Almost Cops Ending Explained: Is Guido Dead or Alive?

In Netflix’s ‘Almost Cops,’ Community Service Officers Ramon and Jack blitz their way into the heart of Rotterdam’s drug empire, but are surprised to find that their final enemy is someone much closer to home. As friends turn into foes, Jack struggles to make the right choices, but eventually finds stability in the form of his new partner. Meanwhile, Ramon navigates through the trauma of his past and finds the drive to push forward and make his dreams a reality. When all hope seems lost, the protagonist subverts the standard expectations of the genre, using a unique method to defeat his opponent. Action and emotion come together in this thrilling finale, which crafts its set pieces with a layer of symbolism, further enriching the narrative. SPOILERS AHEAD.

Almost Cops Plot Synopsis

The story begins with Ramon, a Community Service Officer, dreaming of a world in which he handles a bank robbery not with violence but with words, making the robbers feel seen and accepted. His reality is far more unrelenting, as he has a thankless job and feels unwelcome at home. His sole respite seems to be his brother, Kevin, a CID agent, and their shared dream of creating a drug-free haven for children. This is in line with the vision of his late father, who was a police officer who died while trying to handle a bank robbery. In the present, Kevin and his partner Jack stake out a cocaine facility and apprehend what appears to be a bunch of children stealing the drugs. On their return journey, however, they are targeted by armed assailants, who steal all of the goods and knock Jack unconscious, before killing Kevin.

The news of Kevin’s death deeply affects Ramon, who tries to cover it up by immersing himself deeper into his work. Elsewhere, Jack, traumatized by his friend’s death, thirsts for revenge, but is sent to the CSO to cool down. Here, he is paired up with Ramon and soon learns that the real reason for his presence is to protect Kevin’s brother from danger. As their two personalities rub off, Ramon gains a deeper sense of self-affirmation. Meanwhile, the two conduct their secret investigation into the murder, with the protagonist eventually tracing it back to Smits, a drug gang leader. The duo then tries to capture him during his meeting at an abandoned amusement park, but it ends up causing quite a scene. Here, the protagonist learns that his brother was also affiliated with Rits, who is not the killer.

A heartbroken Ramon tries to cope with the revelation, but is interrupted by a hand grenade, which nearly takes him and Jack out. Following this, the duo tails their mystery assassin all the way to the CID office, but are quickly kidnapped by fellow cops, Guido and his gang. It turns out that they, along with Kevin, ran the police end of the drug trafficking business. However, Kevin’s wish to quit threatened to jeopardize the entire operation, so Guido killed him. Enraged, Ramon breaks free, but fails to catch his brother’s killer. Later, he, along with Jack, realizes that the true boss of the drug gangs operates from the top of the van der Vloed tower. Ramon tries to catch hold of Guido, but fails and is captured. Eventually, Jack comes to his rescue, and the duo then makes a final push for victory.

Almost Cops Ending: Is Guido Dead or Alive?

The final showdown between Ramon and Guido is more than just one officer defeating another, as it has the weight of Kevin’s death attached to it. Guido wastes no time in acknowledging that fact, as he consistently calls back to his final moments with Kevin, who apparently also put up a brave fight. While the antagonist believes his words can break Ramon’s spirit and help him gain the upper hand, the plan backfires. Instead, the latter uses every ounce of his energy to avenge his brother, with a flurry of punches pushing his opponent past the edge of the building. While the protagonist does try to hold on to him, Guido’s hand eventually slips away, and he drops multiple stories before landing on top of a van. Due to the sheer height of the fall, his death is almost certain, and the fact is reiterated by Ramon’s reaction.

The climactic sequence is rife with imagery. First, there is the necklace that Guido tries to hold on to as a last resort, eventually taking it down with him. That necklace is Ramon’s most prized possession, as it was given to him by his dad moments before he died. In turn, he entrusted that necklace to Kevin, whose passing infuses it with more meaning. As such, for it to be the final straw in Guido’s death is poetic. The same holds true for the van, which Kevin and Jack were originally driving before the antagonist rammed into it. The fact that he falls down in a similar fashion, presumably to his death, is another way the narrative comes full circle. In a way, his own actions and their consequences lead to his eventual undoing.

However, although unlikely, there is also the possibility that he survives. It could be that the van cushions the blow from the fall, following which he is gravely injured, but alive. In that case, the end outcome is still grim for Guido, as even with a full recovery, he would fall right into the lap of the authorities and would be punished severely for his crimes. In the end, the antagonist’s wish to start a new life backed by his boss’ wealth goes to waste, and so does all the blood he spills on his way to the top. This reflects the short-sighted nature of his actions, which is contrasted by the steady, consistent drive for good that Ramon displays. Being a former friend of Guido, Jack forms the middle point of the spectrum, and shows how easy it is to turn to the wrong side. Fortunately, he refuses to bend and instead becomes an agent of justice.

Who is Behind the Drug Gangs? How Do Ramon and Jack Take Him Down?

