Steve: How does Shy actually survive at the end of the Netflix drama? Speculations explored

Netflix's latest drama film, Steve, starring Cillian Murphy, has been the talk of the town for some time now. Based on Max Porter's 2023 novel Shy, the movie revolves around a fictional school named Stanton Wood (somewhere in the '90s United Kingdom), a home for teenage boys with behavioral trouble.

Cillian Murphy plays the titular role, "Steve" (the headmaster of Stanton Wood), and the story is not just about the struggles of the socially discarded young students. It is also about the inner turmoil of the teachers (mostly Steve) who toil day and night to restore sanity and order inside an institution that mostly harbors chaos.

Amidst the tumult, a documentary crew is seen filming the students and the teachers about their daily challenges at Stanton Wood, and a special kid named Shy steals the show. Even though his journey is quite tragic, he shares a special connection with Steve, and it's probably the reason why he survives at the end.

How does Shy survive at the end of Steve?

Shy (portrayed by Jay Lycurgo) is apparently a jolly kid at Stanton Wood who likes to listen to upbeat music on his Walkman and also has a calm, sensitive, and pleasing outer shell. He has the most beautiful eyes, but the frequent close-up shots of his face clearly reveal the storm that sometimes rises inside of him.

As seen in Steve, Shy's family decides to cut off all ties with him because of his periodic violent behavior (including hurting his stepfather with a knife during one such outburst). Even though he does not appear as someone who can be hostile, Shy has this urge to be outspoken.

According to Tudum, Lycurgo also described his character, saying:

"I just know this guy, I know him from me. I know my friends are like this, and I’ve just been surrounded by him my whole life."

Moreover, lead star Cillian Murphy, per Tudum, also spoke highly of Jay Lycurgo, saying that he approached the role quite maturely and, considering his age, is "really a stunning actor." With so much effort from the creative team, Max Porter's genius creation finally got the deserved treatment, and Shy's redemption arc is something that will leave you teary-eyed.

After Shy's parents turn their faces away from him, the troubled young boy is pushed off the edge. He is also seen having a violent episodic outburst while in a therapy session with one of the teachers at Stanton Wood.

Steve, who is the closest to Shy, offers to help him with his kind words, but the former makes it clear that he does not want it and that he is tired of everything. Shy eventually shuts the door on everyone and reaches the brink of patience. On the other hand, Stanton Wood is at stake, as the school needs to relocate, but there are not many options.

So, the board decides to shut down the home to the helpless, leaving Steve and his crew in cold waters. Amidst all the conundrums, Steve also goes through an emotional episode, where he gets drunk and breaks down. With nothing to lose but finding new ways to keep Stanton Wood afloat, Steve, along with two other teachers (Jenny & Owen), sits through a night of drinking and talking and throwing their fears away.

But hardly anyone knew that the morning after would be the bearer of bad news as Shy goes missing. Steve, in a state of half-intoxication, manages to find his way around the building and goes looking for the most vulnerable student at Stanton Wood.

On the other hand, as the scenes shift, we see Shy with a rucksack full of heavy rocks on his back walking down into a nearby pond step by step (trying to drown himself). With Steve running here and there in search of Shy and crashing on the muddy grounds, the film maintains the tension while keeping the emotional layer consistent.

As Shy almost reaches down to his nose inside the water (with tears in his eyes), Steve passes out on the mud with no strength to lift himself. What almost appeared to be a rather tragic ending eventually unfolded into good news. Steve returns home to his family, and flashbacks reveal that Shy reunites with his schoolmates, a group hug, and an overwhelming conclusion precedes the end credits.

But the question remains, how did Steve actually survive? Did he pull himself out of the water and change his mind at the last moment? Or did Steve actually find him and save his life? According to ScreenRant, Peaky Blinders star Cillian Murphy recently addressed the possibilities, saying:

"Oh, I ain't going to answer that."

He further added:

"I think it's up to the audience to decide. Yeah."

At the end of the movie, we also see Steve calling out Shy's name, and one theory suggests that the latter probably heard the same while trying to take his own life. Steve and Shy have always shared a special bond, and considering both of their struggles, it appears that they saved each other.

Moreover, Murphy added that the original novel by Max Porter has another version of Shy's fate. To quote his exact words:

"I also think there's another version. If you read the novel, there's another version. People should go and read the novel as well."

The Netflix drama Steve is not just a message to address mental health problems with the utmost urgency but also a portrayal of how complex and sensitive the human mind can be. It is a story of determination and a journey about how to stand with one's head held high against the biggest adversities.

Steve is also a story of sacrifice by kind human beings who place others' emotional struggles before their own troubles (the teacher Shola being another example of the same, who remains back at Stanton Wood despite being s*xually harassed by one of the students). Stanton Wood is not just a school. It is a venture to save those whom society has turned its back on. It is a fight that goes on despite getting worse with each passing day.