Human Vapor Ending Explained: Directed by Shinzo Katayama and created by Yeon Sang-ho and Ryu Yong-jae, ガス人間 is Netflix’s gripping Japanese sci-fi thriller that reimagines Toho’s 1960 cult classic of the same name. The eight-episode series stars Shun Oguri as detective Kenji Okamoto, Yu Aoi as journalist Kyoko Kono, Uta Uchida as the mysterious Human Vapor, Suzu Hirose as Kaho, Kento Hayashi as Fujita and others.
Human Vapor Ending Explained
Why Was Human Vapor Targeting White Center?
The killings carried out by Human Vapor were not random; every individual he targeted had a connection to White Center, which turned out to be a facade of an orphanage and a place where homeless and helpless individuals were taken care of, but the truth was, it served as a place of disposable labour. Decades ago, when there was a meteorite strike in Japan, the authorities tried to cover up the dangers of the incident for the sake of preserving the good image of the country, not wanting any commotion among the people.
Rather than assigning the job to professionals, they assigned it to White Center, knowing very well that a number of individuals would perish. The individuals who perished were simply made unaccounted for. Those targeted by Human Vapor were the individuals directly responsible for such a conspiracy. The scientists who tried to cover up the whole fiasco, the officials at White Center, the gangsters who provided manpower, the corrupted police officials who stifled any evidence, and the politicians who pulled the strings became targets. However, Ren wasn’t making these decisions.
Once his wife Kyoko came back into his life after years, he realised that Ren had become a captive of his supernatural entity and could neither think nor act on his own anymore. Since he believed that the justice system wouldn’t be able to hold the perpetrators accountable for their actions, he utilised Ren’s power to get rid of all these individuals. His motives weren’t only based on revenge but also on the search for the truth behind White Center.
Who Was the True Master Controlling Human Vapor?
While Human Vapor seemed to be an unstoppable force operating independently, he was actually being dictated to by whoever had awoken him. Ren lived for most of his life motionless like a statue in his deserted hideaway. Whenever his special song, Ellie My Love, was played, he would wake up and pose a very simple question, “What is your wish?” After his wish was stated, Ren fulfilled it regardless of whether it was right or wrong. He did not have the ability to make his own judgment regarding whether or not to let the person live or die anymore.
For most of the series, it is Kyoko who plays that role. Since she herself had managed to survive White Center, she was fully aware of the people who destroyed Ren’s life and used hundreds of innocent lives for their selfish political gains. Kyoko guided Ren towards these criminals, covertly thinking that they would never be held accountable through normal means. But when Miura got to know about Ren’s powers, he took over everything.
How Did Ren Tsutsumida Become Human Vapor?
Before he became the enigmatic Human Vapor, Ren Tsutsumida was once a regular guy who loved Kyoko very much after he saved her from the terrible fate that awaited her at White Center. The boyfriend of Kyoko’s mother, who was connected to both the yakuza and White Center, made him an offer, and Ren consented to work at the meteorite cleanup area, on the condition that he would be able to raise Kyoko undisturbed. Determined to keep the girl whom he loved as a member of his own family safe, Ren accepted the dangerous task without really knowing the dangers that awaited him.
In the location of the cleanup of the meteorite, Ren was instructed to transport explosives into the tunnels where the object landed. When he got nearer to the strange object, the unknown energy emanating from the meteorite seriously injured him, causing vapour to be emitted through his body. Just before he could understand what was going on, the people in charge of the cleanup process detonated the explosives to eliminate the meteorite. Instead of killing him, the big explosion caused Ren to be enveloped in the smoke, but not die, just like others.
Instead of dying, his body absorbed the unknown energy that made him turn into a being who is able to transform into a gaseous form and then reappear in another place. He became a half-human being due to the effect of the transformation. After the transformation, he existed as if dead until he was awakened by Ellie My Love. He was unable to take control of his actions as he would go about performing any task requested by those who knew how to call him.
How Did Fujita Die in Human Vapor Series?
The unfortunate death of Fujita follows after he stumbles upon the secret that gives Human Vapor the power to carry out such gruesome acts. Determined to capitalise on this astonishing revelation and become famous online, he manipulates the knowledge to gain popularity. He directs Human Vapor to make a menacing threat to the Superintendent General, which he then publishes online on his channel. The video becomes hugely popular, finally making Fujita popular as he had hoped to be all along. It does not help matters when the video reaches Governor Miura.
