I wasn’t convinced Cyberpunk: Edgerunners could have a sadder ending until I read its writer’s other pitches—and boy did we get off easy
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is praised as an excellent anime that delivers a devastatingly emotional ending. The show serves as a thoughtful examination of cyberpunk genre dystopia, critiquing how society views people as disposable while corrupting concepts of success and legacy. The narrative’s tragic conclusion—wherein protagonist David and his companion Rebecca are killed in brutal, unceremonious fashion during an intimate moment—exemplifies the show’s central philosophy: there are no happy endings in Night City, only temporary reprieves from inevitable tragedy. Rather than offering hope or redemption, the anime unflinchingly portrays the futility of individual struggle against systemic oppression. According to the article, the writer had pitched several alternative endings that were considerably darker, suggesting the actual ending, while tragic, represents a comparatively merciful outcome. This revelation underscores the intentionality behind the narrative choices and the show’s commitment to authentic cyberpunk storytelling.