The episode "Decomposition Island," Season 1 Episode 5 of The Gardener, opens with Elmer deeply hurt by Violeta's betrayal, as he discovers she has been unfaithful to him. Overwhelmed by heartbreak, Elmer vents his anger on the plants in their garden, replaying the painful memory of Violeta cheating on him. Meanwhile, China, Elmer's mother, feels relieved that Violeta has made a mistake on her own and prays for Elmer's swift recovery from his emotional turmoil.

After regaining some composure, Elmer follows his mother's advice and returns to the hospital for a checkup. The doctor delivers grim news: Elmer's tumor is growing, and urgent action is required to save his life. On the way back from the hospital, China persuades Elmer that the best course of action is to kill Violeta, convincing him that it is necessary. Elmer reluctantly agrees and begins to plan the murder.

At the same time, Violeta is consumed by thoughts of Elmer and reaches out to him, asking to meet. Elmer, still angry, agrees to pick her up later. Before leaving, he prepares a grave for Violeta, digging it himself as part of his plan to kill her. China, upon seeing the grave, calls Sabela to inform her that Violeta's death is imminent.

Meanwhile, police officers Torres and Carrera are tailing Elmer, hoping to catch him in the act of killing Violeta. However, when Elmer and Violeta meet, she apologizes sincerely for her betrayal, admits her mistake, and confesses her love for him. Elmer, inexperienced in matters of the heart, forgives her. They return to Violeta's house and make love, temporarily putting the murder plan on hold.

Throughout the episode, it is revealed that China harbors deep resentment and envy, especially because Elmer has never had friends and is completely dependent on her. She is driven by her own ambitions, including a dream of buying a house in Mexico, which conflicts with Elmer's desire for independence. China's obsession with killing Violeta becomes personal, but she eventually realizes that acting on emotion rather than logic could have dire consequences.

The episode also sheds light on Violeta's troubled past. She was accused of murdering her abusive ex-boyfriend, a crime for which Sabela, the victim's mother, has hired China and Elmer to kill her in retaliation. Although Violeta was cleared due to an alibi provided by her best friend, Sabela continues to pressure her to pay for her son's death. Violeta's friends warn her that Elmer is possessive and clingy, similar to her ex, and advise her to leave him. Violeta briefly leaves Elmer but soon realizes she still loves him.

The episode ends with the tension unresolved: Elmer is torn between his love for Violeta and his mother's deadly plans, while the police continue to watch closely, waiting for the moment to intervene. The emotional and moral conflicts among the characters deepen, setting the stage for the next developments in the series.

At the end of The Gardener Season 1, Episode 5 "Decomposition Island," Elmer confronts the deadly consequences of his and his mother La China's actions. The episode closes with Elmer making a decisive choice about his relationship with Violeta and his violent past, while La China faces the unraveling of her control over him. The fates of the main characters are left tense and uncertain, setting up the final episode.

The episode "Decomposition Island" unfolds with a tense atmosphere as Elmer, the emotionally detached hitman, grapples with the growing emotional complexity brought on by his feelings for Violeta, the woman he was hired to kill. The episode opens with Elmer tending to the garden nursery, his hands working the soil enriched by the dark secret of human remains, a grim metaphor for the decay beneath his controlled exterior.

As the story progresses, Elmer and La China's contract killing business begins to crumble under the weight of Elmer's emerging emotions. La China, who has long manipulated Elmer's lack of feelings to maintain control, grows increasingly desperate to eliminate Violeta, seeing her as a threat to their operation and to her son's obedience.

In a pivotal scene, Elmer confronts La China in the nursery's shadowed greenhouse. The air is thick with tension as Elmer, now more aware of his own desires and conflicted loyalties, challenges his mother's ruthless commands. This confrontation reveals the deep psychological hold La China has had on Elmer since the accident that left him emotionally numb and her physically scarred.

Meanwhile, Violeta, unaware of the full extent of Elmer's dark world, shows kindness and vulnerability, which further complicates Elmer's internal struggle. Her presence acts as a catalyst for Elmer's transformation, symbolizing hope and the possibility of redemption.

The climax of the episode occurs on the eponymous "Decomposition Island," a secluded and eerie location where Elmer must decide whether to follow through with his mother's orders or protect Violeta. The island's decaying landscape mirrors the moral decay and the breaking down of old bonds.

Elmer ultimately chooses to defy La China, signaling a break from his past. The episode ends with Elmer and Violeta escaping the island, while La China is left behind, her control slipping away. The final moments show La China alone amidst the ruins of the nursery, her expression a mix of fury and despair, foreshadowing the inevitable confrontation to come.

In terms of character fates at this point:

• Elmer: He is on a path toward emotional awakening and rebellion against his mother's control, risking everything for love and freedom.
• La China: She faces isolation and loss of power, her manipulative grip weakening as Elmer asserts his independence.
• Violeta: She survives the immediate threat but remains entangled in the dangerous world Elmer inhabits, her future uncertain.

This episode carefully lays bare the emotional and psychological fractures between the characters, emphasizing themes of control, transformation, and the struggle between love and violence.

Yes, there is a post-credits scene in The Gardener, season 1, episode 5 ("Decomposition Island"). In this scene, detectives Carrera and Torres find a bag full of bones floating in the ocean. It is implied that these bones belong to one of China and Elmer's old victims, revealing that Carrera had discovered there were bodies hidden in China's backyard. This scene hints at the deeper dark secrets behind China and Elmer's activities and sets up further developments beyond the main episode's conclusion.

Elmer experiences his first heartbreak after seeing Violeta cheating on him, which causes him to crash emotionally and take his anger out on the plants. After regaining strength and learning from the doctor that his tumor is growing, Elmer is convinced by his mother China to kill Violeta, and he agrees, starting to plan her murder.

Despite Elmer's initial anger and plans to kill Violeta, when they meet, Violeta apologizes and confesses her love for him. Elmer, inexperienced with such emotions, forgives her, and they return to her house and make love, showing a complex shift from planned violence to intimacy.

China, Elmer's mother, pressures him to kill Violeta, seeing her as a threat to their business and family. She convinces Elmer that killing Violeta is necessary, and she even calls Sabela to report that Violeta will soon be dead, showing her active role in orchestrating the murder plans.

Elmer prepares a grave for Violeta as part of his plan to kill her, symbolizing his readiness to commit murder. This act contrasts with typical breakup behaviors and highlights his emotional numbness and the dark nature of his world as a contract killer.

Torres and Carrera follow Elmer, hoping to catch him in the act of killing Violeta. Their surveillance adds tension to the episode, as they suspect Elmer's involvement in the crimes connected to the disappearances and murders linked to the gardening business.

The Gardener, Season 1, Episode 5 "Decomposition Island" (2025) is not family friendly and is rated TV-MA in the United States, with age restrictions ranging from 15+ to 18+ in various countries.

Potentially objectionable or upsetting content includes:

• Moderate violence and murder scenes, which may be intense or disturbing for children or sensitive viewers.
• Mild sexual content and nudity, including women in skimpy clothing, a shower scene showing a naked back, intimate scenes, and implied adultery.
• Mild profanity and some use of alcohol and drugs shown in flashbacks.
• Mild frightening and intense scenes that could be unsettling for sensitive viewers.

Overall, the show contains mature themes such as crime, emotional manipulation, and morally ambiguous characters, making it unsuitable for children or those sensitive to violence and adult content.