Warning: SPOILERS ahead for Mid-Century ModernMid-Century Modernis the latest charming sitcom to come fromWill & Gracecreators Max Mutchnick and David Kohan, and season 1 ends on a tragic note. The series sees three middle-aged gay men, Bunny, Arthur, and Jerry, move in with Bunny’s mother Sybil, played by Linda Lavin. These four main characters invariably drive each other up the wall, producing plenty of hilarity throughout the first season. Unfortunately, however,Mid-Century Modernseason 1’s ending was not a happy one.
Mid-Century Modern’s Linda Lavin characterSybil Schneiderman was in her eighties and a widow following the death of Bunny’s father. In fact,aging and death have been central themes right from the very start of the series, when Bunny, Arthur, and Jerry gather to mourn the loss of the fourth member of their tight-knit gang, George. During Sybil’s final appearance on the show, Lavin’s character reflects on old age amid a romantic liaison with her fellow octogenarian Alan, who’s played bySeinfeldcastmember Judd Hirsch, which sets up the tragedy just around the corner.
What Happens To Linda Lavin’s Sybil Schneiderman In Mid-Century Modern Season 1
Sybil Departs The Show Via A Sudden Heart Attack In Episode 9
Linda Lavin sadly died of lung cancer on June 17, 2025, at the age of 87, and episode 7 ofMid-Century Modernwas the final piece of television that she worked on. The show managed to use some scenes she’d already shot for episode 4 in its eighth episode. For episode 9, on the other hand, they had to write her character, Sybil Schneiderman, out of the show.
We learn what has happened when Bunny explains it to Arthur and Jerry once he arrives home from the hospital.
In this episode, Bunny goes to collect his mother from a social club, after which she asks to be taken to a hospital. On the way there,Sybil suffers a fatal heart attack and dies in the car, next to Bunny. This event takes place off-screen, given that the episode was recorded when Lavin had already passed away, and instead, we learn what has happened when Bunny explains it to Arthur and Jerry once he arrives home from the hospital. It was medical professionals who confirmed to Bunny that Sybil died of a heart during their initial post-mortem.
How Mid-Century Modern’s Season 1 Finale Deals With Sybil’s Death
The Show Must Go On Without Her
The loss of Sybil duringMid-Century Modernepisode 9 happens suddenly, with no immediate clue as to how the series will handle her death. While the episode ends with a touching tribute to Linda Lavin’s performance in the role, it doesn’t make episode 10, the finale of season 1, any easier.The finale begins with a four-month time-lapse, so they can jump forward to a period in which Bunny, Arthur, and Sybil have come to terms with Sybil’s death.
Bunny then explains that it’s time they cleared out his mother’s bedroom and did something else with it. This conceit sets up a storyline that very much suggests thatMid-Century Moderncan continue despite the loss of one of its main stars. Indeed,the season 1 finale is titled “The Show Must Go On”,and lead actorsNathan Lane, Nathan Lee Graham, and Matt Bomercarry this spirit into their performances.
What Bunny, Arthur & Jerry Do With Sybil’s Bedroom Following Her Death
They Want To Turn It Into A Home Gym, But Guests Come In The Way
With the enthusiastic support ofArthur and Jerry, Bunny decides to turn Sybil’s bedroom into a gymat the end ofMid-Century Modernseason 1. A few supporting characters soon arrive to throw a spanner in the works, however.
First, Jerry offers his friend the room after he leaves his fiancée at the altar to come out as gay. Then, Carroll, a romantic admirer of Bunny’s from a previous episode, unexpectedly decides to take him up on an offer to stay over that he made halfheartedly with no intention of carrying it through. Carroll is played by Richard Kind, who reunites with Nathan Lane following their stint together in thecast ofOnly Murders in the Building.
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In the end, it’s Bunny’s sister Mindy, played by Pamela Adlon, who has to step in and save his dream of a home gym. She gives both Mason and Carroll a good talking to, which makes Mason realize that he has to go and explain himself to his former bride-to-be, and Carroll gives up on his infatuation with Bunny. At the very end ofMid-Century Modernseason 1,Bunny’s plan to turn his mother Sybil’s bedroom into a gym is full steam ahead.
What The Final Shot Of Bunny, Jerry & Arthur Dancing Represents
The Perfect Full-Circle Moment For Mid-Century Modern Season 1
The first thing Bunny, Jerry, and Arthur install in their home gym is a present they receive from Mindy. She sends them a giant disco ball, which leads them to bring outthe kind of dance moves we haven’t seen since episode 1ofMid-Century Modern. In that first episode, they start dancing before finding that they couldn’t continue without their best friend George there to join in the fun.
The final shot ofMid-Century Modern’s three remaining main characters dancing the night away is a full-circle moment for season 1, whichrepresents their coming to terms with the lossof loved ones. Bunny, Jerry and Arthur have managed to overcome their grief, and are ready to keep the show on the road.
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It’s a euphoric moment, too, following the losses they’ve endured and the struggles they’ve had settling into Palm Springs, the setting for the series. Each of the trio works through their funniest dance routine to the sound of Peaches & Herb’s disco classic “Shake Your Groove Thing”, in what is surely one of thebest dance-offs in recent TVhistory.
How Mid-Century Modern Season 1’s Ending Sets Up A Possible Season 2
The Dynamic Between Bunny, Arthur, And Jerry Can Be Further Developed
This positive ending toMid-Century Modernseason 1 sets up further seasonsperfectly, despite the sad loss of Linda Lavin and her character Sybil Schneiderman. There’s still room for the comedic dynamic between Bunny, Arthur, and Jerry to develop further, particularly if new supporting cast members are thrown into the mix. IfMid-Century Modern’s Rotten Tomatoes scoreis anything to go by, it has every chance of having a season 2 greenlit.
Mid-Century Modernseason 1 premiered on August 22, 2025, with all episodes released simultaneously for streaming on Hulu and Disney+.
Season 1, episode 10 will, of course, still leave viewers mourning the loss of Lavin and Sybil, especially in the case of those who’ve binge-watched all 10 episodes back-to-back. Nevertheless,Mid-Century Modernseason 2, if it happens, can continue exploring the unique dynamic between Lane, Graham and Bomer.
