Warning: This text comprises SPOILERS for Splinter Cell: Deathwatch season 1.Netflix’s Splinter Cell: Deathwatch breathed new life into the long-lasting online game franchise because the TV adaptation supplied a recent take a look at Sam Fisher whereas offering a singular perception into his backstory. As anticipated, the animated venture featured some acquainted faces from the gaming collection, most notably Sam and Grim, who launched into a brand new mission centered round Agent Zinnia McKenna.
McKenna’s preliminary aim to extract a useful asset sadly went south, prompting Sam to get entangled, with the 2 covert brokers working alongside Grim, Thunder, and Jo. After combating by way of quite a few enemies and finally uncovering the reality about Diana Shetland’s lethal plan, Sam and McKenna tried to cease the villain’s gas-filled ship that was getting used to trigger an vitality disaster.
Apparently, Splinter Cell: Deathwatch explored Diana and Douglas Shetland’s backstory so as to add a layer of sympathy to the controversial household, organising a high-stakes ending. Nevertheless, regardless of Sam and McKenna seeming to cease the boat initially, an ignored adversary brought on all hell to interrupt unfastened, making a stunning ending to the primary season.
Sam & McKenna Survive Splinter Cell: Deathwatch At The Expense Of Their Mission
On condition that Splinter Cell: Deathwatch is usually canon to the sport collection, it will’ve been very daring for the present to kill off such a preferred character, making it no shock Sam Fisher survived alongside Zinnia McKenna. Sadly, their escape got here on the expense of their mission, as the 2 didn’t cease the rigged boat from reaching its vacation spot.
Regardless of taking down numerous harmful foes all through the collection, the Splinter Cell brokers nonetheless needed to take care of Freya on board The Lazarev. As Sam realized the engine room was sabotaged, McKenna tried to plant Thunder’s bug that was designed to cease the ship, solely to be confronted by Freya, who immediately began attacking.
McKenna appeared to win the battle, just for Freya to drop a grenade with the intention of killing them each. Miraculously, McKenna survived, however regardless of her and Sam believing they’d thwarted any hazard, the boat’s controls had already been hacked previous to their arrival by Diana’s half-brother, Charlie.
Slightly than steering the ship to its authentic vacation spot, Charlie diverts its course in direction of Diana’s summit, as he believes taking out his sister alongside a plethora of rich, highly effective figures would give him final management over his household’s firm, with Europe subsequently counting on him for vitality.
Whereas there was no escape for Diana and her friends, Sam and McKenna managed to flee the ship earlier than its collision, making a bittersweet ending. Even with out Michael Ironside voicing Sam Fisher in Splinter Cell: Deathwatch, Liev Schreiber efficiently captured the character’s pragmatic despair as he desperately seemed for an answer in these moments earlier than catastrophe.
Sadly, the protagonists might do nothing to cease Charlie’s plan, however they at the least escaped with their lives, which by itself is not sufficient for Sam. He could have been unable to cease the deadly explosion, however he did seem to get some kind of justice within the present’s closing scene.
What Occurred To Charlie After Betraying Diana Shetland
It is arduous to argue that Charlie’s choice to betray Diana was stunning, however the best way by which he did so was definitely a shock. Inevitably, such a world-changing occasion was all the time going to have ramifications, and whereas the general public could not know he was accountable for so many deaths, Sam Fisher definitely did.
This did not appear to register with the villain although, who loved a drink and listened to music in his new workplace whereas celebrating the success of his sinister scheme. Nevertheless, simply as he took a sip, the lights went off, and his vinyl stopped spinning, inflicting Charlie to slowly turn into extra uncomfortable as he known as out for his assistant.
Lastly realizing one thing was off, he requested, “Is somebody there?” solely to be met with full silence earlier than the acquainted sound of evening imaginative and prescient goggles powering up could possibly be heard as Sam appeared on-screen. Season 1’s final line comes from Charlie, who says, “Wait. No. Please do not,” whereas Sam goals his silenced pistol on the antagonist.
The display screen then fades to black earlier than a number of photographs may be heard, indicating that Splinter Cell‘s protagonist introduced down one more risk on this fictional universe. Whereas the dearth of visible affirmation might theoretically imply Charlie someway survived forward of Splinter Cell season 2’s story, the fade to black felt extra stylistic than suspenseful.
