Top Boy ending explained after Netflix finale

WARNING: Spoilers. The finale of British crime show Top Boy has aired on Netflix and everyone is asking the same question.

WARNING: Spoilers

Top Boy is coming to its bloody conclusion. The hit British television crime drama series, reached its climax after 32 episodes across five seasons (technically season 3 since Netflix rebranded the show’s first two Channel 4 seasons as Top Boy: Summerhouse), leaving everyone wondering, “Who killed Sully?”

The Top Boy show is a hit on Netflix. Picture: Supplied

Who killed Sully in Top Boy?

WARNING: Contains spoilers from Top Boy season 5 episode 6

Fans of the Netflix series were left hanging on the edge of their seats for over 12 months before all six episodes of Top Boy season 5 finally made it to the streaming giant on 7 September 2023.

Created and written by Ronan Bennett, the series depicts the rival drug-dealing gangs of Hackney as they fight to become ‘top boy’ of the London borough. It included plenty of blood and violence, especially by the man in question, Sully (played by Kane ‘Kano’ Robinson).

After murdering his former friend Dushane (Ashley Walters), Sully visits his daughter, to say goodbye, before going on the run.

Thinking himself home free, laughing as he drives away, an unidentified man walks past his car, shooting him through the window, killing him instantly, and taking us to the credits with several unanswered questions and a blaring car horn.

Sully and Dushane. Picture: Supplied

Who had reason to harm Sully?

While Netflix has yet to disclose the murderer, fans of the show are doing their best investigative work to uncover the identity of the mystery killer, with the most obvious answer being Stef (Araloyin Oshunremi), who - to avenge the murder of his older brother Jamie - may have made good on his threat to kill Sully.

Others are pointing to Jaq, to protect her family and to avenge Kieron’s murder. It could be a retaliation against Isaac after his two goons were killed, or the Irish family, and “big time” crime clan the McGees, looking to claim territory.

Speculation aside, the shadowy assailant will likely remain unknown, since the show is well and truly over.

How did Top Boy end

The climactic hour-long episode, If We Are Not Monsters, is potentially a play on the famous Friedrich Nietzsche quote, “He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster … when you gaze long into the abyss the abyss also gazes into you”, certainly plays to its potential inspiration.

A roller coaster of entertainment, drama, and death, the episode opens with the riot at Summerhouse. Residents have set police cars ablaze, destroying properties across the estate.

During the riot, Dushane attempts to reclaim his passport and a bit of cash to flee the country. At the same time, Sully tells Kieron he knows he lied to him about Jaq stealing his drugs.

Dragged away into a van, and never seen again, it’s safe to assume he’s dead.

And despite Shelley bringing his Dushane his passport, and a thick envelope of cash, it’s not enough money.

Jaq arranges to meet Sully at the estate, to return the drugs she stole. It’s here that Dushane tells her he’ll be present to ensure the meeting goes smoothly. Spoiler alert, It does not. Dushane jumps Jaq, punches her in the face, and steals her heroin so that he can pay some henchman and flee to Turkey.

Unfortunately, a shootout with the henchmen results in both of them being killed.