Clean Slate Season 1 Ending Explained: What Does Gavin’s Return Mean For Desiree’s Journey?

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Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for Clean Slate.

The ending of Clean Slate season 1 opens up many new storylines for a possible season 2, mainly as audiences wonder how Gavin’s return will affect Desiree’s decision to stay in her hometown. Though she was looking for acceptance from her father, by the end of Clean Slate, Desiree has realized she is not only loved and wanted, but supported by her community in Mobile, Alabama. While she grows closer to the rest of the Clean Slate characters, including her father, Mack, Opal, Ella, and Louis, Desiree’s loved ones are also set to continue their own inspiring transformations.

Clean Slate’s early reviews have shown no shortage of praise for its mission to offer an old-school, feel-good comedy that celebrates, above all, people’s kindhearted nature. One of Prime Video’s 2025 TV releases, the show doesn’t shy away from the hard nuances of the experiences of queer people of color and has debuted with a 92% Rotten Tomatoes score. Clean Slate’s exciting ending all but sets up future conflicts that would allow for the rich exploration of love in all its faces, from queer love, senior love, dysfunctional and loving families, to self-love.

Who Is Gavin?

Desiree’s New York Ex Shows Up At Her Childhood Home

From the beginning of Clean Slate, it is clear Desiree is running away from more than economic problems in New York. When she first meets with Harry, she mentions her toxic relationships with men and blames it on their fractured daughter-father bond. As the episodes go on, she mentions the name Gavin as her most recent ex and the one who caused her to have an existential and career crisis. It would be interesting to know just what it is he did to Desiree, as he could even be responsible for her art gallery in New York shutting down.

Prime Video hasn’t confirmed if Clean Slate will be renewed for season 2.

In the last episode, Gavin sends her a text message that says “We can fix this,” which Desiree scoffs at. To her shock, he seems to be serious about getting her back, as Gavin tracks her down to her childhood home and shows up at the door when she’s with Mack. He doesn’t say anything and his identity remains mysterious, but Clean Slate definitely means to explore Gavin in possible future seasons. The show could even offer a plot twist by revealing Gavin is a trans man, and exploring that identity and its struggles.

What Happened To Opal’s Mother In Clean Slate

Opal’s Mother Could Come Back

One of the biggest mysteries in the season is Opal’s mother. Though the show doesn’t offer many answers, it gives a first glimpse into the types of conflicts her return would bring up. Early on, Mack tells Desiree he and his ex were very troubled, which makes him surprised Opal is such a good kid. After Mack got out of prison, Opal’s mother went AWOL. However, it seems she does maintain some contact with her daughter, as Opal says her mom “travels a lot.”

Her mother’s absence is one of the reasons that Desiree and Opal get to bond, as Desiree, too, felt neglected by her father when she was young.

Her mother’s absence is one of the reasons that Desiree and Opal get to bond, as Desiree, too, felt neglected by her father when she was young. While Mack and his daughter’s relationship is way better by the end of the season, the possible return of her mother would enrich both characters. She could bring conflict between father and daughter, Mack and Desiree, but, most importantly, it would give Opal the opportunity to make peace with, or work on, the relationship with her mother.

Does Harry Write 10-Year-Old Desiree A Letter?

Harry And Desiree Heal Their Relationship Without The Letter

Harry and Desiree’s relationship makes tremendous progress throughout Clean Slate. Her father goes from being halfway willing to acknowledge his past shortcomings to trying his hardest to be a better dad to Desiree. By the end of Clean Slate, it seems that mostly they have mended their bond, with Harry having taught Desiree how to drive, standing up for her against Pastor Hughes, and even telling her he loves and wants her. Though he was supposed to write 10-year-old Desiree a letter to symbolize he accepts her, it’s unclear whether this is even necessary anymore.

Harry even recognizes his daughter’s experiences in the world must have been so hard, and apologizes for not being there. Though something could come up, it doesn’t seem that they could be torn apart ever again, as it becomes clear that they need each other. Not only does Desiree find herself again by getting her father’s support, but Harry, too, starts opening up to new experiences. If anything, their relationship could even grow stronger as Desiree starts to open up about her time in New York.

Do Desiree And Mack End Up Together In Clean Slate?

Desiree And Mack Confess They Want To Be Together

One of Clean Slate’s most endearing plots is the “will they, won’t they” dynamic between Mack and Desiree. Though it is immediately clear that Mack is interested, Desiree’s feelings are far more complicated. She turns him down every time he asks, even going as far as telling him he’s not good enough for her, referring to his criminal past and job at the car wash. On top of prejudice, what had been pulling Desiree back were her unresolved issues with toxic love and her traumatic dating experiences.

Feeling unwelcome and unwanted is something that’s familiar to Desiree, and the reason why she didn’t see a future in Mobile, Alabama, let alone a relationship with someone living there.

