Strange is perhaps the best way to describe how Culprits Season 1 wraps up. The way events play out feels offbeat, with a conclusion that, while resolving key conflicts, does not follow a conventional path. Although the expected outcomes are seen, there is still an air of unpredictability in how it all comes together.
Certain moments in the episode take an unexpected turn, yet the reactions from the characters do not always match what one might anticipate. On the other hand, some developments that were easy to foresee still manage to be surprising in the way they play out.
A collision of fate, revenge, and deception (Photo: Culprits/M.G. Films)It is difficult to determine whether the execution was admirable, enjoyable, or perhaps neither.
Culprits Season 1 Episode 8 Recap
After the events of Episode 7, Joe reaches out to Dianne using a secret code, but the message is intercepted by Fixer. Fixer is not pleased to hear from him and strongly advises that he flee to America immediately.
However, Fixer is aware of the Devil’s actions in eliminating the entire crew, which means he must also realize that running away is not an option for Joe. Despite this, Joe manages to convince Dianne to meet him by claiming to have crucial information.
When they finally speak, he confronts her with what he has learned about the key and the box, making it clear that he is determined to uncover Vincent’s true identity.
Who is Vincent Hawkes?
Dianne sheds light on the history of Eden Motor Company, an automobile manufacturer responsible for producing a fleet of defective vehicles. These cars tended to explode unexpectedly.
The company had to make a tough decision: recall the vehicles and take a financial and reputational hit or cover up the issue and gamble on lawsuits costing less than a recall. The board chose to recall the cars. However, Vincent held a controlling stake in Eden Motors, owning 52% of the company.
His authority allowed him to override the recall decision. The tragic consequence of this decision directly affected Dianne—her sister, brother-in-law, and niece lost their lives in an accident involving one of the defective cars. Seeking justice, Dianne set out to destroy Vincent financially.
The Key and the Box
Draining someone’s wealth by stealing millions in cash might seem like a surefire way to achieve bankruptcy, but for Vincent, that was not the case. His true fortune was hidden in cryptocurrency.
Vincent had transferred most of his assets into digital currency, accessible only through a key that Dianne had managed to steal from the Morello vault. Without the key, the box holding his fortune could not be unlocked, and without the box, the key was useless.
David cleverly deceives Dianne into believing that he is on her side and willing to help her retrieve the box. Though she remains wary, his desperation, especially regarding his family, convinces her to give him a chance.
However, retrieving the box requires more hands, which leads them to bring in two additional team members—Officer and Azar—who have survived up to this point and are prepared to assist. It is difficult to understand why Dianne would choose to trust people she has previously manipulated, yet she takes the risk.
What Happens to Vincent’s Cryptocurrency?
Dianne’s gamble does not work in her favor. Just as she prepares to use the key on the box, Hawkes arrives with an armed group, launching an ambush. He demands that Joe hand over the key, and despite Dianne’s frustration, Joe complies.
However, Joe has another plan in mind. He quickly grabs a weapon, eliminates several of Vincent’s men, and then turns his gun on Vincent himself. Holding him at gunpoint, Joe demands that he order his men to stand down and call off the pursuit of his family.
He refuses to act until he is certain that Jules and the children are safe. Vincent, unwilling to negotiate, stands his ground. With no other option, Joe snaps the crypto key in half, ensuring that Vincent’s wealth is lost forever. This act achieves Dianne’s goal—Vincent is now penniless.
But for her, this alone is not enough. Without hesitation, she shoots him dead, raising the question of why she went through such a complicated scheme to ruin him when she had opportunities to eliminate him earlier.
A flashback in the episode even reveals that she once held him at gunpoint in an upscale restroom, confessing to being the one who had stolen from him.
As if to emphasize how little loyalty Vincent commanded, his assistant wastes no time abandoning him. She immediately agrees to call off the team that had been chasing Jules and the children.
Why Does Azar Kill Officer?
Just when it appears that everything is settling down, an unexpected tragedy occurs. As the group prepares to leave, Azar suddenly shoots Officer in the back, killing her. Joe is devastated, cradling Officer’s lifeless body and demanding to know why Azar did it.
Choices made in the past echo with deadly consequences (Photo: Culprits/M.G. Films)She justifies her actions by revealing that the Officer had betrayed them and was responsible for the deaths of her father and grandfather. While her reasoning carries some weight, the swiftness of the act is shocking. Even Joe, despite his grief, quickly accepts what has happened and walks away.
How Does Culprits Season 1 End?
Despite the chaos, Culprits delivers a conclusion that could be considered a happy ending. Joe, meanwhile, makes his way to Canada and delivers a conclusion that could be considered a happy ending.
The officer is given a proper burial, and Dianne visits the graves of her sister, brother-in-law, and niece. Joe, meanwhile, makes his way to Canada, reuniting with his family. Jules welcomes him back without hesitation, asking what he truly wants.
Joe’s response is simple—he wants to be with him, to marry him, and to raise his children together. Jules seems content with that answer, and as they reach out to hold each other’s hands, the story draws to a close. Almost, but not quite.
During the credits, an additional scene reveals the fate of Joe’s hidden fortune. The suitcase he buried is shown split open, with bundles of vacuum-sealed cash floating down a river.
