This post includes a brief plot summary and an explanation about the ending of the film “Training Day” (2001).
Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the 2001 crime thriller stars Denzel Washington as Alonzo Harris and Ethan Hawke as Jake Hoyt.
The film “Training Day” is about a rookie police officer (Jake Hoyt) who follows an experienced narcotics detective (Alonzo Harris) for a day. During his “training day”, Jake takes drugs against his will and witnesses Alonzo stealing from criminals and framing innocent people.
What Happens in Training Day? (Plot Explained)
Previously, Alonzo killed a member of the Russian mafia during a dispute, and now they are seeking compensation. As a result, Alonzo plots murder against his former associate (Roger). The detective knew the latter stole a large sum of money before retiring.
As a result, Alonzo and some other corrupt police officers team up to execute Roger and steal his money. After seeing these men murder Roger in cold blood, Jake refuses to cooperate and quits. However, Alonzo threatens the rookie officer with drug charges and reminds him of the consequences.
Unable to fight against Alonzo, Jake ends up complying with his demands. That same night, Alonzo drives him to a gangster’s house for an “errand”. Later on, Jake realizes that Alonzo left him to die. When the leader (Smiley) was about to execute Jake, he found his cousin’s wallet in his pocket.
It turns out that Smiley’s cousin is the girl that Jake saved earlier in the day. As a sign of gratitude, Smiley decides to spare Jake’s life. Furious that Alonzo set him up to die, Jake goes after Alonzo. The rookie officer goes to the detective’s house and tries to arrest Alonzo. The detective resists, and a gun fight ensues.
The Ending of “Training Day” Explained
The ending of “Training Day” shows Alonzo’s neighbours showing up and protecting Jake. The rookie officer takes the stolen money away as criminal evidence against Alonzo. Meanwhile, Alonzo tries to flee in his car, but the Russian mafia stops the detective and shoots him dead. As Jake returns home, the media starts reporting Alonzo’s death.
There are many takeaways from the ending scene of “Training Day”. First of all, Alonzo Harris is an awful human being. Second, people like the detective exist because there are bigger fish in the sea backing him up. Third, everyone will eventually face the consequences of their actions.
Despite his charismatic persona, there is no shadow of doubt that Alonzo Harris is the “bad guy” in “Training Day”. The detective meticulously planned Roger’s murder, he wanted to use his former partner’s money to pay his debt to the Russian mafia. Not only that, but Alonzo also wanted to use Jake as a scapegoat for his crimes.
People like Alonzo Harris are not the “biggest fish in the sea” when it comes to corruption and abuse of power. There are other higher ranking officers backing up Alonzo’s schemes. In the film, the detective refers to them as the “Three Wise Men”. Next to them, Alonzo is just a puppet.
In the end, actions have consequences. Alonzo’s wasn’t as popular as he thought among the criminals. As a matter of fact, they despise him. The detective has been abusing his power for many years, which has made him many enemies. That’s why Alonzo’s neighbours decided to let Jake go, in a way, they felt that Alonzo deserved what was coming to him.
“Training Day” serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of corruption and abuse of power. Jake’s strong ethics and upright moral values ended up saving his life. Meanwhile, Alonzo Harris’s death exposes the complex dynamics of corruption in the police department.
Despite his crimes, Alonzo’s reputation remained untouched. Just like Roger, in the eyes of the general public, he died as an officer on duty. The ending of “Training Day” means that the police department has no intention of exposing its corrupt officers. First, they don’t want to tarnish their own reputation. And second, it implies that there are many more like Alonzo Harris.
Training Day Discussion
One of the most prevalent debates around “Training Day” revolves around the antagonist’s brutal death. Did Alonzo Harris deserve to die? The short answer is “yes”.
Nonetheless, Alonzo Harris is an amazing character because of his provocative views on the law and justice. In the beginning of “Training Day”, Alonzo lectures Jake on how one needs to be bad in order to catch another bad guy.
Even though Alonzo Harris did many unethical things in “Training Day”, the fact is that he also arrested many criminals. Now, does that excuse his crimes? It doesn’t, but it shows that there are many paths to justice.
Some people are more like Jake Hoyt, who prefers to do things the right way. Meanwhile, others are more like Alonzo Harris, who is more focused on the final outcome. Nevertheless, actions have consequences. Alonzo Harris’ inflated ego and unethical methods to enforce the law landed him in trouble, which ultimately led to his demise.
Having said that, it’s fair to say that Alonzo Harris deserved to die. His death is a strong reminder that one needs to think carefully before they act, as actions have consequences. Karma eventually hit Alonzo Harris’ door, and he paid the ultimate price: his life.
Final Thoughts
Training Day is a great film that explores the complex and murky world of police corruption. In addition, the film raises important questions about right and wrong, duty and honour, and loyalty and betrayal. The challenging moral dilemmas present in “Training Day” will spark intense discussions among the audience.
On the one hand, there is Jake, who is forced to choose between his ideals and survival. Then, on the other hand, there is Alonzo, who tests the rookie officer’s limits and pushes him to the edge. In the process, Jake had to face himself and question his own identity and values.
Denzel Washington delivers a stellar performance as Alonzo. The actor managed to bring to life a very intriguing character, Alonzo Harris, who is both fascinating and terrifying. There is no doubt that Alonzo Harris is the villain in “Training Day”. However, Denzel is so charming in his delivery that it will actually make the viewers reconsider their opinion of him.
Last but not least, I didn’t realize how iconic “Training Day” was until I watched it. Not only does the film contain one of Denzel Washington’s most memorable performances, but it also has some pretty interesting cameos. Just to name a few names: Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg and Macy Gray. Overall, “Training Day” is a very noteworthy watch.
