The Game season 2 ending explained: What happens to Huw and Patrick at the end of the Channel 5 thriller?

Fans of The Game were surprised to get a second season of the Channel 5 thriller, when it looked like the fates of Huw and Patrick were well and truly sealed when the credits rolled on the season 1 finale.

Season 1 saw shamed former detective Huw Miller (Jason Watkins) on a mission to prove his neighbour Patrick Harbottle (Robson Green) was The Ripton Stalker.

The serial killer stalked his victims for months before taking their life, and most people didn't believe Huw's theory about Patrick being responsible had any substance. Patrick enjoyed toying with Huw and playing mind games with his adversary, expertly hiding his identity as the true killer.

However, when it turns out Huw was right and proved it, the series ended with Patrick facing prison but managing to stab Patrick in their final showdown.

With Huw seemingly dead and Patrick finally getting what he deserved, even the cast were shocked to return for a second outing. But audiences are glad they did, because it's been another fantastic ride.

Season 2 picks up two years later, and determined to mentally and emotionally destroy Huw, Patrick manages to continue playing deadly games with him, even from his prison cell.

Their terrifying cat-and-mouse dynamic continued, with Patrick having Huw's daughter stalked and his wife killed, until season 2 reached another shocking climax - let's break it down.

The Game season 2 ending explained

During the season 2 finale, a case had been built against Patrick for the murder of Jonathan Bower, after his wife believed he could've been one of Patrick's first victims.

Jonathan had been stalked in the run-up to his disappearance, which fit Patrick's process, and Patrick sealed his fate by confessing to the killing.

He also knew details about Jonathan such as him carrying an old teddy in his rucksack, and even offers to reveal where the body is buried.

However, DS Jenny Atkins is wary of Patrick's confession, knowing it just isn't part of his murder practice to willingly give away details like these.

She was correct to trust her instincts, but too late. After Patrick manipulated the investigation to make sure Huw was involved, Huw is present when Patrick leads him and the police officers to where he says he buried Jonathan, but he's leading them into a trap.

Jonathan had actually died in a hit-and-run and he had nothing on him to identify him at the time, only the teddy in the rucksack.

Patrick knew about the bear because he'd seen it when Jonathan visited his shop, so he was able to pretend he knew things about him he'd only know if he'd killed him.

By this time, Patrick is leading Huw and the officers into some secluded woods, where Jackie is waiting for them.

Having been manipulated by Patrick, Jackie will do anything for him, including shooting one of the officers to cause a diversion while she and Patrick make a run for it.

But Huw is far too used to Patrick's tricks by now, and was also suspicious of why he'd be knowingly leading investigators to the place he'd put a body.

Also with growing suspicions of Jackie, Huw had planted a tracker in her car and was able to follow her and Patrick to their hiding place.

Pointing a gun at the runaways when he finds them, Huw extracts Patrick from the farmhouse hideout and finally gets him alone so he get revenge for the hit-and-run he thought Patrick organised that killed his wife.

But always one step ahead, Patrick had planned for this moment. He makes several shocking revelations to continue hurting Huw, including that he'd been harassing his daughter Margot by phone for weeks.

And his trump card? Not only has been been stalking Margot by phone, she isn't safe at all because her boyfriend, Sam, is actually working for Patrick.

Patrick had befriended Sam years previously after the vulnerable youngster had been abused by his father. He'd spent years manipulating Sam to do his bidding, and this information is revealed to Huw just before Sam knocks him out with a shovel.

Patrick and Sam take Huw to a remote location before going into hiding. Huw is later found safely, and is determined to be part of the team to track Patrick down and get him back to prison.

Jackie, no longer needed by Patrick, hears nothing more from him and is later found and arrested for her involvement in his escape plan.

Margot, unaware that her boyfriend is dangerous, agrees to go on a romantic trip with him to a hotel. Sam tells Patrick that he'll kill Margot if she doesn't go along with his plans.

He convinces Margot to switch off her phone and have a digital detox, to prevent her being able to get in touch with her father.

Meanwhile, Jenny is able to track Patrick's movements using Jackie's phone, eventually finding out the address of a flat he could be at. When they arrive Patrick isn't there, and Huw realises the flat is familiar and belongs to Patrick's second victim, Ray Butler.

Reviewing the Ray Butler case, Huw and Jenny join the dots to discover Sam was actually Ray’s son. Not only that, CCTV footage reveals Sam to be the person who killed Huw’s wife Alice.

Realising the huge danger his daughter faces, Huw tries to get hold of Margot, who has her phone switched off. Patrick calls Huw to taunt him about the potential fate of his daughter and asks for the pair to meet.

Jenny is tired of Huw going rogue in the investigation and taking matters into his own hands. He's eventually kicked off the investigation and Jenny reports him for being a suspect in Patrick's escape.

Heading off to confront Patrick, Huw says that he can definitely kill him now he knows he was definitely responsible for Alice's death. Patrick counters this by warning Huw that if he dies, Margot will be killed.

Later able to speak to Margot on the phone, she doesn't believe what he tells her about Sam, insisting he's lost his mind in his obsession with catching Patrick.

Patrick tells Huw his plan is to kidnap Margot and hold her hostage for the rest of her life - he'd kill her if she tried to escape. He knows that having Margot as his prisoner would drive Huw more crazy than killing her.

Huw lets Patrick leave, still unable to kill him. As the episode draws to a close, that fates of the characters are left open-ended.

Patrick is on the run and Margot's fate is left in the hands of he and Sam. At the hotel, Sam has a knife ready to kill Margot, who promises he won't hurt her while she tells him she loves him.

Huw briefly goes home to pick up some clothes and pictures of Alice and Margot before going on the run himself as police head to his house to arrest him.

With no closure for any of the characters, it appears the door has well and truly been left open for season 3.

Seasons 1 and 2 of The Game are currently available on 5.