But, of course, her siblings discover her before she can do that. Even worse, her mom does too. What transpires is this raw and ruthless exchange, with both yelling truths the other never wanted nor were intended to hear: Izzy is clear, for the first time, about exactly who she is, and about the mother she wishes she had; Elena divulges the painful truth that Izzy’s always felt and secretly feared—that Izzy was never wanted.
When Lexie, Trip, and Moody hear this, everything changes. Finally, for the first time, they are able to see their mother through Izzy’s eyes. And in their silence and complicity, they see who they, themselves, have become in this house, sculpted by Elena’s views. It’s a shameful realization and one that pushes them to finish what their sister has started. To want to burn down this house and all of its trappings. This cage that’s molded and mutated them.
In burning down the house, they are burning down these versions of who they have been, hoping desperately they can grow into something better, and sending up a smoke signal to Izzy. Telling her that it’s safe to come home. That they are ready to see, accept, and understand her now. The cage has been broken, and they are all free. They can burn these images of who they were, of who Elena wanted them to be, and in the process they can become something better. More full. More real. As a family.
Erin Simkin/Hulu
So back to the initial question: Who started this fire?
It reminds me of that scene from Into the Woods: “It’s your fault…” “No, it’s your fault!” Yes, Izzy poured the gasoline. Her siblings lit the matches. But Elena was the spark that ignited the fire.
In a way Elena did start the fire, as crazy as that initial pitch might have been. She poured the gasoline the very moment that she called the police on Mia and Pearl and, through her words and actions, continued to fan the flames throughout the rest of our series. Each strike, a match. In the end, as she watches her world—the only world she’s ever known—burn down to the ground, Elena realizes that the very person she never wanted is the only person who was brave enough and strong enough to set her free.
Izzy.
Liz Tigelaar is the showrunner and executive producer of Little Fires Everywhere.
