Trigger, Netflix thrusts viewers into a fictional South Korea where guns are outlawed, but violence still seeps through. The finale delivers a tense showdown between former sniper–turned–cop Lee Do and enigmatic arms dealer Moon Baek. As the nation edges toward armed anarchy, the series closes by tying together its core themes of trauma, broken systems, and the blurry line between hero and villain.
A High-Stakes Chase Exposes Trauma, Revenge, and Moral Complexity
The drama, directed by Kwon Oh-seung, builds its tension around a psychological cat-and-mouse game. Lee Do, driven by justice but haunted by his past, chases the elusive Moon Baek, whose operations unleash a wave of illegal firearms across the country.
The finale pushes their conflict to the limit when Baek hacks police systems and manipulates events, resulting in a deadly confrontation where both Lee Do and his superior, Hyun-sik, are shot. Despite surviving, Lee Do witnesses firsthand how Baek’s master plan pushes the nation into chaos.
Trigger (Bidangil Pictures)Moon Baek’s motives form the emotional centre of the ending. While his actions inciting riots, enabling murders, and spreading fear are unquestionably horrific, the narrative refuses to cast him as a villain in simple terms.
His childhood abandonment, trafficking experiences, lifelong violence, and terminal cancer diagnosis reveal a man consumed by rage rather than greed. His “free guns” movement becomes less a mission for power and more a final, warped act of revenge against a society that failed him.
A Final Confrontation That Redefines Justice, Humanity, and the Unfinished Battle Ahead
In the midst of national collapse, Lee Do chooses compassion. Instead of pursuing vengeance, he saves a terrified child during a riot sparked by Baek’s gun distribution. This human decision becomes a turning point as civilians begin voluntarily surrendering their weapons.
Later, Do quietly visits Baek in the hospital only to see a mysterious woman, implied to be an assassin sent by Baek’s foreign supplier. Her eerie smile hints that Baek’s story may not end peacefully.
The finale leaves the door open for a continuation. Lee Do resumes his police duties and cares for the rescued child, but uncertainty lingers. Baek’s fate remains unknown, and his arms supplier is still very much interested in South Korea’s gun market. Trigger closes with a chilling question rather than a resolution: even if Moon Baek is gone, is the danger truly over?
