Deep Cover Ending Explained: Are Metcalfe and Fly Dead?

In Prime Video’s ‘Deep Cover,’ three improv comedians are thrust into a situation where they face dangerous people to execute sting operations. What starts as a simple task turns more and more complicated with each turn as the trio, against their wishes, are forced to go deeper with their undercover identities. By the end of the film, so many twists and turns take place that the fates of all the characters involved are changed forever. SPOILERS AHEAD.

Deep Cover Plot Synopsis

Kat is a failed actress who now runs an improv group. Hugh struggles to make friends because he has zero conversational skills. Marlon is a struggling actor who cannot seem to land the gritty roles that he believes he was born to play. Their paths converge at Kat’s improv class, where Kat is approached by a cop named Graham Billings, who asks her to become a part of a sting operation to gather evidence against low-level drug dealers, and Hugh and Marlon join her in the task. Their mission is simple. They have to walk into a shop and ask for the loaded cigarettes. However, the trio takes their improv too far and ends up being introduced to Fly, a criminal who deals in drugs.

At first, Billings is angry at the trio for ruining a simple operation. But then, when he sees that the three of them have developed a reputation with Fly, he encourages them to go deeper undercover and find out about the next deal where money and drugs will be exchanged. As they build trust with Fly, they eventually get to meet his leader, Metcalfe, who is the most dangerous of them all. Soon after, they also discover that Billings is a corrupt cop and the sting operation was a ruse for him to do fake raids and get the money for himself. By now, they have become too embroiled in the criminal world, which means that they can neither leave nor stay.

While Kat, Hugh, and Marlon succeed in embedding themselves with Fly’s crew simply with their improv skills, they are still normal people in extraordinary circumstances. This means that they are bound to make rookie mistakes, which is what leads their cover to be blown. When Metcalfe discovers that they were working with Billings, he orders their death, but Fly decides to let them go. Seeing this as their only chance to escape the situation, they think about fleeing the country, but then, the real cops catch up with them.

Is Metcalfe Dead? Why Does Shosh Kill Him?

The police department was under the impression that the trio was a big deal and was running the shots. But after the arrest, they discover that the three of them are normal people who were pulled into the mess without realising what they were walking into. Letting them go is one option, but given their connection with Fly, it is decided that they should turn him into a police informant and help catch Metcalfe. It is not difficult for them to convince Fly to betray his boss because they know that he, too, is forced in his current situation. He doesn’t want to indulge in any more bloodshed, and his real desire is to reunite with his daughter, who is in Portugal because he didn’t want her to be affected by his criminal activities.

The trio gets the cops to give him immunity in exchange for his services, and he tells them when Metcalfe and the Albanians are going to strike up a deal. All the cops have to do is wait for the deal to take place, which they will capture on camera to use as evidence. However, before that can happen, Metcalfe gives up Fly to the Albanians, who have wanted to kill him for a long time. While the cops seem unconcerned about this development, Kat, Hugh, and Marlon improvise to save Fly because they actually care about him. Their intervention leads to Metcalfe incriminating himself when he talks about the amount of drugs and the money in front of them. Now that the cops have what they need, they send backup.

In the chaos, Kat, Hugh, and Marlon try to flee the scene with Fly in tow, but Metcalfe chases after them. He shoots Fly (who turns out to have been wearing a bulletproof vest) and is ready to kill the trio as well, especially after he discovers that their weapons are not real, but then Shosh shows up and shoots him in the head. It turns out that her loyalty was towards Fly, not Metcalfe, and when she discovered that he had turned against their boss, she decided to follow in his footsteps. Her conviction to save her friend became stronger after she realised that Metcalfe was going to turn Fly over to the Albanians. Moreover, she also had a soft spot for Hugh, despite everything, and she couldn’t have Metcalfe kill him.

What Happens to Fly and Shosh?

