Paris Has Fallen – Season 1 Episode 8 Recap, Review & Ending Explained

The Final

Episode 8 of Paris Has Fallen picks up with Vincent convincing the President to escape the bunker and meet Pearce. He gives her an injection that will slow her breathing and make it look like she is having a cardiac arrest. Once she loses consciousness, he calls for help.

The security team dive into action and call for a helicopter to fly the President to the hospital. Once on the plane, Vincent attacks the security men, overpowers them and puts a gun to the pilot’s head. The pilot flies Vincent and the President to a secluded area where Zara and another agent are waiting. 

Does Vincent deliver the President to Pearce?

 Once the President gains consciousness, Zara and Vincent prepare her to meet with Pearce and kill him. Vincent admits to Zara that he is unsure if he loves the President anymore, but protecting her is still his job. Although scared, the President trusts Vincent and listens as he teaches her how to get close to Pearce and takes him by surprise.

After managing to escape and stay below the radar, Vincent delivers the President to Pearce.

What are Pearce’s plans with the President?

Pearce is prepared to die, and this is his suicide mission. He puts on his army suit and sets up a camera to record his conversation with the President. He also retrieves the van carrying the bomb and brings Thea as his insurance policy. He wants the President to publicly admit she killed three innocent people, Amina and her two kids. 

Once Zara, Vincent, Leo and the President reach the agreed location. He pulls a gun on Thea, taking Zara by surprise. A gunfight ensues between Freja and Zara. To save Thea from Pearce, Zar shoots her in the arm. The commotion gives Pearce enough time to drag the President to the room he set up. The President takes him by surprise and shoots him in the abdomen as he drags her. The injury is enough to slow down Pearce, but doesn’t kill him.

He threatens to blow the place up if she doesn’t admit her mistake. Under duress, the President admits to killing Amina and her kids over and over again. Pearce never seems satisfied to hear her say it. Finally, Zara and Vincent breach the room and shoot Pearce. They assume they are safe since they manage to stop the bomb from detonating.

However, Pearce reaches for the gun hidden in his trousers and aims for the President. Vincent shields her with his own body before Zara responds and kills Pearce. In the meantime, Freja escapes and leaves for her next mission.

What happens after Pearce’s death?

Vincent is rushed to the hospital and treated. Later, the President visits him. They agree that things between them are not working and break up amicably.  Zara and Thea also break up. Thea finds it hard to understand Zara’s job. She nearly died and, to make matters worse, Zara was the one who shot her. As for the President, she takes back her confession and denies ordering the hit. She blames someone else and is seen as a hero by the public.

How Does Paris Has Fallen end?

Vincent quits his job, but Zara admits she can’t quit. She loves the job, and unlike Vincent, she is not done. Meanwhile, the President’s approval rate skyrockets. Esin is the only one who remembers Pearce and pays him a tribute. 

The Episode Review

The show raised the stakes in the previous episode but the ending feels anti-climatic. It goes as expected and there are no twists or surprises. Everyone gets a happy ending except Pearce. For what it is worth, he deserved more. These politicians used him and then betrayed him. His truth deserved to be heard. He was one of those villains that one can’t help but understand. He is a villain of circumstances and, sadly, he never got his peace.

It is no surprise that Vincent quit his job. He just didn’t have the heart for it anymore. Can you blame him? It is also a good thing that he broke up with the President. He deserves better.  Same with Thea. Zara shooting her was the last straw. All in all, Paris is safe, and that is where the show wraps up the first season.