The eleventh season of the popular Russian series "Cop Wars" ended on a high note, leaving viewers puzzled about the fate of the main character Roman Shilov. In the final scene, a grenade launcher was fired into Shilov's apartment, after which the camera went dark.
Alive or dead?
Viewers were not shown Shilov's body, no rescue scenes, no episodes after the credits. Such uncertainty is a favorite technique of the authors, which allows them to keep the audience's attention until the next season. However, in the case of "Cop Wars", this technique worked especially well: since 2019, fans of the series have been actively discussing a possible 12th season, but it was never released.
Viewers' opinions
Viewers began to share their theories about Shilov's fate:
- “It is impossible to kill Shilov, they have already tried”;
- "If he dies, the series dies with him";
- “For the viewer, the ending remained unclear: either the hero is alive, or that’s it... Turn off the lights and order a funeral notice”;
- "It's too easy to shoot through the window. Too banal";
- "Shilov is like the Terminator. Unkillable and always in action."
Why does this ending work?
Over the course of 11 seasons, Roman Shilov went from being a street cop to a figure who challenges the entire system. His enemies became more influential, and his methods became harsher. The writers couldn't just "take out" such a character with a grenade launcher; that would have been too petty for a hero who raised real issues and "fought" the corrupt elite.
Will there be a sequel?
Initially, there were rumors about a possible 12th season, but after years, fans began to realize that there would be no premiere. Actor Alexander Ustyugov, who played Shilov, put an end to this issue:
"No. And it is impossible to return. The project is finished."
Thus, the further fate of Shilov remains a mystery for viewers, but, according to the majority of fans of the series, Shilov remained alive after the explosion.
Conclusion
"Cop Wars" is one of the most popular Russian TV series, which turns 20 this year. During this time, the project has become a cult classic, and its characters have become an integral part of Russian pop culture.
EN 
RU