John, who had since moved to the country with his longtime wife Maria Brea (Erin Pineda) and their children. Sheila traveled to Mexico with Greta for what she claimed was rest and relaxation, although the trip was actually to visit John.

(LR) Rose Byrne is cast as Sheila Rubin and Paul Sparks as John Breem in the Apple TV+ drama ‘Physical’.

Paul Sarkis/AppleTV+

While lounging on the beach, Sheila asked Greta if she was truly happy, a conversation that brought the fitness guru to tears. She revealed the truth behind her plan to travel to Mexico, telling Greta that she had to “see for herself” to “know for sure.” But Greta didn’t really like this plan to see John, who Greta believed Sheila had “evolved” far beyond.

“I know, but there’s what I say and then there’s what I feel,” Sheila Greti said. “And the truth is, I think about him so much. He’s in my head. I don’t even see anyone, Greta. I just talk to him alone in my house like I used to with myself, with Kelly. I have to see what’s going on with my own eyes how I would know and then, I can continue. Or, maybe…”

While Sheila stalled, Greta agreed to go with her for support. Sheila then walked into John’s church, but he wasn’t surprised by her arrival, even though it was earlier than he expected. John was now much more relaxed and at peace in his new life in Mexico, noting that he didn’t realize how much “pressure” he felt before his big move.

(LR) Rose Byrne is cast as Sheila Rubin and Dierdre Friel as Greta Hauser in the Apple TV+ drama ‘Physical’.

Paul Sarkis/Apple TV+

John offered to show Sheila around the “modest” but “special” facility, which hosted a community aerobics class led by Bunny. As Sheila witnessed Bunny in his element, Bunny – and John’s wife Maria, who was holding the watch – moved away from the group to approach Sheila.

Bunny said that Sheila’s attempt to close her class would be unsuccessful because it is free to the community, and Maria chimed in that Sheila’s discussion with her about the “gospel of exercise” and its “empowering benefits” led to Bunny’s hiring.

As Bunny questioned what Sheila wanted from her now, Sheila said, “I’m not here to lock you up.”

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Sheila told Bunny about Tyler’s recent visit to discuss his ongoing anger with her. Greta then said that they came to offer Bunny support from the Strength in Numbers Foundation for the work she does for the community. But Sheila revealed her personal motive for the visit, saying: “I came here because I suspected you were trying to punish me by taking away something that wasn’t mine at all, and which I deserved because I took credit for what you taught me. You introduced got me into aerobics when I was at my lowest point and it saved me. You saved me.”

Sheila admitted that her betrayal of Bunny was “wrong”. Although Bunny said she wasn’t interested in forgiving her, Sheila tearfully said she simply wanted to give Bunny “credit for being the first” and “learned” what made her successful. Bunny then revealed that someone else had actually been teaching her aerobics, prompting Greta – who now also teaches her own Strength in Numbers class – to suggest that “maybe it belongs to all of us.”

From there, Sheila asked Bunny if she could join her class as she needed to “clear her head” and Bunny asked her students to “make some room in the back” for her now former nemesis Sheila and Greta.

Rose Byrne has been cast as Sheila Rubin in the Apple TV+ drama ‘Physical’.

Katrina Marcinowski/Apple TV+

As the episode ended, Sheila was shown performing aerobics alone, and sometimes with loved ones or among a larger group of other fitness enthusiasts. All this time, Sheila left viewers with a few parting words about her journey.

“I’m not making this up. It’s a proven fact by scientists. When human beings engage in synchronous, physical activity. When we move together, especially to music, our brains release a chemical—stay with me—that makes us connected to the strangers around us.” she said. “We’ve all felt it intuitively, whether we’re singing in a choir or cheering at a football game or taking an aerobics class.”

“This is the coolest part. That same chemical also makes us feel connected to something bigger than ourselves. You could call it a higher power or God or just infinite. But I think it’s kind of miraculous, right?” she added. “To think that I started this whole thing looking for control, and all I had to do to touch infinity was to let it go.”

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All three seasons Physical are available to stream in their entirety on Apple TV+.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education