{"id":50242,"date":"2024-04-25T13:00:01","date_gmt":"2024-04-25T11:00:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=2027965"},"modified":"2024-04-25T13:48:11","modified_gmt":"2024-04-25T11:48:11","slug":"dead-boy-detectives-ending-explained-is-spoiler-still-alive","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/dead-boy-detectives-ending-explained-is-spoiler-still-alive\/","title":{"rendered":"Dead Boy Detectives ending explained: Is [SPOILER] still alive?"},"content":{"rendered":"

What does that final scene mean? <\/p>

By Louise Griffin\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Thursday, 25 April 2024 at 11:00 AM<\/p>

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*Warning: Full spoilers ahead for Dead Boy Detectives episode 8*<\/strong><\/p>\n

Another Neil Gaiman<\/a> adaptation has hit our screens and fans are clamouring for more from the Dead Boy Detectives<\/a> after that cliffhanger of an ending.<\/p>\n

The Netflix, starring George Rexstrew and Jayden Revri<\/a>, sees Charles and Edwin, two dead teenage boys, run a detective agency to solve the cases of fellow ghosts who are unable to move on \u2013 all the while escaping the clutches of Death, played by Kirby,<\/a> who reprises her role from The Sandman<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Along the way, they meet Crystal (Kassius Nelson) and Niko (Yuyu Kitamura), who become part of the gang \u2013 until a tragedy befalls them in the finale.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s everything that went down in that brutal final episode and how the ending sets us up for more from our dead boy detectives.<\/p>\n

Dead Boy Detectives ending explained: Is Niko still alive?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

It doesn\u2019t seem possible that Niko\u2019s actually alive \u2013 but she could still be around in death<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The episode begins with Edwin and Niko having a heart to heart, with Edwin thanking her for saving his life, and telling her indirectly that he confessed his feelings to Charles<\/a>.<\/p>\n

When the gang are saying goodbye to Crystal (more on that later), the butcher shop explodes, thanks to a sabotage attempt from Esther (Jenn Lyon). She captures Charles and Edwin, and Crystal and Niko agree to rescue them.<\/p>\n

\"Yuyu\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Yuyu Kitamura as Niko Sasaki in Dead Boy Detectives.<\/span><\/figcaption> Netflix<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

They track down the Cat King (Lukas Gage) who admits he\u2019s terrified of Esther after she almost killed him. He gives them a rundown of Esther\u2019s story \u2013 that she made a deal with the goddess Lilith for eternal life, but not eternal youth, so has taken to feeding young girls to her pet snake to harvest their youth.<\/p>\n

He tells them they need enchanted black salt to take her down, so the pair head to Tragic Mick\u2019s. Realising he can\u2019t stop them, Tragic Mick (Michael Beach) gives Niko a good luck charm \u2013 a bear amulet \u2013 to thank her for listening to his story.<\/p>\n

She and Crystal sneak into Esther\u2019s house and Niko goes to free Charles \u2013 with some help from Monty the crow. She races to free Edwin while Crystal distracts Esther.<\/p>\n

Undeterred by the black salt, Esther continues to torture Edwin while Charles kills the snake that\u2019s been eating the children. While Crystal attempts to distract her, it\u2019s not enough and Esther notices Niko sneaking up on her.<\/p>\n

\"Yuyu\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Yuyu Kitamura as Niko Sasaki and Kassius Nelson as Crystal Palace in Dead Boy Detectives.<\/span><\/figcaption> Netflix<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Esther fires a spell at Crystal in an attempt to kill her, but Niko jumps in front of her, sacrificing herself for her friend<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

After Crystal defeats Esther, she, Charles, Edwin and Jenny mourn the tragic loss of Niko. But is she really gone? The final scene in the series shows us a mysterious figure hiding out in an igloo, accompanied by Niko\u2019s sprites (played by Max Jenkins and Caitlin Reilly)<\/p>\n

While the figure doesn\u2019t speak, they hold out a gloved hand to reveal the bear charm given to Niko by Tragic Mick.<\/p>\n

Addressing the possibility that Niko could still be around, showrunner Steve Yockey kept tight-lipped, but did hint to RadioTimes.com<\/a>: \u201cI think that, if Niko is still around, she has quite a journey in front of her to get back to the rest of the agency.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Michael\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Michael Beach as Tragic Mick in Dead Boy Detectives.<\/span><\/figcaption> Netflix<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

