For five seasons, Apple TV+’s Trying has quietly become one of the platform’s most beloved hidden gems, evolving from a couple’s quest to start a family into a rich, sprawling portrait of modern parenthood. The fifth season, which just wrapped, throws Esther Smith’s Nikki and Rafe Spall’s Jason into their most emotionally turbulent territory yet—thanks to the return of their children’s biological mother, Kat (Charlotte Riley). But even as the season pushes the family to its limits, it also finds room for the show’s signature warmth, humor, and heart.
In an exclusive chat with Collider, Smith and Spall opened up about the season’s biggest turning points, particularly the finale’s “WoodScott” episode, and why the ending feels less like a conclusion and more like a launchpad for the next chapter. As Smith put it, the finale “gives opportunity for them to go in any direction now,” while Spall sees the show evolving beyond its adoption origins: “Now it’s kind of a family show. It’s about family.”
Nikki and Jason’s Marriage Survives Its Biggest Test
For the first time in the series, Nikki and Jason’s relationship is tested from within. As Kat’s return makes Nikki feel disconnected from her own family, she finds herself drawn to a new coworker, Kerry (Colin Morgan). What starts as an innocent friendship slowly becomes a crush, culminating in Episode 6’s “Halloween” confession at the movie theater, where Nikki admits she never corrected Jason when he assumed Kerry was a woman. Instead of turning this into melodrama, Trying doubles down on what makes this couple so special: their willingness to be honest, even when it’s uncomfortable.
“I’m really pleased that that was the resolution of that,” Smith told Collider. “When I first heard that there was going to be this character called Kerry that was a potential threat, I freaked out a little bit because I was like, ‘Surely not. Nothing can damage this solid relationship.’ And actually, in essence, what it does is something’s tested, and it’s how you meet that test. They did meet it really maturely, so then that’s just added more growth and more strength to them.”
For Smith, Nikki’s spiral wasn’t really about Kerry—it was about her fear of being left behind. “Nikki’s scared that she’s being left behind and that she’s being forgotten about, and things are changing around her,” she explained. “She wants to figure out who she is now without the mom hat on.” Even her decision to hide Kerry’s gender felt like a line she knew she was crossing.
Spall, who is married to Smith in real life, praised the show’s mature handling of the storyline. “It’s a healthy dynamic,” he said. “They’re challenged constantly. In this instance, it’s, with them, a breaking of trust. But they have a very mature, healthy approach to their relationship. They know that things happen. They know that things get thrown at them. And yes, they love each other, but also they like each other. They like each other, and they really see each other... All of these things that we’re talking about contribute to them still being a pretty aspirational couple, really.”
Princess’s Reunion With Kat Changes the Family’s Future
While Nikki and Jason’s marriage emerges stronger, the finale’s most emotional payoff belongs to Princess (Scarlett Rayner). Since Kat’s return, Princess has been chasing the idea of the relationship she always wished she could have with her biological mother. But in “WoodScott,” she finally realizes that some questions don’t have easy answers. In one of the season’s most heartbreaking scenes, Princess unknowingly opens up to Kat—who is hidden inside the festival mascot costume—admitting she still keeps the rucksack she brought from foster care under her bed. Later, when Kat tells Princess it’s time to unpack that rucksack before leaving for Thailand, it’s not just a goodbye but permission to move forward.
Smith noted that this moment only works because Nikki has spent the season learning that loving Princess also means making room for Kat. “What’s really lovely in this season is the way Nikki gets the opportunity to show parts of her maturity,” she said. “She’s not a cruel person; she just loves her children, and she is so protective, and there’s this threat of this person who’s actually a really profoundly fundamental human in Princess’s life, who she wants to get to know her. She has an opportunity, and Nikki allows it.”
Spall added that Kat is “a bomb” thrown into the family, but she’s not the villain. “She’s not a villain,” he said. “She’s a woman who made a difficult choice, and she’s trying to make amends. The show is really good at not painting anyone in black and white.”
As Trying looks ahead, the finale leaves the door wide open for more stories. With Nikki and Jason’s relationship stronger than ever, Princess beginning to heal, and the family embracing its unconventional shape, the show seems poised to continue exploring what it means to be a family—wherever that journey leads. For fans eager for more, the series remains a standout in Apple TV+’s lineup, alongside other hits like Silo’s third season and Jon Bernthal’s Punisher crime thriller.
