Summary
A great episode ruined in the final moments. This is sure to be a divisive ending that will more than likely infuriate loyal viewers. Is it about the journey or the destination? Well, in Shantaram you don’t get any satisfaction in either of those departments.
What’s more important, the journey or the destination? It’s an age-old debate that seems to pop up when discussing controversial season finales in particular. Should we accept an ending for what it is and just focus on enjoying the journey there or are endings much more important than that? Most fans would agree that they’d prefer to have both thank you very much. And great TV manages to do just that, building a fascinating story over multiple episodes that concludes in an equally satisfying finale. The first season of Shantaram has been a tough journey, to say the least, with many ups and downs over the course of its twelve-episode run. But can it redeem itself in the final installment?
Shantaram season 1, episode 12 recap
The finale opens with Prabhu driving Lin away to safety. He’s just avoided arrest once again, but he’s not in the clear yet. The fugitive has no passport and nowhere to hide, whilst Wally Nightingale is on to him. Lin’s first thoughts are of Karla and he wants to see if she is alright. Abdullah is also heading to her apartment, where he finds Modena bleeding out on the floor. They take him to be treated, but he’s too ill to reveal Karla’s exact location.
Meanwhile, Lin’s lover is taken hostage at Madame Zhou’s Palace. It’s evident that the criminal wants revenge, these ladies have a history. She tells Karla and Lisa that they will be sold off to the highest bidder. Karla hasn’t given up just yet though; she starts to hunt out for any hidden passages in her cell and notices a hollow-sounding wall. Karla gets to work pummeling this wall to freedom, whilst Lisa distracts the guards by banging on the door, pleading to be let out.
Kavita’s story is published on the front page of the Bombay National, with the headline: Sex, Scandal, and Sagar Wada. Walid reads the article to his audience of goons and demands the author be killed immediately. The whole city is talking about the article, but Kavita isn’t celebrating. She’s noticed that her boyfriend Nishant has stolen all the glory, putting his name as the author. Kavita sprints over to his office and screams in the man’s face. Nishant defends himself, saying that he only did it to protect Kavita, but she isn’t interested. She storms off, calling him a liar and a thief. Literally seconds later, Nishant is assassinated by one of Walid’s foot soldiers. Nishant was right and he sacrifices his life to save Kavita’s.
Modena wakes in the hospital and updates Lin on the situation. Maurizio shot him and then took the ladies to the Palace. He wants their drug money returning. Modena explains that the money is at the train station. He passes Lin the key to the locker. Lin swiftly departs and retrieves the bag of money. They estimate that there is probably around 200 k in there. Didier and Prabhu consider taking a little for themselves, but Lin wants to return it all and to be done with this saga. He heads for the Palace with the bag for a quick trade-off. Didier offers his gun and Prabhu takes it in secret.
Outside the Palace, Prabhu counts the bag of money in his taxi cab, as protesters march by, eager to storm the gates. The Bombay citizens are furious with the corruption spoken about in Kavita’s story and have targeted Madame Zhou’s building first. While Prabhu is distracted, an officer clocks his taxi and informs Wally of the sighting. Lin meets with Zhou and Maurizio for the trade but presents them with an empty bag instead. He wants Lisa and Karla to return safely, then he’ll hand over the money.
Maurizio has no time for these games though and holds a gun to Lin’s head. He wants the money now. Karla and Lisa escape their prison just in time to save the day. Lisa knocks Maurizio to the floor as he exits the room, then a tussle follows. Lisa grabs the gun and shoots Maurizio multiple times in the chest. The trio leave, sparing Madame Zhou, and head for Prabhu’s getaway car. Prabhu spots the growing police presence and drives off before rescuing his friends though. Lin spots Wally descending upon the scene, and they take a different exit too.
Khader and Walid both plan their final line of attack. The crime bosses are both using the corrupt Sergeant Sanjay in their schemes, but which side does his allegiance actually lie with? The showrunners set things up in a clever way. It looks like Sanjay has sided with Walid and an ambush is planned, but this was all just a ruse. Sanjay, with the full force of the law, actually turns on Walid and a shoot-out ensues. Rafiq is gunned down first and then Abdullah executes Walid. Khader has won the war after all.