Guido and his crew are not the only players in the game; in fact, in an earlier scene, they mention that they are protected by figures far more powerful than what Ramon and Jack imagine. This figure turns out to be Richard van der Vloed, one of the richest men in the country. Officially, the owner of the van der Vloed Enterprises, Richard, secretly runs his own drug empire, one that seemingly has its roots in the entirety of Rotterdam. Using his resources, he rules over both the two biggest drug gangs in the city, namely Rits and the Bhukaris, and runs an entire network of criminal activity that preys on the vulnerable. As such, the van der Vloed tower, set to be the tallest structure in the city, serves as an emblem of his power and control over the city, with all of his shady dealings happening at its highest floors.

Richard’s secret double life is sustained by the facade he maintains in the public sphere. Locally, he is a well-respected man known primarily for his company’s success. Throughout the story, Richard can be seen travelling on a bicycle, which feels odd given his ability to travel in the fanciest of vehicles. While his mode of transportation may be another piece of his facade, meant to exude an air of humbleness and commonality with the masses, it might also be a sign of his other side, away from the nefarious business practices. This distinction becomes crucial to contextualizing his conclusion down the line. Nonetheless, Richard’s ventures on the bicycle often land him at odds with the CSO, who on two occasions throw him off the pedals and into some hilarious ordeals.

Ramon’s Positive Outlook Saves Richard from a Life of Crime

While humorous in nature, Richard’s interactions with CSO serve as the foundation for the larger idea of the story, that a man as powerful as Richard can easily be brought down by simple Community Service Officers, a fate which rings true due to the investigative work of Ramon and Jack. Initially, Ramon makes a mental note of the businessman’s presence near every major scene of crime, which highlights a possible connection. When the two eventually meet Richard on the tower and confirm his guilt, he appears to be the most harmless of the antagonists, especially compared to a cop such as Guido. However, in the middle of all the action, the businessman bides his time, and soon comes out as the last man standing, pointing a gun at the protagonist duo.

However, instead of responding with violence, Ramon chooses to take the path of peace. Carefully, he opens himself up to Richard and reminds him that it is never too late to turn to the side of good. Furthermore, he extends his empathy towards the man, claiming a deep understanding, before pushing the final idea of listening to one’s heart. These words seemingly do the trick, and after a period of reflection, Richard puts the gun down and accepts his arrest. Ramon’s game-changing words are not a one-off occurrence; he repeats these lines in his head at the very start of the show, reflecting his aim to alleviate the world’s crime with patience and empathy, which, in this case, pays off.

Why Do Ramon and Jack Choose to Stay in the CSO?

Following their massive success in dismantling the entire city’s drug operation, Ramon and Jack become local heroes and are thrown a huge party by their near and dear ones. At the celebration, they are greeted by Daphne De Koning, a senior member of the CID, and Jack, their boss. She is the person who originally sent the Officer on this course. However, when she asks him to return and bring the equally talented Ramon with him, she is surprised by the answer. Both men turn down her offer, citing the freedom and comfort that comes with their job at CSO. Unlike the higher institutions, where research is marked by corruption and red tape, their work as Community Service Officers comes as a breath of fresh air, providing the flexibility required to solve crimes efficiently.

Ramon and Jack’s decision to stay also has another reason, one that comes together in retrospect. Jack’s early days as a CSO are marked by his being disgraced at seemingly every turn. The public reception of the officers undergoes a major facelift following their success in ending the drug rings, and thus, the duo likely realizes the potential their line of work has in building and healing communities. As such, operating from the street level helps them maintain the highest amount of sensitivity to the cause. This is exemplified in how Ramon’s wish to create an establishment where children can have fun without drugs eventually comes true in a much larger fashion. He ends up ridding the entire city of drugs, which now makes taking care of its citizens his new priority.

Do Ramon and Dilan Get Together?

Things end well for Ramon on all fronts, as the final scenes, which take place after a brief time skip, reveal that he and Dilan are in a relationship. This development has its fair share of history, down to the beginning of the movie, when the protagonist tries to ask Dilan out on a date. She initially seems responsive, but out of fear, he changes his invitation to a simple cafeteria meal, which disappoints her. This action is another pointer towards Ramon’s flaws in the early parts of the movie. His attempt to be overly nice and harmless strips him of his ability to have confident, organic bonds with people, even those he cares about the most, such as her. Ramon’s approach to life changes after his partnership with Jack, and he finds a healthy balance between self-affirmation and being empathetic.

Ramon’s metamorphosis is best represented by his changed dynamic with Dilan. Throughout the narrative, she seems cautious, but also vaguely supportive of Ramon’s daring initiatives, showing that a part of her encourages the growth in his personality, and what he does for the betterment of the city. This serves as an empowering moment for Dilan and the rest of the CSO, who take part in the charge against Richard’s bodyguards. When the dust settles, she and Ramon likely confess their feelings for each other. In the present, their romance seems palpable, as the two sit in a warm embrace, with the protagonist planning a house of their own. Thus, the trials and tribulations Ramon goes through eventually bear fruit, helping him achieve all of his dreams in life.