Warning: Contains spoilers for the Divergent series by Veronica Roth!

The Divergent series was initially meant to conclude with a final installment, Ascendant, but it never made it to the big screen, leaving out the ending of the Divergent books. The story is about Tris Prior, a 16-year-old girl in a dystopian society divided into five factions—Abnegation, Amity, Candor, Dauntless, and Erudite. Tris is divergent, which means she does not fit into a single faction. The first two installments follow her journey to stop Erudite’s leader, Jeanine Matthews, from taking over Chicago. However, Allegiant reveals far more complicated stakes.

There is a much bigger conflict brewing beyond the wall, perpetuated by the Bureau of Genetic Welfare, a group that controls “Genetically Damaged” people, or GDs. The Allegiant film revolves around this storyline, but it does not wrap up things. The stakes are higher than ever, with Chicago’s fate on the line. However, the movie was ultimately canceled, leaving viewers to wonder what would happen to Tris and the people of Chicago. This question is especially critical given the narrative differences between Allegiant and its book counterpart. The end of the Allegiant film marks a clear diversion from the book.

What Happens In The Allegiant Book’s Ending

Tris Prior Makes the Ultimate Sacrifice for the Genetically Damaged

In the final installment of Veronica Roth’s Divergent trilogy, Tris’ brother Caleb volunteers to reverse the Memory Serum onto the Bureau of Genetic Welfare members, effectively erasing the prejudice in their veins. However, this action would expose him to a Death Serum, ultimately taking his life. In the end, Tris takes his place since she has the best shot at surviving the Death Serum. However, David, the head of the Bureau, catches Tris and fatally shoots her.

Tris knows the risks beforehand and chooses to reverse the serum because that is who she is as a person. Ultimately, her sacrifice ties her entire character arc together and is representative of the kindness she shows throughout the series, particularly toward the genetically damaged. It’s a fitting if sad end for the Divergent protagonist.

How Tris’ Ending Is Drastically Different In The Book Than In The Movie (So Far)

The Memory Serum Plot Deviates at the End of the Allegiant Film

In the on-screen adaptation Allegiant, the plot around the Memory Serum plays out differently than it does in the books. Instead of Tris breaking in to reverse the serum onto the Bureau of Genetic Welfare members, she shuts it down entirely. David does not even catch Tris, although he does watch her. The Memory Serum might be deactivated for now, but it still poses a threat as long as it exists. Furthermore, Tris notifies the residents of Chicago about the Bureau of Genetic Welfare, and Caleb destroys the wall between them once and for all.

As the Allegiant movie needed a satisfying ending despite only adapting part of the book, it makes sense it concludes in a big way. It gives Tris a moment of triumph and power, as well as a more public-facing victory than she has in the books. It also tees up the leadership role she likely would have had in the Ascendant movie, had it come to pass.

Allegiant’s Future For Genetically Pure And Genetically Modified People

The Book Shows Equal Opportunities Regardless of a Person’s Genetic Makeup

In the Allegiant book, when Tris makes the ultimate sacrifice and reverses the Memory Serum, she opens the doors to a new world where Genetically Pure and Genetically Damaged people coexist. GPs no longer control GDs; everyone can choose their own paths. The book highlights this by taking the story two and a half years into the future, showing a made-over Chicago where people do not need specific genetic markers to determine their future—the choice is theirs.

The potential for this future is why Tris chooses to take Caleb’s place in reversing the serum. She wants the people of Chicago to live freely and build a city made of genuine love and hope rather than contrived ideals where the GPs can continue to oppress the GDs from the outside. It’s seeing that future that Tris made that allows her family and friends to finally come to peace with her sacrifice.

How The Movies Would Have Changed Ascendant’s Ending From The Books

The Fourth Movie Would Have Raised the Stakes To a Much Bigger Conflict

In Veronica Roth’s Allegiant, the final battle is between Tris and her friends and the Bureau of Genetic Welfare. However, the Allegiant film exposes the Bureau before Tris defeats them for good. The movie makes clear that dismantling the Memory Serum is a temporary fix, not a permanent one.

In the Ascendant movie, it’s likely Tris and her friends would have faced David and his team again, but they would not have been alone this time. Thanks to the end of the Allegiant movie, the entire city of Chicago knows the truth, so more people would likely stand up and fight. The stakes would be much more significant for the Genetically Damaged, possibly meaning the Bureau would gather its own allies.

Most importantly, Tris Prior would have been alive, likely for the bulk of the movie. Ascendant could have given her a similar ending to the books but under different circumstances. It’s possible Tris would have faced David during a fight where all of Chicago’s residents worked together to take down the Bureau of Genetic Welfare. Alternatively, the movie could have tried to follow the book as much as possible by having her take Caleb’s place in a different scenario.

Regardless of how Ascendant would have played out, one thing is evident—Tris Prior will always give up her life for the city and the people she loves. In that way, it’s likely Tris would have faced a similar ending in the fourth movie because there is no other way for the saga to end. Tris must die so that Chicago can live; it is critical to her arc.

The Real Meaning Of Veronica Roth’s Allegiant Ending

Genetics Do Not Make or Break People

Veronica Roth tackles many themes in the Divergent books, and the central ones stand out in Allegiant. The final book makes clear there is no such thing as pure or damaged genetics; everyone is susceptible to good and evil. The contrast between Tris and David is the perfect example. At the beginning of Allegiant, Tris learns that her divergent status makes her Genetically Pure, while the narrative already establishes David as a GP. However, Tris is selfless and brave. She always does the right thing, no matter the cost.

On the other hand, David has a severe prejudice against the Genetically Damaged people. He sees himself as superior to them because of his “pure” genes. He will do anything to ensure that GPs maintain control over GDs—including murder, one of the initial reasons the American government dabbled in genetic purification.

Tobias Eaton, also known as Four, turns out to be part of the Genetically Damaged. However, that does not stop him from siding with Tris and taking out the Bureau because he knows any form of oppression is wrong. With its ending and these reveals about the characters’ histories, the Allegiant book makes it clear that choices, not genetics, are what makes a person, and it’s likely the Ascendant movie would have followed suit.