The finale of Netflix’s Black Rabbit pulls no punches as the series ends on a tragic note. Jason Bateman’s Vince does die, but he takes his own life.
After being dragged through debt, betrayal, and guilt, Vince decides the only way to “free” his brother Jake (portrayed by the incredible Jude Law) from the chaos he brings is by sui*ide. He does so by stepping off the roof of the Black Rabbit restaurant, an act deeply charged with love, guilt, and broken promises.
Black Rabbit: What Did Vince Confess?
But before he takes his own life in the Black Rabbit finale, Vince confesses something huge. Having carried a secret that has haunted him all through his life, he confessed to his brother that he was the one who killed their abusive father when they were kids.
Vince reveals that he had dropped a bowling ball on their father’s head from upstairs in a bid to protect their mother. He admits the truth about his past in the final confrontation with Jake. However, Jake also confesses that he saw what happened that night and tells him, ‘You are not a bad person, and I am not leaving you.’
In his confession, Vince goes on to state how he feels like a curse and fears that he will never be able to protect Jake. Instead, believing that he’s always been the one causing harm, that feeling led him to the choice of ending his life, knowing fully well that his brother will always protect and defend him.
Throughout the series, Vince is plagued by addiction, mounting gambling debt, and pressure from mobsters, which pushes him into worse decisions, including betraying trust and dragging Jake into criminal schemes. But in the end, he ends his life thinking that might be the only way to protect his brother from more emotional and physical harm.
What Happens to Jake?
In Black Rabbit, Jude Law’s Jake, ever the protective brother, tries hard to shield Vince through most of the chaos. After Vince’s death, Jake finally gives up trying to save everything. He hands over key evidence in the case of Anna’s death and stops putting his family and business at risk just to bail Vince out.
He also steps away from the ambition that once defined him. Instead of growing the Rabbit or trying high-stakes expansion, he ends up assuming a quieter role. In the end, we witness him returning to bartending, being more present with his loved ones, and seeking simpler days.
He also says goodbye to Estelle at Vince’s funeral, both having the understanding that they cannot ever get past everything that took place.
Roxie and Tony (employees he’s wronged or ignored in the past) move on, opening a restaurant called Anna’s in memory of Anna, who was an important moral pivot in the story. With Vinvce gone, Jake’s path ends up becoming a reckoning with past mistakes rather than chasing success at all costs as he used to.
Black Rabbit sees a bittersweet ending Vince’s death is tragic, yes, but it is built into his arc: guilt, love, fear, and self-sacrifice. Meanwhile, Jake’s transformation is subtle but honest: he leaves the grand ambitions, stops covering up crimes, and starts living with integrity.
A perfect ending for an imperfect story, Black Rabbit is available for streaming on Netflix.
