Rough Diamonds Season 1 Ending Explained

Summary Rough Diamonds season 1 combines thrilling organized crime with family drama, creating a unique and engaging series on Netflix.

Noah's fierce loyalty and dangerous actions in season 1 trap him in Antwerp, preventing him from leaving the life he wanted to escape.

The complex web of the Wolfson family's financial struggles and their connection to the Albanians adds layers of intrigue to the storyline of Rough Diamonds season 1.

The 2023 Netflix original series Rough Diamonds concluded its first season with a satisfying ending that also left the door open for more dramatic action in the future. Set in Antwerp, Belgium, the series follows Noah Wolfson (Kevin Janssens) who is drawn back into his family's business following the sudden and tragic death of his brother. By mixing family tension and crime drama, Rough Diamonds season 1 was unique among Netflix's original shows. The inclusion of themes like orthodox religion also meant the story was imbued with enough interesting layers to never get dull across its eight-episode run.

Critics were over the moon for Rough Diamonds, and the series scored an elusive 100% on Rotten Tomatoes and has a respectable 87% audience score. The pacing, writing, and performances were all highly praised, and the relative simplicity of the show's plot was supplemented by its brilliant execution from start to finish. Instantly becoming one of the best shows on Netflix, Rough Diamonds delivered the goods across season 1, and Noah's character development was particularly interesting. Seeing the character get sucked back into the world he tried to escape made for compelling TV, and the season's ending paid everything off.

Related 25 Biggest Netflix TV Shows Of All Time Netflix shows continue to break viewing records with the biggest series surpassing the 1 billion hours viewed mark.

Does Noah Leave Antwerp At The End Of Rough Diamonds Season 1?

Noah Realize's He Can Never Return To London

The prodigal son, Noah, returned to Antwerp from London to pay his respects to his fallen brother. Desperate to get away from the town he grew up in, and his family's orthodox Jewish roots, Noah didn't plan on staying long after his said his final goodbyes. However, out of a sense of honor and loyalty to his family, he kept getting stuck in situation after situation that didn't allow him to escape the life he once knew. In the end, Noah didn't leave Antwerp, not because he didn't want to, but because he couldn't due to his actions.

No matter how much Noah wanted to leave Antwerp, he inadvertently trapped himself there

Having sold out his former mob boss back in London earlier on in Rough Diamonds season 1, Noah smartly realized that the English capital would be off limits for him forever. No matter how much Noah wanted to leave Antwerp, he inadvertently trapped himself there through a combination of his fierce loyalty, and the dangerous position he put himself in by crossing both the Albanians and his former employers back in England.

By continuously tying up loose ends, Noah accidentally began putting down roots in Belgium which was something he never wanted to do. Like the iconic line from the mob movie, The Godfather, just when he thought he was out, he got pulled back in again.

Related 10 Best Crime Shows on Netflix Netflix has plenty of great crime shows to offer for any amateur sleuth. These are ten of the best available right now.

The Wolfsons And The Albanians Explained

Yanki Owed Money To The Albanian Mob

While most of Rough Diamonds season 1 was somewhat simple to understand, the Wolfson family and their convoluted connection to the Albanians was anything but straightforward. Noah's deceased brother Yanki (Vincent Van Sande), put the family in a financial bind through his gambling problem, and he also made a series of strange diamond deals that didn't yield any money. When Noah arrived to sort things out, he knew he needed to fork over $1.5 million in order to settle things or the entire Wolfson family business would tank.

Noah traced Yanki's deals up to the Albanian mob, and went through his employer Kerra (Tine Joustra) in London to broker a deal.

Noah traced Yanki's deals up to the Albanian mob, and went through his employer Kerra (Tine Joustra) in London to broker a deal. The Albanians hope to smuggle drugs and in order to cover their cash flow, they plan to launder the cash through the diamond trade. Noah agrees to be the diamond supplier in exchange for the exact amount of money that the family owes for all of Yanki's various financial misdeeds.

The trouble only escalates because the Wolfson's lowered standing means no one will deal with them, and Noah has to take matters into his own hands by stealing rough diamonds to cover the inventory. Binge worthy crime dramas usually have a complex element or two, and Rough Diamonds season 1 weaved a tangled web.

Who Tipped Off The Albanians?

Rough Diamonds Didn't Reveal Who Let Them On To Noah's Betrayal

Yanki's creditors weren't the only people breathing down Noah's neck during Rough Diamonds season 1, and he also had to deal with Detective Jo Smets (Els Dottermans), an investigator determined to bring down the Albanian smuggling ring. Smets had only gotten them on small charges again and again, and after closing off the Albanian's easier smuggling avenues, had painted herself into a corner. The Albanians had also proven themselves to be a problem for Noah, and their reluctance to pay up put him in yet another bind.

Perhaps a much larger conspiracy is at work in Antwerp that even involves the law enforcement.

Realizing they both had something to gain from a partnership, Noah decided to sell out the mobsters. Having stolen the rough diamonds and deposited them with Kerra, his family, and with the Albanians, Noah sussed out where the mobsters would be keeping their stash of the stolen loot and surreptitiously leaked that information to the waiting Smets.

Unfortunately, someone had tipped off the Albanians of the coming raid and Smets was left empty-handed and fuming. The most logical explanation is that someone within the force tipped them off, though the series does not reveal who exactly. Perhaps a much larger conspiracy is at work in Antwerp that even involves the law enforcement.

Related 10 Best Crime Movies On Netflix Netflix has a strong selection of crime movies, including these fantastic films standing out as the best that the streamer offers in the category.