Our gang of heroes reconvenes at Didier’s flat. Prabhu brings them the bag of money, which he has now counted. They have 302 k in their grasps. Didier updates them on Walid’s death. It’s celebrations all around, but Lisa wants to return to Modena. Lin hands her the money and Lisa leaves. Lin has been a little naughty though, he passes Prabhu a parting gift. He’s put aside some of the money just for the tour guide. Prabhu is and always will be the real hero of Shantaram and this is a touching moment — Prabhu deserves to be happy!
Shantaram season 1 ending explained
Karla and Lin retire back to her apartment for some private celebrations. The two lovebirds head into the bedroom and Karla finally declares her love to Lin. She plans on meeting with Khader the next day to get Lin’s passport back, so they can run away together. Khader and Karla say their goodbyes to one another. Khader says that he may have won, but he’ll have to be patient before taking the slums officially. Khader hands over Lin’s passport as a farewell gift.
While Lin and Karla plan their escape, Kavita is planning her revenge. She blames Karla for Nishant’s death and heads to the police station to assist in Lin’s capture. Kavita hands Wally the address of Karla’s apartment. The police head straight to Karla’s flat. Lisa halves the drug money and offers the cash to Lin. He takes the bag just as the police are arriving. Wally chases after Lin, who escapes to the rooftop. Wally has him cornered now, with nowhere to go. Lin tries to plead with Wally, but he’s out of luck, this is about as personal as it gets and Wally isn’t leaving without his fugitive in handcuffs. Lin even considers shooting the detective, although he decides to jump instead.
Lin escapes without the money and races to the train station to greet Karla. Unfortunately, the police are waiting for him there and Lin is subsequently arrested. Our happy ending is shattered. In the next scene, Lin is tortured and Karla leaves on the train alone. In the final moments, a caption states that the story is “to be continued.” This unhappy and surprisingly unfinished ending will surely anger fans of the series. A perfect finale was unnecessarily ruined in the final moments.
What did you think of Shantaram season 1, episode 12, and the ending? Comment below.
I love this show (especially Prabhu’s soulful character – so well cast). Have watched every episode and I’m so gutted to hear Apple may not renew it.
The huge surprise was that Apple canceled season two to everybody’s total upset. What a huge mistake.
The final is kind of the novel story cause Lin does get arrested, after you read more of the novel you will understand what happen and the reason and you won’t like it
Was a little slow at times but a gr8 show in the end an why Apple would you have cancelled #2 I mean seriously hope this descion comes back an bites you on your arse ?
Please have season 2 as enjoyed series very much and no ending
After all the time it took to get the show up and running it’s a travesty to cancel. I wish you at Apple + would re-consider. Charlie Hunnam is the perfect Lin and the other characters are also great. Think about a little longer, please.
I loved watching this show every week and I love Charlie Hunman and the whole cast. Episode 12 was so well done until the last few minutes. I can’t believe you ended it that way with no season 2. Also it took Karla so long to tell him she lives him and viewers got to guess she left on the train alone. She wouldn’t have done that she would have looked for him. shame on Apple for ending it this way.
My husband and I really enjoyed this series. It’s a gripping story filmed in an exotic locale, so of course we loved it. And it seemed like the story was really hitting its stride when Season One ended. I couldn’t wait for Season Two. I am really crushed to learn that the series was canceled. Apple really dropped the ball.
Loved every moment of it quite devastated to hear it has been cancelled
WHAT A RIDICULOUS DECISIONFROM APPLE CANCEL THE SEASON , ALSO WILL CANCEL THE SUBSCRIPTION FROM APPLE
Not right !! No Season 2 and you leave us with that ending !!!!! Very disappointed!!
I want Season 2! What’s up with Appletv????
Great series but horrible ending especially with no season two in the works. The characters were done so well but the ending mars all of the great work done on this show. What were they thinking at Apple?? Bad choice.
Totally wrong for Apple to cancel this excellent show. What a waste of my viewership.
What a riveting series. What a rip off ending. I will never trust Apple again.
Not finishing and leaving us all like that is unethical.
For everyone that is disappointed that a season two won’t happen…BUY THE BOOK, It is much better than the series and I think the series was fantastic!
Reading is wonderful and you will get lost in this compelling story! Read it with a highlighter, there are some really great Observations and quotes by Lin Baba!