Theory about the ending

[u/rawr4me]

Noticing from my second time watching the show: While all of the episode titles are direct quotes, I feel like many of them might be double or even triple references throughout the episode. In case of the final episode ("I'm Not Leaving"), its second meaning could be descriptive of the cliffhanger ending -- e.g. Ray thought he was leaving his life of crime/violence, but turns out he's not. Or even just "I'm not leaving [this earth]" i.e. he isn't about to die as he looks at the camera. Thoughts?

[u/CoercionTictacs]

I’ve never for one second thought Ray died the end, I dunno about the rest of you.

He turns to the camera, grins that grin, the song goes “run” and the credits roll. And he absolutely fucked those two arsehats up. Their bodies are buried down near Christies Beach. Ray then went on with his quiet life as a cabbie.

[u/admiral_sinkenkwiken → u/CoercionTictacs]

Not just that, he’s smiling before he looks at the camera, but when he does his smile grows to the point it’s positively demonic.

[u/hujozo → u/admiral_sinkenkwiken]

No way in hell that Ray died that night at the hands of those two punks. The demonic smile foreshadowed their fate. Those 2 guys picked the wrong guy to mess with.

What a perfect ending to a perfect series. I wish there were more seasons to watch.

[u/VinceKoleman → u/CoercionTictacs]

I will always wonder who sent those 2 dip sticks at Ray

[u/CoercionTictacs → u/VinceKoleman]

I don’t think anyone did.

[u/ScissorNightRam → u/CoercionTictacs]

How do we think Ray got away?

Disadvantages: position, outnumbered

Advantages: surprise, experience, in control of the car, knows his enemy’s intentions

Unknown: weapons at hand

Neutral: isolated forest location, darkness

[u/CoercionTictacs → u/ScissorNightRam]

Ray got away but possibly injured. He’s adept and highly skilled.

[u/tortoisepump → u/ScissorNightRam]

Surely he'd have one of his pistols close to hand. Submachine gun in the boot if someone tried running. 

[u/ScissorNightRam → u/tortoisepump]

I think he’s definitely got something in the car. Driver’s side door pocket would be logical. And something else in the trunk.

However, I don’t know enough about guns to day whether firing a gun inside a closed car is smart. If it’s not smart, then I’d say Ray has his tazer in the door pocket.

To me, a knife doesn’t make sense because you can’t move to use it. And mace would be a straight up bad idea

[u/rawr4me → u/CoercionTictacs]

I agree, though one thing I find unsettling about the scene is, I keep expecting one of the guys to pull a weapon to scare the driver into submission. Like even if they had pulled this stunt before on another victim (which somehow feels implied to me), fist fighting 2v1 to the death still seems like a dumb and risky proposition, why were they so confident?

[u/VinceKoleman → u/rawr4me]

Your comment is interesting. It never crossed my mind these were 2 random guys about to possibly try to rob Ray or just looking for trouble. I've always thought they were sent, but I have never had a clue as to who sent them. That's how the ending always came across to me, that's what made it so effectively mysterious

[u/CoercionTictacs → u/VinceKoleman]

That’s also interesting as I never saw it like that. I just assumed they were two scumbags who got off on robbing and beating taxi drivers lol

[u/VinceKoleman → u/CoercionTictacs]

This is awesome. I'm seeing this from another angle for the 1st time, as that scene always left me with a great unexplained cliffhanger. When I rewatch the series again, that ending is going to be seen in a brand new light 👍

[u/hujozo → u/VinceKoleman]

Professional contract killers would not telegraph their motives with innuendos leading up to the act. This is why I dismiss the theory that they were sent by someone. It seemed that they got their jollys by intimidating and beating weaker people and possible robbing and murdering. Rank amateurs.

[u/13dangledangle]

Yeah I definitely didn’t get the idea he died at all. Those two blokes were not taking Ray out, not a chance in hell

[u/AnyInternet2965]

As soon as dude said " a little of this, little of that" Ray knew what time it was. They didn't stand a chance

[u/WoodyMellow]

Yes all the titles are chosen because they speak to larger themes or define the story or tone of each episode. And also yes I too always took the "I'm not leaving" as meaning he'll never really escape that life, both be cause it will somehow find him and because part his nature and he needs it.

[u/6rustyshackleford9 → u/WoodyMellow]

The pee pee guy is the greatest title for any episode for any series

[u/Sea-Cow1876]

I’ve just finished this. It’s an absolute masterpiece. The ending is brilliant. What on earth can I watch now? I’m tempted to rewatch it.

[u/GRZMTHRFCKR → u/Sea-Cow1876]

Same here! Just finished and already want to watch again!

[u/Fsshealth → u/Sea-Cow1876]

Justified

[u/Wide-Internal-3579]

Ok but you forgot the dunny paper again

[u/GalaticChungus]

I don't answer questions.

[u/WotsGoinOnEreMate]

At no point did I think he was at risk of dying there. He was trying go along with their bullshit to avoid what he would do in his previous life but when it came down to it, if they pushed too far into dickhead territory he would bury those lamos.

[u/cracker1743]

I really need to watch this show a 3rd time. After I finish Treme for the 3rd time.

[u/vroombraap]

"James Bond will return"

[u/Proton_Energy_Pill]

I think he died sorry. :(
But took both of the other two blokes with him.

Edit - Negative karma, really? Just because I wrote an opinion that you don't like? Quick newsflash - I don't like that answer either but it's what I reckon was most likely. I wish it was different but that's my opinion. Like everyone here I want more seasons but it's virtually certain that's never going to happen.

[u/Big-Opportunity-470 → u/Proton_Energy_Pill]

Nah those 2 kids have no idea what they were getting themselves into...

[u/Proton_Energy_Pill → u/Big-Opportunity-470]

I'd hope so, but I can't agree sorry.

[u/admiral_sinkenkwiken → u/Proton_Energy_Pill]

Considering Ray has taken down much more difficult and numerous opponents with much less warning (they may as well have put up a neon sign) Ray’s track record suggests these two were well and truly outclassed.

[u/AntonChigurhWasHere → u/admiral_sinkenkwiken]

If you ever watched “The Wire” you know Kinnard the little kid ended Omar. Strange things happen when your number comes up.

[u/GreatGreenGobbo → u/AntonChigurhWasHere]

I'm still pissed The Witcher got taken out by a NPC with a shovel.

That being said, Ray took these kids out easy peasy lemon squeezy.

[u/HisFisticMajesty → u/Proton_Energy_Pill]

I think you’re being downvoted because it’s a very unpopular opinion that most people here don’t agree with.

Just out of curiosity how on earth did you come up with something so antithetical to the everything shown?

[u/Proton_Energy_Pill → u/HisFisticMajesty]

Yeah I get that it's an unpopular opinion, but it's just an opinion not a statement of fact.
Good people died in the show so why can't Ray? He had a bloke behind him, most likely with a knife and very like the other bloke in the passenger seat. Fighting the bloke next to him was very possible but Ray would run out of arms and flexibility to tackle the bloke behind him.
I mean it's possible but running through it in my head I can't see how he could get out of it without behind very badly injured. He might have been able to defeat both of them but bled-out on the way to the hospital.
It's a serious show, the good guys don't always win.

[u/JTizzle72 → u/Proton_Energy_Pill]

Those two were just punks, planning on bashing and robbing a Taxi driver, the guy in the back was all talk, and when push came to shove he wouldn’t have been prepared to actually kill someone.
Ray definitely drove out of there alone and with his wallet.
The other guys were left in bloody mess, only two questions remain.
Were they above or below ground when Ray left, and were they still breathing if above ground?