Why Noah Sold Out Kerra

Turning On Kerra Connected Noah To His Former Life

Because the Albanians were tipped off, Noah was left with no other choice than to give Smets the next best thing, which was Kerra's London operation. Noah's betrayal of his employer was much more symbolic than any of his other choices and reflected the mantra that he often repeated throughout Rough Diamonds season 1 which was that he would always choose family first.

The decision represented Noah burning bridges from the new life he had built, and reconnecting with his old life.

Since the remaining two diamond stashes were with Kerra and his own family, it was obvious that he would choose Kerra to take the fall. Symbolically speaking, the decision represented Noah burning bridges from the new life he had built, and reconnecting with his old life.

Who Killed The Lawyer?

The Assassination Is Yet One More Rough Diamonds Conspiracy

Like many of the most despicable gangsters in movies and TV shows, Kerra was prepared for being betrayed and was more than willing to spill the beans on the lawyer who brokered the deal between herself and the Albanians. Practically salivating at the thought of bringing down her prey, Smets pounced on the lawyer, and he promptly agreed to participate while being placed in witness protection. However, he was gunned down by an unknown assassin who most likely came from the Albanians.

It could be that the same mole was responsible for both shocking twists in Rough Diamonds season 1, and that mole could continue to undermine Smets' efforts going forward.

The series never reveals who had the lawyer killed, and while the Albanians are certainly involved, it also speaks to the conspiracy that had tipped them off earlier. Though Smets is a dedicated law enforcement officer on the straight and narrow, the tip off of the Albanians and the eventual murder of the lawyer seems to suggest that one of her colleagues is corrupt.

Both pieces of information were privileged, with only those involved with the case knowing about the Albanian diamonds and the identity of the lawyer. Therefore, it could be that the same mole was responsible for both shocking twists in Rough Diamonds season 1, and that mole could continue to undermine Smets' efforts going forward.

Related 15 Best Detective Series On Netflix Crime drama has never quite looked like this: the 15 best detective series' airing on Netflix filled with anticipation, suspense, and mystery.

Noah And Gila Do Not End Up Together

Gila Knew Noah Couldn't Give Her The Escape She Needed

Noah may have had his hands full of his family's business, but he also made time to rekindle his romance with Gila (Marie Vinck), Yanki's widow who he had previously been engaged to. Noah's return complicated matters for Gila, who was being pressured by her ultra-orthodox family to settle for a new husband quickly in order to save face for their clan. Like Noah, Gila longed for the freedom of leaving her sect behind, and his coming back was not only a chance for their romance to blossom but a chance for her to escape as well.

Gila found someone else and made the decision to move to New York City, where she could finally enjoy a life of freedom where her every move wouldn't be scrutinized.

Unfortunately for Gila, Noah's decision to sell out Kerra made it impossible for them to flee to London, and Gila was smart enough to realize that Noah was probably not leaving Antwerp any time soon. Therefore, despite an obvious connection between them, Gila found someone else and made the decision to move to New York City, where she could finally enjoy a life of freedom where her every move wouldn't be scrutinized. While they could reunite in the future, Gila and Noah did not end up together at the end of Rough Diamonds season 1.

The Real Meaning Of Rough Diamonds Season 1’s Ending

The Conclusion Of The Show Explains That Family Can't Be Escaped

Like many of the best gangster movies, Rough Diamonds season 1 touched on themes of family, loyalty, and an unwavering commitment to ideals that may not necessarily be just. Noah starts out as an outsider who wants nothing to do with his family, however, his loyalty is quickly tested, and he comes to understand that his family is the most important thing.

Despite his gripes with their orthodoxy, Noah is a Wolfson first and foremost, and he is dragged into the darkness by his own blind allegiance. Rough Diamonds season 1 ends with Noah taking a step into the darkness and perhaps never coming back.

Related 30 Best TV Shows On Netflix Right Now (April 2024) From classics like Gilmore Girls and Seinfeld to twisty sci-fi like Stranger Things, the best shows on Netflix have something for everyone.

How The Rough Diamonds Season 1 Ending Sets Up Season 2

The Netflix Crime Drama Ended With Mysteries Still To Solve

Close

Rough Diamonds season 2 hasn't been confirmed, but the show did end on a note that sets up a potential second chapter. Noah is still trapped in Antwerp, though it's clear he'd rather be in London. Another season of Rough Diamonds would likely deal with him attempting to return to the UK, though there are still several obstacles to overcome for him to do so. However, trying to undo his mistakes from the first season would also likely lead him even further down the dark path he was on at the end of Rough Diamonds season 1.

There are also several mysteries from Rough Diamonds season 1 that season 2 would need to uncover. Smets showed herself to be a dedicated law-enforcement officer throughout the first season, but it's also clear that not everyone on her team has the same unwavering moral leanings. The first season hinted that someone (or multiple people) on the force are either informants for the Albanian mob or work for them directly. This would also likely be a key plot thread in Rough Diamonds season 2, and could answer questions such as who ordered the assassination of the lawyer.

Finally, there's Gila and her relocation to New York City. If there's one thing Noah learned in the first season, it's that it's far more difficult than it should be to ever really leave the clutches of the Ultra Orthodox family he left behind in Antwerp. The same could very well be true for Gila. While she ended Rough Diamonds season 1 seemingly free in New York, events could easily transpire that bring her back to Belgium — and once more exposed to the complicated feelings that she and Noah share in addition to the overbearing family she tried to escape.