The Terminal List: Dark Wolf ending explained - Artem’s role in the Bearings deal ends in violence

The finale of The Terminal List: Dark Wolf aired on September 24, 2025, and brought Edwards’ storyline to a close with several direct confrontations. The episode showed Artem’s deal with Danawi collapsing after Edwards and Hastings eliminated him before the planned meeting. Cyrus, who had been managing the bearings transfer to Yousef, was taken out by Farooq.

Haverford’s betrayal came into focus when Edwards confronted him, forcing a confession about his manipulation of Cyrus and others. After turning Haverford in with recorded evidence, Edwards was seen back at Langley, preparing for a polygraph test as he considered returning to the CIA.

In The Terminal List: Dark Wolf, Artem’s involvement in the bearings operation concluded when Edwards and Hastings intercepted him before he could meet Molnar. Operating as a financier in Istanbul, Artem had facilitated a link through Danawi to arrange the exchange, positioning himself as the broker who could ensure the bearings moved forward. His elimination removed a key connection between the Quds Force and the deal.

After the initial confrontation, Landry delivered the final blow, closing Artem’s chapter in the mission. His death shut down one of the crucial bridges in the larger plan, preventing the scheduled meeting from ever taking place. The removal of Artem ensured that the bearings operation lost its Istanbul anchor, making it harder for the task force’s enemies to hold ground.

The events also revealed how fragile the entire chain of command had become, with one elimination unraveling the strategy. Artem’s downfall showed that the plan to transfer Molnar’s bearings into Yousef’s possession was already failing before it reached its peak. By the time his story ended, Artem had gone from an essential middleman to a liability, and his role in advancing the deal collapsed completely.

---

The Terminal List: Dark Wolf: Cyrus’ ambitions collapse under fire

Cyrus’ control over the bearings transfer ended with direct action from Farooq. As the one who had overseen the move from Molnar to Yousef, Cyrus carried expectations of political reward in Iran, believing he would secure a ministerial role once the plan succeeded.

That belief was undercut when Farooq struck, ending his influence over the transaction. Cyrus had relied heavily on Haverford’s backing, assuming the deal would serve as a gateway to power, but the betrayal inside the task force left him unprotected.

His efforts to reach a position of authority through the bearings operation were abruptly cut short. The elimination of Cyrus removed another central figure from the chain, narrowing the circle of those still driving the mission. What had been a carefully staged progression of power ended as soon as Farooq stepped in.

By the end of the episode, Cyrus’ rise had been permanently blocked. His ambitions for leverage in Iranian politics never materialized, and his role in the bearings exchange came to a sudden close. Cyrus went from planning influence at the highest levels to being erased from the board entirely.

---

The Terminal List: Dark Wolf: Haverford confronted over hidden agenda

Haverford’s undisclosed motives were revealed when Edwards appeared at his door and demanded an explanation. Haverford admitted that he had been running a separate plan behind the task force’s back.

He had convinced Cyrus that a political appointment would follow if he delivered the bearings, while at the same time preparing a different outcome. His confession made clear that he had been deceiving both allies and rivals, presenting one version of events to each side.

Edwards obtained records of Haverford’s communications, using them to force a confession that tied him directly to the manipulation. Once confronted, Haverford acknowledged that the promises made to Cyrus were never intended to be fulfilled. His strategy depended on moving the bearings forward while concealing his ultimate goal.

Edwards secured enough evidence to deliver him to authorities, ending his ability to continue operating. The exposure of Haverford’s double role stripped him of cover. What had been a carefully hidden agenda came out in the open through Edwards’ intervention. The confrontation marked the point where Haverford’s position collapsed, and his influence was brought to an end.

---

The Terminal List: Dark Wolf: Edwards takes a step toward the agency again

The final act of the The Terminal List: Dark Wolf episode placed Edwards on a path back toward the CIA. After handling Haverford, he encountered Hank “Dash” Dashnaw, who approached him at Norfolk Gateway Port while Edwards worked on his boat. Dash, a contractor tied to the Agency, suggested Edwards join his team. Edwards immediately declined, stating that his connection with the Agency was finished.

However, the story then jumped ahead by two months, showing Edwards inside Langley. He was seated for a polygraph test designed to verify his past actions, including his missions in Mosul and those carried out under Haverford’s orders. The test was required to clear him for official reinstatement. Edwards’ presence at the CIA headquarters confirmed that he had reversed his earlier stance.

The shift brought his narrative back to government service, suggesting that he was seeking a formal return after distancing himself. The closing image of Edwards under Agency evaluation tied his personal story to the institution once more, closing the episode with his career moving back into the fold of intelligence work.

---

Follow for more updates.