What Happens in The Columnist?
The complete story of The Columnist, from the first scene to the last, in 248 words (about 1 minute). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 5 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
Femke Boot, played by Katja Herbers, is a depressed newspaper columnist struggling under the weight of a demanding publisher and a relentless wave of online harassment. Her life takes a dark turn when she discovers that her obnoxious neighbor, Arjen Tol, is one of her tormentors. In a fit of rage, she murders him and keeps one of his fingers as a trophy. Unexpectedly, this act of violence revitalizes her, allowing her to finally begin writing her book and start a romantic relationship with a novelist named Steven Dood.
As Femke continues to hunt and kill her online abusers, her frequent disappearances create tension within her home. Steven Dood begins to suspect she is having an affair, while her daughter, Anna Boot, grows resentful after her mother misses a crucial presentation.
The cycle of violence culminates when Femke tracks the ringleader of the bullying, Tarik Bos, to his home. In a tragic mistake, she shoots a man she believes is Tarik, only to realize she has actually killed his father and that the real Tarik Bos is merely a teenager. At this moment, Anna and Steven discover the truth about Femke’s serial killing. In the ensuing chaos, Steven attempts to stop her, accidentally startling Femke into shooting the young boy dead. Following a final confrontation, Femke chooses to murder Steven Dood before attending her own book launch party. Despite arriving in blood-stained clothing, the guests mistake her appearance for a bold artistic statement and shower her with applause.
The Columnist Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
14 key events in the order they happen, from “A columnist in crisis” to “The book launch”. 6 events name a place, across 2 locations.
- 1
A columnist in crisis
Femke Boot, a depressed newspaper columnist, faces relentless pressure from her publisher to finally complete her book. At the same time, she endures a seemingly endless stream of harassment from online trolls. The combined stress weighs heavily on her fragile state of mind.
- 2
The harasser next door
Femke discovers that her noisy, obnoxious neighbor is one of the anonymous people tormenting her online. Her private misery suddenly has a face, and it lives just beside her. This realization pushes her toward a drastic act of revenge.
Where:Her apartment building
- 3
Murder and a trophy
Femke murders her neighbor in an eruption of long-suppressed rage, committing her first kill. She keeps one of his fingers as a gruesome trophy from the deed. Strangely, the murder lifts her spirits in a way nothing else has.
Where:Her apartment building
- 4
A creative rebirth
Loosened from her depression by the killing, Femke finally begins writing her book again. The violence acts as a twisted cure for her writer's block and her despair. Her outlook on life brightens noticeably from this point on.
- 5
A romance with Steven
Femke begins a romance with a novelist named Steven. Her newfound confidence makes her open to love in a way she has not been before. The new relationship initially promises a fresh start for her personal life.
- 6
Hunting the trolls
Emboldened by her first murder, Femke starts actively tracking down and killing her online abusers. Each death lifts her spirits further but pulls her deeper into a secret life of violence. Her double life begins demanding more and more of her time.
- 7
Steven grows suspicious
Femke's frequent and unexplained absences begin to take a toll on her relationship with Steven. He comes to believe that she is cheating on him. Unable to explain where she truly goes, the cracks in their romance only deepen.
- 8
Anna's disappointment
Femke's daughter Anna is hurt and angry when her mother misses an important presentation. The unexplained absences strain the bond between them as well. Anna grows increasingly resentful as Femke keeps prioritizing her murderous quest over her family.
- 9
Trailing Tarik
Femke eventually identifies and tracks down the ringleader of the online bullying, a man she knows as Tarik, to his home. She prepares to end the harassment at its source once and for all. This confrontation represents the culmination of her entire killing spree.
Where:Tarik's home
- 10
A fatal misidentification
Femke shoots the person she believes to be Tarik, only to discover a horrifying truth. Her victim is actually Tarik's father, and the ringleader of the bullying is in fact a teenage boy. The mistake shatters any moral comfort she took in her mission.
Where:Tarik's home
Show the other 4 events of The Columnist Hide the last 4 events
- 11
The truth comes out
Meanwhile, Anna and Steven piece together what has been happening and realize that Femke is a serial killer. Their worst suspicions about her absences are suddenly confirmed. Any hope of preserving their family collapses under the weight of the revelation.
- 12
Steven intervenes
Steven rushes to stop Femke before she can kill again. His sudden arrival startles her at the worst possible moment, causing her to reflexively shoot the teenage Tarik dead. His attempt to save her instead precipitates yet another murder.
Where:Tarik's home
- 13
Killing the witness
After a tense confrontation with Steven, Femke makes her final choice. Rather than allow him to stop or expose her, she kills him to protect her secret. The man she loved becomes her latest victim.
Where:Tarik's home
- 14
The book launch
Defiant, Femke attends her long-awaited book launch party without changing out of her bloodstained clothes. The attendees all assume the gore is an artistic statement befitting her work. They applaud her enthusiastically, unaware that a serial killer stands in their midst.
Quiz
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