As Miura does not know anything about the workings of Human Vapor, he sends his goons to kidnap Fujita and Kaho. Both Fujita and Kaho suffer brutal torture until they tell all that they know. Since there is nothing left but to submit to Miura’s will, Fujita and Kaho show Miura Ren’s old hiding place and tell him about the process of activation—Ellie My Love activates Human Vapor, then Ren asks the person a wish and does it obediently. It is only now that Miura realises that Human Vapor can be controlled by anyone who knows the process of its activation. Miura instantly wakes up Ren and makes his first wish—to kill Fujita and Kaho.
Since they know there is no way to beat their enemy, who transforms into a gas form, the siblings run away from him. In his last breaths, Fujita makes the decision to save his sister at the cost of losing his life. To ensure the safety of Kaho from Human Vapor, Fujita pushes her into a river and pours gasoline on himself.
As Ren is about to attack Fujita, he lights up a lighter, resulting in an enormous explosion, hoping to kill himself along with his enemy. His act does not kill Human Vapor; rather, it just saves Kaho. Fujita dies in the explosion, whereas Ren is not hurt that much, confirming the fact that normal ways do not work on Human Vapor.
Was Kenji Able to Bring Governor Miura to Justice At the End of Human Vapor?
Yes. Despite Miura manipulating the police and controlling important people and using Human Vapor as his own weapon, Kenji was able to prove that Miura had been playing dirty all along. The turning point occurred when both Kaho and Kyoko retrieved the memory card from the hidden camera of Fujita. In the video, Miura ordered Human Vapor to kill him, making it clear that the assassination attempt was part of the plan to evoke sympathy before elections. Recognising the significance of the proof, Kyoko instantly sent it to her co-workers, while Kaho broadcast it live on air.
As soon as the clip was uploaded online, the image built by Miura came tumbling down. People got to know that their favourite politician was involved in manipulating terrorism for his benefit, all the while concealing his links with White Center and the secret group Mufu. While Kenji himself managed to escape from his captors despite being subjected to severe torture because of his silence on the location of the evidence, he managed to hunt down Miura, who was trying to run away following his disgraceful status as governor, and even tried to end his life by committing suicide on the roof.
In the ending of Human Vapor, instead of letting Miura off the hook by taking his own life, Kenji intervened and arrested Miura. However, Miura’s arrest symbolised much more than just the arrest of an individual politician. It shed light on years of exploitation committed by the politician using White Center and the forced labour business.
How Did Kyoko Finally Stop Human Vapor?
At the end of the Human Vapor series, Kyoko realises something that the rest of them do not realise: Vapor cannot be beaten by force. Ren is able to withstand bullets, bombs, and practically any form of physical assault because his body does not exist the way that the body of a normal human being would. Realising that there is no way she can defeat him physically, Kyoko comes up with another solution. She lets Miura give Human Vapor the orders to chase after her until he finds her. While this happens, she makes sure that the truth about Miura becomes known to everybody.
Kyoko lures Ren into the underground vault below the JNT building and locks herself up in there along with Ren before anyone can stop them. When Ren starts attacking, the flashbacks start bringing back memories of what they used to share. From the flashbacks, one can get to know how close they used to be, even to the point where Kyoko had asked Ren to be her father when she was very young. These long-forgotten feelings appear to stir something in Ren, at least in that part of him which is still left humane.
An outburst of light blinds everyone in the scene, and Kyoko and Ren both vanish. At the end of Human Vapor episode 8, when Kenji comes to break into the vault, all that is found is some pieces of clothing of Kyoko, one shoe, and the engagement ring that he was going to propose to her with.
Will There Be a Human Vapor Season 2?
So far, Netflix has not released any official announcement about a Season 2 of Human Vapor at the time of this writing. Nonetheless, it is quite clear from the final scene that there could still be something more left to be explored because of the way the ending was concluded. One year since the White Center affair, Kenji keeps on grieving for Kyoko even though the community thinks both Kyoko and Ren went missing.
The biggest hint is left towards the end of the Human Vapor episode 8. When Kenji lies at home while “Ellie My Love” is playing in the background, he is surprised when the clouds of vapor slowly appear before finally appearing in the form of a lifeless form resembling Kyoko. The series does not make any clarification as to what went on in the vault, and so there remains a question in the minds of viewers as to whether Kyoko has inherited Ren’s powers or if she is now the Human Vapor or is simply in some mysterious form due to the powers of the meteorite.
Since the episode ends with Kenji unaware of the presence of the figure, it becomes a question not answered by the series. However, since it is a good ending to the series, the question left unanswered can provide a basis for season two.
Also Read: Human Vapor Review: Gripping Blend of Mystery and Sci-Fi Makes It an Entertaining Watch
