Ripley Ending Explained: Does Tom Get Caught?

WARNING: MAJOR SPOILERS ahead for Ripley's series finale.

Summary Ripley's somewhat ambiguous ending leaves Tom's fate open, showcasing his mastery of deception and manipulation.

Steven Zaillian's monochrome adaptation of The Talented Mr. Ripley brings a fresh perspective to the classic story.

Tom's eerie ability to escape detection and continue his sinister ways reveals the chilling depths of his emotionless character.

The ending of the Netflix series Ripley leaves Tom's fate somewhat ambiguous. Throughout the thrilling series, Tom has conned his way from a lowly life of scamming and thievery in New York City to becoming incredibly wealthy in Italy thanks to a supposed old friend, Dickie Greenleaf (Johnny Flynn). The psychological thriller is based on the renowned 1955 novel The Talented Mr. Ripley by celebrated novelist Patricia Highsmith, the first of her 5-part "Ripley" series that also includes Ripley Under Ground and Ripley's Game. Ripley has received rave reviews from critics upon its April 4, 2024 release exclusively on Netflix.

The Talented Mr. Ripley has been adapted several times for film and television, but none have been shot completely in monochrome until Steven Zallian's Ripley. Zallian, the Academy Award-winning screenwriter of Schindler's List, American Gangster, and The Irishman, wrote and directed the entire 8-episode miniseries. Ripley's cast is led by an exceptionally chilling Andrew Scott (Fleabag, Black Mirror, All of Us Strangers) as the titular treacherous protagonist. By the end of Zallian's Ripley, Tom has orchestrated a way to frame his murder of Dickie Greenleaf as a suicide, successfully convincing Dickie's concerned girlfriend Marge Sherwood (Dakota Fanning) and a determined Inspector Ravini (Maurizio Lombardi).

Related Why Netflix's Ripley Show Is In Black & White The Netflix series Ripley was shot entirely in black and white, a creative choice made by Academy Award-winning screenwriter & creator Steven Zallian.

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Tom's Plan With The Venice Police Explained

During their private conversation at his new Venice mansion, Tom disguises himself in a convincing wig and beard, adjusting the lighting in the room to avoid Ravini recognizing him.

The final episode of Ripley begins in the brand new setting of Venice, where Tom Ripley has stopped impersonating Dickie in Rome and Palermo and has returned to going by his actual name. Seemingly out of the crosshairs of a suspicious Marge and a determined Inspector Ravini and presumed to be dead, Tom walks straight into the Venice police station and lures Ravini to Venice that evening. During their private conversation at his new Venice mansion, Tom disguises himself in a convincing wig and beard, adjusting the lighting in the room to avoid Ravini recognizing him. The plan works, confirming that Ripley is alive so that he can close the case on Dickie and continue living his lavish new life in Venice.

Was Tom Planning To Kill Marge?

Marge gets very drunk and waits by the private canal in the back of Tom's house, creating a perfect opportunity for Tom to kill her.

Marge reads the news of Tom's whereabouts in Venice and goes to see him for herself. Still suspicious of Tom and convinced he is a professional liar, Marge is relaxed by Tom's stunning home and access to highbrow social life. They attend a cocktail party where Marge is able to garner the attention of all the guests who are fascinated by Dickie's story. She gets very drunk and waits by the private canal in the back of Tom's house, creating a perfect opportunity for Tom to kill her. He decides against it because it would be a crime of passion more than necessity in this case. Later, when Marge finds Dickie's ring in Tom's belongings, she doesn't connect it as evidence that Tom has killed him, and avoids dying similarly to Freddie as Tom is prepared to bludgeon her with a glass ashtray.

Related Ripley's Timeline Explained: When The Show Is Set & How Much Time Passes The timeline for Netflix's new thriller series Ripley is slightly different from the acclaimed 1955 novel and the celebrated 1999 film adaptation.

How Tom Avoided Detection From American Investigator

Tom explains to the investigator that Dickie confessed his love for him in San Remo, which is why he only wanted to get away with him and not include Marge.