From where we\u2019re standing, that sounds very much like it could set up a season 2! Yockey said of a potential future for the show: \u201cWe\u2019re in a wait and see mode at the moment. We have a plan for season 2, we have ideas for a season 3, so any Netflix execs that are watching\u2026 it has this overriding mythology but because it\u2019s case of the week, it feels a little bit like it could just keep going so obviously we\u2019d love to make more.\u201d<\/p>\n

As for any other clues about a potential season 2? Yockey only gave away that we\u2019re likely to be looking at \u201cmore time in London\u201d as we catch up with our favourite detective agency once again.<\/p>\n

What happened to Charles and Edwin?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Jayden\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Jayden Revri as Charles Rowland and George Rexstrew as Edwin Payne in Dead Boy Detectives.<\/span><\/figcaption> Ed Araquel\/Netflix<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

By the end of the series, it\u2019s agreed that Charles and Edwin are allowed to continue the Dead Boy Detectives agency<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

A mysterious figure, credited only as The Principal on IMDB and played by Tamlyn Tomita, orders them to finally make their way to the afterlife \u2013 however, she soon realises that Charles and Edwin are only doing a similar job to the Lost & Found department and that their work is actually useful.<\/p>\n

She orders the Night Nurse to chaperone the boys in their work as they continue the agency.<\/p>\n

Something tells us that\u2019s not the last we\u2019ll see of Tomita in The Sandman universe, especially considering the mystery around her character.<\/p>\n

What happened to Crystal?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Jayden\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Jayden Revri as Charles Rowland, Kassius Nelson as Crystal Palace, and George Rexstrew as Edwin Payne in Dead Boy Detectives.<\/span><\/figcaption> Netflix<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Episode 8 picks up with Crystal regaining her memories \u2013 and it\u2019s not a happy experience for her, as she discovers she was actually an awful person in her past life.<\/p>\n

She also remembers her parents \u2013 but in a crashing realisation, discovers they don\u2019t actually care about her and haven\u2019t even noticed she\u2019s been missing all this time. She makes the decision to leave.<\/p>\n

Before that, though, she has to explain to Jenny that she\u2019d been possessed by a demon and that now she can see ghosts. Easy enough! Crystal offers to wipe her memory, but Jenny says she\u2019d rather know her memories.<\/p>

Crystal leaves but, before she gets to the end of the road, the butcher shop suddenly explodes \u2013 thanks to Esther. Thankfully, Crystal, Niko and Jenny make it out alive (for now). Crystal and Niko agree to save the boys.<\/p>\n

After sneaking into Esther\u2019s house, Crystal confronts the witch and distracts her from torturing Edwin. After Niko\u2019s heartbreaking death at the hands of Esther, the witch has Crystal in her clutches but, in her rage, Crystal becomes more powerful, and summons Lilith, the goddess of wronged women. She drags Esther away.<\/p>\n

Crystal mourns the loss of Niko with Charles and Edwin, and the pair invite her to officially join the Dead Boy Detectives agency.<\/p>\n

What did Esther want?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Jenn\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Jenn Lyon as Esther Finch in Dead Boy Detectives.<\/span><\/figcaption> David Bukach\/Netflix <\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

After harnessing the power of Lilith and gaining eternal life, Esther discovered a new way of keeping her youth and power \u2013 harvesting pain from ghosts<\/strong>. She set her sights on Edwin, who she says knows real pain after his experience in hell.<\/p>\n

During the explosion, she captures Charles and Edwin. However, she\u2019s defeated by Crystal who summons Lilith to claim back her power.<\/p>\n

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Dead Boy Detectives is available to stream on Netflix. Sign up for Netflix from \u00a34.99 a month<\/a>. Netflix is also available on\u00a0Sky Glass<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Virgin Media Stream<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Check out more of our\u00a0Fantasy<\/a>\u00a0coverage or visit our\u00a0TV Guide<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Streaming Guide<\/a>\u00a0to see what\u2019s on tonight. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to\u00a0The Radio Times Podcast<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div> <\/body><\/html>\n

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