When Kat, Hugh, and Marlon approach Fly with the idea of turning against Metcalfe, they bring an enticing deal on the table. Because Metcalfe is the big fish that the cops are interested in, they are ready to let Fly go, which is why they offer him complete immunity in return. This means that while the rest of the criminals in the outfit will have to answer for their crimes and go to prison, Fly will be free to do whatever he wants with his life. In the end, it is revealed that he chose to go to Portugal to be with his daughter, which is what he wanted all along.

This is a great move because during his birthday party, he reveals that he hasn’t told anyone about his daughter. So, the only people who know are Shosh and his three new friends, Kat, Hugh, and Marlon. At the time, he is surprised that he told them the secret that he kept from everyone else, but this also makes him realise that he instinctually trusts them, which is why he doesn’t kill them when Metcalfe orders him to, and this is also why he accepts their offer to turn against his boss. He takes a chance and it pays off. However, this deal was limited to him, which means that Shosh would have to fend for herself.

From the beginning, we see Shosh as a close friend and confidant of Fly. She also takes a shine to the trio, especially Hugh, and despite her intimidating demeanour, befriends them quickly. This is why she is heartbroken when she discovers that they are the rats Metcalfe was looking for. However, her loyalty to Fly prevents her from telling the boss that the trio was allowed to run away. The fact that she chooses Fly over Metcalfe shows that she, too, wants to get away from the life of crime. Or at least, she doesn’t want her friend to die.

The trio is happy to see that she has chosen to side with them, especially after she saves them by killing Metcalfe. But then, they also know that Fly has a deal with the cops, and she doesn’t. So, when she is arrested, she will go to prison, which they don’t want. So, they tell her to run away. Fly gives her some cash before she leaves, and with a person of her skills, it wouldn’t be difficult for her to disappear and evade authorities. Moreover, she also knows about Fly’s daughter in Portugal, so there is a chance that she, too, would go there to reunite with her friend and turn over a new leaf.

What do Marlon, Kat, and Hugh do With the Money?

At the beginning of the film, Kat, Marlon, and Hugh are struggling on different levels. Kat came to London years ago with the dream of a successful acting career, but despite her talent, this dream has fizzled out, and now she runs an improv class. While she enjoys the classes, it doesn’t pay for her bills, and everyone around her can see that she is struggling financially. Meanwhile, Marlon is another struggling actor who is on the verge of losing his dream of getting a serious role that he can sink his teeth into. Hugh doesn’t have a problem with his job except that he doesn’t have any friends. All three of them also struggle to get people to respect them and see them the way they want to be seen. So, when the opportunity to work with a cop, catch bad guys, and get paid for it comes along, they jump at it.

By the end of the film, all three of them have gone through some drastic changes, especially Hugh. Initially, he struggles to get a hang of the improv thing as he lacks confidence, but eventually, he taps into his hidden confidence and uses his improv skills against Metcalfe, which impresses everyone. What makes things better is that while the cops are busy catching Metcalfe’s crew and the Albanians, Fly gives him and the other two enough cash to sustain themselves or start something new with their lives. Hugh chooses to invest that money into starting a wine shop. While he was good at the IT thing, it wasn’t the environment he wanted to be in. Moreover, he had a passion for good wine, and now that he’d unlocked his confidence, he had the courage to take the leap and do something that he really liked.

The money also helps Marlon find better opportunities as he doesn’t have to take meagre jobs to provide for himself. His dedication pays off when he auditions for the role of a dark character. What helps him get the role of his dreams is the story that Fly told from his childhood about rats and how his father handled them. Because it is from his lived experience, it gives his performance more depth and helps him land the role, which is bound to change his life. Meanwhile, the money gives Kat a chance to have a stable financial situation.

She goes back to teaching improv, but this time, she commands the respect of her students. Previously, they saw her as a failed actress, and while they learned a lot from her, they also looked down on her, especially the ones who managed to land agents and roles. However, when they discover that she used her improv and acting skills in real life to go undercover and help cops catch some very bad guys, the extent of her talent is revealed, and gives her the respect she deserves, which is what she really wanted all along.