The show by the late sitcom creator Norman Lear does an incredible job of subtly showing how dating can be so different for trans women, as they not only have to constantly vocalize their identity but be wary of homophobic attacks. Every time Desiree is approached by a guy she likes, she tells them she’s trans, just to make sure they don’t have a problem with that. When she gives Louis advice on his GRINDR date about how to defend himself, it becomes clear she has had to do it in the past.

Feeling unwelcome and unwanted is something that’s familiar to Desiree, and the reason why she didn’t see a future in Mobile, Alabama, let alone a relationship with someone living there. Luckily, she realizes Mack’s feelings are true and innocent, and that he does make her feel loved and happy. Because of this, she ventures to confess her own feelings and desire to start over without putting a label on him. Though he seems hesitant, in the end, he expresses wanting the same, and they share a kiss outside her childhood home.

Why Does James Break Up With Louis?

James Doesn’t Want To Date Someone Who’s Still In The Closet

Louis’ journey in Clean Slate is as touching as it is sad. Before Desiree returned to Mobile, her childhood friend didn’t seem to be willing to date any guys, let alone stop pretending to be straight for his community. Desiree encourages Louis to create a profile in GRINDR and start having dates. Even if he is nervous about showing his face to James, he takes a chance and sparks fly. Though they start dating, things come crumbling down as James realizes Louis means to hide their relationship.

Clean Slate Season 1 Soundtrack Guide: Every Song & When They Play

Now that Prime Video’s Clean Slate has been released, here’s a guide to every song in the soundtrack and when they play. Check out the full list!

The show depicts the diversity of experiences within the LGBTQIA+ community, as people’s coming out journeys are wildly different and directly connected to their surroundings. Notably, it is because Desiree left Mobile when she was young that she was able to grow confident in her sexuality. Because Louis didn’t leave, he internalized the town’s position to avoid discussing or acknowledging queerness. Likely, Louis also didn’t have other queer friends in town. As James explains, he is “at the beginning of a road,” which involves him having to accept his sexuality first.

Are Harry And Ella Together?

Harry And Ella Hide That They’re Sleeping Together

Harry and Ella’s relationship is a pleasant surprise in Clean Slate. At first, they are presented as bickering neighbors who are also old friends. Ella quickly becomes Harry’s confidante, helping him look forward to a reconciliation with his daughter. Then, in episode five, when Harry sees Ella in the bathtub, things start to take a different turn between the two. They start spending more time together, with Ella joining Harry at the Mardi Gras festival and in his effort to rescue Desiree from the Fluidity Ball.

Laverne Cox, George Wallace, and Dan Ewen are Clean Slate’s creators.

The show’s season finale shockingly reveals they are already sleeping together. It’s unclear when this started, or if this is the first time they got together. The fact that they don’t want to tell people could mean it might be just a friends-with-benefits deal and not love. However, it could also be that it is too soon for them to want to make it official yet. Clean Slate’s season 2 could explore this, and confirm what the nature of Harry and Ella’s relationship is, as they could also have slept together in the past.

Why Does Desiree Stay In Mobile In Clean Slate?

Desiree Feels Loved And Wanted For The First Time In Years

While Desiree went back to Mobile to mend her relationship with her father, she didn’t have many expectations. Though she didn’t have money to return to New York, the last thing she was thinking was to stay in her hometown. Fortunately, she is surprised to discover she is loved, wanted, and supported by her newfound community, something apparently she didn’t feel back in the big city. Instead, she explains, she lost herself, had no friends, and was overall tired of the isolated and toxic life in New York.

Gavin’s introduction could change everything, considering the strong hold he has over Desiree, and the bad feelings his presence might conjure up in her.

By the end of Clean Slate, she has even befriended other trans women in town. Additionally, after growing closer to Harry, and cherishing how much Mack and Opal mean to her, Desiree decides to give Mobile a real try. She exclaims she will start looking at local art galleries, hoping to restart her career. Her desire to start a romantic relationship with Mack is also a sign that Desiree can now envision herself staying in Mobile, not to mention that her second baptism also heals her fractured relationship with religion.

The Real Meaning Of Clean Slate’s Ending

The Clean Slate’s Character’s Journeys Are Far From Over

If anything is clear, it is that Desiree’s journey is far from over. In fact, it might be just beginning. Now that she has decided to stay in Mobile, Clean Slate’s season 2 will have plenty to explore. For one, it’s yet to be seen how Desiree will restart her career, and what obstacles she might encounter. It’s also uncertain if Desiree and Mack will work as a couple, and how that could sit with Opal and Harry. With Gavin back, the titular character will also need to finally deal with what happened in New York.

There’s also plenty in store for the rest of the Clean Slate characters. Now that Louis has come out to her close circle, season 2 might see him come out to his church, which could result in him losing his job. Harry and Ella’s relationship also remains unexplored. Finally, Gavin’s introduction could change everything, considering the strong hold he has over Desiree, and the bad feelings his presence might conjure up in her. Considering the ending of Clean Slate season 1, the theme of healing and family remains a priority for the show’s creators.

Sources: Rotten Tomatoes