Tully Hart Not Marrying Johnny Was the Right Call – But Firefly Lane’s Ending Still Did Her Dirty

Tully Hart (Katherine Heigl) in Firefly Lane narrowly avoided disaster by not marrying Johnny Ryan (Ben Lawson), but that doesn’t mean her ending in the series wasn’t disappointing. Based on the novel of the same name by Kristin Hannah, Firefly Lane on Netflix followed the decades-long friendship between Tully and Kate Mularkey (Sarah Chalke). Spanning from the 1970s, when they were teenagers, to their adulthood in the 2000s, the series portrayed their love, struggles, and unbreakable bond. However, the ending left many questions, particularly about Tully’s fate.

The Season 2 Fake-Out That Misled Viewers

At the end of Firefly Lane Season 2, Part 1, a post-credits scene teased a mysterious wedding. Johnny appeared in a suit, looking tense as he stood next to Kate’s brother, Sean (Jason McKinnon). Meanwhile, Tully was seen wearing a white slip, saying, “The ceremony can’t start without me.” This scene strongly suggested that Tully and Johnny were about to get married. However, Part 2 revealed the truth: the wedding actually belonged to Marah (Yael Yurman), Kate and Johnny’s daughter, while Tully was merely helping her prepare.

This misleading scene was intentional. Showrunner Maggie Friedman told TheWrap that they wanted to make viewers wonder, “Is Tully going to marry Johnny? Or Danny? What’s happening?” While it was a clever twist, the revelation that Tully and Johnny were never getting married was ultimately a relief for fans.

Tully and Johnny Were Never Meant to Be

A marriage between Tully and Johnny would have made little sense. Though they had a brief romantic past, they never showed any real interest in each other beyond that. The core love story in Firefly Lane was always the platonic friendship between Tully and Kate. By the time of Kate’s passing, Tully was already considered family. Marah even called her “Aunt Tully.” Forcing a romantic relationship between Tully and Johnny would not only have been unnecessary but also could have undermined the significance of Tully and Kate’s friendship.

Moreover, it would have been an odd creative choice to pair Johnny and Tully in the same episode that revealed Kate’s heartbreaking death. It might have implied that Kate’s absence was somehow necessary for their happiness, which would have been a troubling narrative decision.

It also would have been a strange decision to try and match the emotional reveal of Kate’s death with Tully and Johnny getting married.

Danny Was Always the Right Match for Tully

One of the most satisfying aspects of Firefly Lane’s ending was confirming that Tully and Danny Diaz (Ignacio Serricchio) were still together. Tully had always struggled with emotional vulnerability, but Danny was the one who helped her open up. While the show didn’t explicitly state whether they were married, the gold band on Tully’s finger as she adjusted Marah’s veil strongly hinted that their relationship endured. Whether they chose to marry or not, Danny was the right person for Tully, providing her with love and stability in a way no one else had.

Firefly Lane’s Ending Should Have Given Tully More Attention

While the show made the right call by not pairing Tully with Johnny, its finale still fell short in honoring Tully’s journey. Instead of centering on Tully, the episode focused on Marah’s wedding—a subplot that, while touching, felt secondary to the overarching story.

Tully and Kate’s friendship was the heart of Firefly Lane, and the finale should have reflected that more meaningfully. While their final conversation was poignant, the show could have given Tully a more profound send-off—perhaps with a more introspective moment reflecting on her growth or a deeper scene with Danny.

While Firefly Lane avoided a major misstep by not forcing Tully and Johnny together, its conclusion still left something to be desired. Tully had an incredible arc of growth and resilience, and she deserved an ending that fully acknowledged her journey. Nevertheless, the most important takeaway from the series remains the same: the enduring power of Tully and Kate’s friendship, which transcended time, love, and loss.

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