The Assassin ending explained: Edward’s past, Julie’s decisions, and the Cross family’s fate revealed

The last episode of The Assassin answers the questions regarding Edward's past, Julie's motives and actions, and the real place of the Cross family. The series ends with a series of bloody confrontations, the long-secret truths finally uncovered, and the surviving characters being presented with new beginnings.

The narrative concludes with the main question being answered: Edward's past, the Cross family's destiny, and Julie's decisions are all revealed.

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Edward's parentage and origins are disclosed

Edward's history is finally revealed in depth in the finale of The Assassin. He awakens after being drugged by Marie, whom he believes is his aunt. But the truth is revealed: Edward's biological dad, Jean-Luc, was an arms trader murdered almost three decades ago.

The murder was not accidental. Julie, a hired assassin, was hired by Aaron Cross and Leila Cross to kill Jean-Luc. Jean-Luc was threatening Cross Global Mining's business interests. "Chantaines," the frequently used term during the series, is the codename of this assassination plan devised by Aaron and Leila.

Julie is also responsible for attacking Marie after killing Jean-Luc, nearly killing her as well. Marie survives, despite being shot in the head, according to information revealed in the finale.

Edward, then a child, is hidden from the world by Julie, growing up unaware of his true heritage. Marie’s resentment towards Julie and Edward emerges from these actions; her partner is dead, and her son is taken away.

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Julie's rescue operation and compound breakout in the finale of The Assassin

On discovering the reality, Julie moves to rescue Edward. She hacks into the compound where Edward is being kept, utilizing explosives to disarm and kill guards as per the details shown on screen. Edward, in the meantime, is being detained by Marie, under the influence of drugs used to make him subservient.

While Julie navigates through security and enemies, Marie employs surveillance to taunt Julie and Edward. She also discloses that Edward was born through surrogacy, adding more confusion to the relationship. Luka, who survived a past violent attack involving the Cross family, is a remote supporter of Julie, updating and motivating her moves.

When Julie reaches Edward, they are attacked multiple times by Marie's goons. Julie disposes of the threats with guns and explosions while taking Edward to safety. The tension builds when the duo is ambushed in a final attack by Marie.

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The confrontation with Marie and the consequences

The dramatic peak of the final episode of The Assassin is a standoff among Julie, Edward, and Marie. Marie has a weapon and uncovers her lack of feeling for both Edward and Julie. She again expresses her lack of emotional response and defends her actions. In the confrontation, Edward grabs a gun and kills Marie before she injures Julie again. The act ceases Marie's pursuit of revenge.

Meanwhile, Luka can identify one of his former assailants and murders him, completing his arc associated with the central conflict. Aaron Cross, meanwhile, the patriarch whose ambitions and choices opened up the main plot, dies after taking a drug overdose. This is presented as a suicide, not a murder, and leaves leadership of the Cross family operations to his son Ezra.

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Three months later: New lives and unanswered questions

The last shots of The Assassin are three months after Marie and Aaron's deaths. Edward is seen to have regained physical strength. He gets on a yacht with Julie and Kayla, sailing towards meeting Edward's biological surrogacy mother. The suggestion is that Edward will seek his origins and maybe reconciliation.

Julie is in touch with Luka, and he is free and not working for the Cross family. Now that their common enemies are eliminated, both Edward and Julie have fresh starts without the immediate dangers and deceptions that dictated their choices before. Ezra and the Cross business are left hinted as being unfinished, but no longer pivotal to Edward's existence.

Though not all of the minor subplots are resolved, The Assassin concludes with the resolution of the major threads. Edward's heritage, Marie's reasons, Julie's decisions, and the Cross family's involvement are all made clear.

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In a nutshell, Edward lives, Julie flees with him, and the cycle of violence ends with the main characters either deceased or leaving.

Watch the finale of The Assassin on Prime Video.