Tom once again faces pressure of being exposed when Herbert Greenleaf arrives in Venice with the private investigator who found Tom in the first place. It appears that the American investigator could be the only one who sees right through Tom's elaborate web of lies, but Tom is able to spin a fabricated tale about Dickie in order to get him off the hook. Tom explains to the investigator that Dickie confessed his love for him in San Remo, which is why he only wanted to get away with him and not include Marge. The investigator buys it and believes it's further evidence for Dickie's apparent suicide, thanks to Tom's disturbing ability to make up such a convincing lie about Dickie being in love with him.

Why Tom Changed His Name Again

Malkovich's character gets Tom a new fabricated British passport with the name Timothy Fenshaw so that Tom can send the Picasso to himself in England under a brand new identity.

Tom appears to have gotten away with the murders of Dickie and Freddie, but that does not stop him from continuing to sell off all of Dickie's prized possessions. He meets with a fellow "art dealer" he had met at one of his highbrow parties in Venice, played by John Malkovich. It's implied that both Tom and the "art dealer" are in a similar line of work and are able to instantly recognize each other for the intricate con artists that they are. Malkovich's character gets Tom a new fabricated British passport with the name Timothy Fenshaw so that Tom can send the Picasso to himself in England under a brand new identity.

Related Where Was Ripley Filmed? Netflix Show's Italian Filming Locations Explained The Netflix limited series Ripley was filmed almost entirely in scenic parts of Italy as the titular con artist plays an elaborate game of deception.

Why Marge Sent Inspector Ravini Her Book

Marge's book makes Ravini realize that he had never met Dickie Greenleaf and that Tom had fooled him the entire time.

Marge ended up finishing her novel "My Atrani", using the title that Tom had suggested for her. During her first meeting with Inspector Ravini in Atrani, she told Ravini about her book and followed up by sending her a published copy of it. This would end up being Tom's Achilles Heel, as a photograph of the real Dickie was printed on one of the first pages. Some time had certainly passed since Dickie's case had been closed before Ravini realized the grave mistake he had made in his investigation. Marge's book makes Ravini realize that he had never met Dickie Greenleaf and that Tom had fooled him the entire time.

Did Tom Get Caught?

Tom has moved on under the alias Timothy Fensahw and now lives lavishly in England, making it much more complicated to track him down again.

Tom Ripley was technically exposed by the end of Ripley, although he had already anticipated his massive ploy eventually being revealed. Now that Inspector Ravini has discovered the truth about Tom through Marge's book, he has become aware of his massive failure of determining what happened to Dickie and, by extension, Freddie. Ravini will likely try to find Tom again in Venice, but Tom has moved on under the alias Timothy Fensahw and now lives lavishly in England, making it much more complicated to track him down again. Tom Ripley was caught in the end but will face no punishment under his new identity.

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The Real Meaning of Ripley's Ending

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Even after Tom escapes to England in the final moments of Ripley, he does not seem satisfied, only aware of what it feels like to wear Dickie's clothes, flaunt Dickie's ring, and stare at Dickie's artwork while ultimately feeling nothing at all.

The ending of Ripley proves that Tom is simply an unstoppable force and a brilliant con man. He is always a few steps ahead of the people who become suspicious of him and wisely anticipates their thoughts and actions as they draw nearer to exposing his darkest truth. His unsettling ability to think of his feet after committing heinous acts of violence is fascinating in a deeply troubling and inhuman way. Ripley brings to light the lengths that monsters like Tom will go to in the name of self-preservation, using chilling methodology and calculation to be seen as significant by means of material wealth and social access.

What's most chilling about Tom Ripley is that despite spending so much time with him in the series, the audience does not understand who he actually is or what he wants. Ripley is obviously motivated by money, greed, and valuable items, but aside from that, there are hardly any human elements within his character that allow others to know what he is truly interested in. In this way, Tom is nothing but an insidious, demonic parasite who has no desire to take things from others. Even after Tom escapes to England in the final moments of Ripley, he does not seem satisfied, only aware of what it feels like to wear Dickie's clothes, flaunt Dickie's ring, and stare at Dickie's artwork while ultimately feeling nothing at all.

Related Ripley Review: Netflix's Adaptation Of The Classic Crime Thriller Hits All The Right Notes Ripley differs from The Talented Mr. Ripley in some regards, with the new Netflix series presenting a different way of enjoying a classic.