Eu acho que o Mestre tem um "final feliz" mostrando o embaçamento das fronteiras entre protagonista e antagonista, bem e mal. No final, somos todos apenas homens (ou mulheres). Fazemos o que costumávamos fazer, ficamos felizes e esperamos que esta não seja a nossa única vida.
Aqui está uma boa teoria de algum membro em um fórum :
When he is having sex and brings up Dodd’s practice, he seems to be trying to hypnotize himself, which brings us to one of the earlier shots of him caressing the sand-lady. He was happy, free, and at peace in that moment when Dodd woke him up from the hypnosis. He is trying to recall that ecstasy, but never will be able to again. His life only had purpose with Dodd, yet he refuses to surrender all of his dignity to be with him.
Freddie was indebted to Dodd for showing his life as something brave and wonderful, and Freddie stayed despite all the mind games and ego-tripping. But when he walks through the ominous halls of Dodd’s now successful legion of loons, it occurs to him he will always come second, and in the presence of others be an artifact of Dodd’s brilliant insights.
In short: Freddie left.
David Thomson é o autor de The Big Screen: A História dos Filmes (Farrar, Straus e Giroux). Um artigo apareceu na edição de 4 de outubro de 2012 da revista. Ele escreveu lá :
There is an ending that, if you wish, you can call enigmatic or mysterious, or just a helpless way of drawing the attenuated proceedings to a close.
Outra revisão compartilha um bom ponto do filme conosco :
Right from the beginning, Dodd pegs Freddie all wrong. He calls Freddie a “hopelessly inquisitive man,” except he is nothing of the sort. Freddie doesn’t need a master to live his life. All he needs is a beach he can draw a naked woman on and cuddle up next to. Dodd – whether because he seeks so aggressively to become one or because he genuinely needs one himself – can’t understand a Master-less existence.
As chaotic as Freddie’s state of mind is, he has this life figured out. Dodd is the lost one who needs guidance. The final minutes show the cult leader will always wear an artificial mask, while Freddie will continue on his childlike and comfy routine, never having to hide who he is.
No entanto, não consegui encontrar nenhuma interpretação do diretor do final em qualquer lugar. De qualquer forma isso é uma boa referência para muitos bons críticos sobre o filme.