'Dragon's Dogma' Ending Explained: What the Dragon's ultimate goal was, and what happens next
Spoilers for 'Dragon's Dogma'
Ethan's (Greg Chun) goal was a simple one — find the Dragon (David Lodge), kill it, and avenge his family in the process. However, the Dragon's plan had many more layers to it such that Ethan never saw coming, and that ultimately was his doom. We take a look at the series ending — and just what it might mean for a potential Season 2.
The magic that rules the world of 'Dragon's Dogma' is complicated, but its rules are clear: When Dragons fly the skies, it is the Arisen who are fated to stop them. They may be assisted by a race of emotionless beings known as Pawns — a carryover from the game the show is based on, where Pawns are simple-minded allies helping players with their quests — but it is the Arisen who must ultimately stroke the final blow to kill the Dragon once and for all.
What neither Ethan or his Pawn Hannah (Erica Mendez) knew, however, is that it's the Dragon who chooses the Arisen by stealing their heart and motivating revenge in them. If an Arisen who is selfless can kill the Dragon, then the Dragon dies, but if that Arisen kills the Dragon out of selfish needs like revenge, the Arisen BECOMES the Dragon, starting the cycle anew.
Part of the Dragon's inevitable nature is a hatred for humans. Sooner or later, a Dragon will attack humanity, simply because they exist. It's possible to resist this nature for a while — which is likely why no one has seen a Dragon for over a hundred years — but eventually, the Dragon gives into its needs and might not even have control over itself.
The Dragon picked Ethan to be an Arisen because he wanted to die, and he knew that Ethan had the potential to be filled with hate, and not fear — hate enough to hunt the Dragon down, no matter what, and finally kill it. Ethan's need for vengeance was selfish, however, meaning that when he killed the Dragon, he became one himself. Whether or not the first Dragon wanted the cycle to continue or not is unclear.
After transforming into the Dragon, Ethan still has enough restraint left not to kill Hannah, and his last words to her are to ask her to protect humanity from himself, showing that there's still, for the moment, good left in Ethan.
Hannah, for her part, has learned humanity from her time keeping Ethan safe, and is now keeping a watchful eye on those who remain. It is possible that, as a Pawn, she may be able to help find a new Arisen when Ethan finally succumbs to his draconic nature — something that a potential Season 2 could explore. Hannah would have a big challenge ahead of her, though, as Dragons pick Arisen for their hatred — it would be up to Hannah to find someone with a noble heart, and to keep their humanity intact to end the Dragon's curse once and for all.
All episodes of 'Dragon's Dogma' are now available to view on Netflix.