If viewers did not already understand how deadly Sam was earlier than watching the present, they definitely ought to have by episode 8, suggesting he undoubtedly hit these photographs. Due to this fact, betraying his sister could have led to short-term energy for Charlie, but it surely additionally gave Sam the right excuse to execute him, which brings a definitive finish to the Shetland household’s story.
Why Charlie Bought Out Diana In “Chaos Principle: Half 2”
Charlie’s choice to sacrifice his half-sister got here down to 2 easy issues: cash and energy. It was clear from early on that whereas Diana claimed to care about Charlie, she solely needed him concerned within the firm to additional her personal means, as she continually tried to maintain him on the surface.
Whereas she needed him to take part in public appearances, Diana had her personal clear imaginative and prescient for the enterprise’ future, and it definitely did not revolve round her household. Because of this, Charlie adopted his personal objectives, quietly working towards his unaware sister in order that he might stick with it Douglas’ legacy and have an enormous quantity of affect over Europe.
Diana was after the very same factor, therefore why she was additionally prepared to let harmless individuals undergo for her personal acquire, however she did not have the foresight to anticipate her family promoting her out. Her loss of life was additionally seemingly used to make Charlie look harmless, which explains why he described his half-sister as his Phoenix.
He alluded to the truth that Diana’s ashes would assist forge his personal legacy, making it clear that sacrificing her wasn’t significantly private, but it surely was important to realize energy, at the least in his thoughts.
All through the collection, it was arduous to inform what Charlie’s true emotions about Diana have been, however provided that he emphasised that she was solely his “half” sister, it felt like their relationship was one in all comfort, somewhat than two siblings who really liked each other, therefore why he was so comfy letting her die.
How Splinter Cell’s Ending Units Up Season 2
All the principle villains could have died throughout season 1, however there was nonetheless some story set-up forward of season 2 after The Lazarev’s high-profile crash. Charlie might not be alive to capitalize on Europe’s ongoing disaster, however there’ll undoubtedly be somebody who swoops in and makes use of this catastrophic occasion to their benefit.
As is usually the case within the Splinter Cell universe, no matter group steps up is sure to be full of expert marksmen and skilled killers to guard their secrets and techniques. Assuming that is the case for season 2, Sam and McKenna could also be compelled to group up as soon as once more to stop a brand new evil faction from asserting their authority over the continent.
Grim’s dialog with the President might additionally result in the Splinter Cell program being defunded or shut down completely, which might drive the central characters to function exterior the regulation and with out the identical tech they often depend on.
Fortunately, season 1’s ending did not really feel incomplete by merely organising a second outing, but it surely did go away room for the subsequent chapter with out giving every little thing away. Nonetheless, with Splinter Cell: Deathwatch being ordered for 2 seasons, the fallout of Charlie and Diana’s assault is destined to have main ramifications on no matter comes subsequent for this gripping animated collection.
What Splinter Cell: Deathwatch Season 1’s Ending Actually Means
Though loads of consideration was given to McKenna and her private story in Netflix’s Splinter Cell adaptation, the true ending felt prefer it targeted on Sam and his motivations for doing what he does. After we first noticed him on the present, he was enjoyable peacefully at house, trying content material after retiring from the sphere.
Nevertheless, the second hassle got here to his doorstep, he was prepared to assist and did not hesitate when it got here to saving McKenna. He continued to step up and take part within the mission with out grievance, even taking over some covert operations by himself, displaying his need to do the correct factor, which was detailed in his backstory.
Netflix determined to supply a barely totally different perspective on his showdown with Douglas, offering a slight retcon whereas protecting loads of the dialogue relating to their closing encounter. The flashback sequences highlighted the similarities and variations between Sam and Douglas, revealing that they do what they do for the larger good, even when issues appear hopeless.
Sam was properly conscious that even when the group did handle to cease Diana’s preliminary plan, there was all the time going to be one other dangerous man, however attempting to save lots of lives and take down immoral figures is the correct factor to do, therefore why he continually put himself on the road all through Splinter Cell: Deathwatch, even when the chances have been towards him.
All 8 episodes of Splinter Cell: Deathwatch can be found to stream now on Netflix.
- Launch Date
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October 14, 2025
- Community
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Netflix
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Liev Schreiber
Sam Fisher (voice)
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Kirby Howell-Baptiste
Zinnia McKenna
