Here's What Happens To Glen Kryger At The End Of Netflix's ‘Painkiller’

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Netflix’s Painkiller tells the story of the opioid epidemic in America.

The tough-to-watch series explores the role that big pharma execs played in the crisis, from green-lighting the release of a painkiller called OxyContin—despite knowing how addictive it is—to pushing sales teams to promote the drug.

And while the pharmaceutical industry profited, overdose deaths from prescription drugs rose from around 3,000 in 1999 to over 17,000 in 2017, per National Institute on Drug Abuse.

The series is based on a book called Pain Killer: An Empire of Deceit and the Origin of America’s Opioid Epidemic by Barry Meier, as well as a New Yorker profile on the Sackler family, who founded and owned Purdue Pharma, per Netflix. Purdue Pharma is one of the companies widely blamed for the ongoing opioid crisis. The six-episode series tells a mostly-true story of events and people over the past two decades.

Each of the episodes in Painkiller dives into the stories of individual people whose lives were destroyed by OxyContin. While the characters and details are mostly fictional depictions, they're based on real life events and the experiences of thousands of Americans.

The episodes all open the same way, with a disclaimer that explains: "This program is based on real events. However, certain characters, names, incidents, locations, and dialogue have been fictionalized for dramatic purposes."

One man that viewers meet is Glen Kryger, a father and husband who gets addicted to painkillers. He's played by Friday Night Lights star Taylor Kitsch. (Painkiller director and executive producer Peter Berg also worked on Friday Night Lights and told TV Insider that Kitsch was the only person he considered for the role.)

But who is Glen, and is he based on real person? Here’s everything to know about the character, and what happens to him at the end of the series:

Is Painkiller a true story?

Some parts are true. Netflix clearly states that the series is fictionalized, but it is based in reality. In fact, Netflix says online that it’s a “fictionalized retelling of events,” noting that it’s based on “extensive research.”

Some elements, like the opioid crisis, the Purdue Pharma company (which produced OxyContin), and its president, Richard Sackler, are all real.

Who is Glen Kryger in Painkiller?

In the series, viewers meet Glen, a tire shop owner who has a wife named Lily and a step-son named Tyler. Glen injures his back in an accident at work, causing him terrible, chronic pain. A doctor prescribes him OxyContin to help manage his pain.

While Glen originally felt like the OxyContin helped him to get his life back, he soon becomes addicted to the painkiller. His substance use disorder spirals out of control, and leads to the breakdown of his marriage and fractures in his relationship with his stepson.

Painkiller intercuts Glen's experience with depictions of Purdue Pharma’s runway success. It’s the “horrible contradictory idea” at the heart of the show, executive producer Eric Newman told Netflix's Tudum.

Who plays Glen in Painkiller?

In the series, Glen is played by actor Taylor Kitsch. Kitsch prepped for his role by working with an advisor and sending producers notes, per Bustle.

Kitch also pulled from his own experience caring for someone who struggled with opioid and amphetamine misuse, he told Esquire. Kitsch says he went to “hell and back 17 times” with the person. (That person is now sober, Kitsch shared.)

Is Glen based on a real person?

In addition to depicting real people like Purdue Pharma's Richard Sackler and Arthur Sackler, Painkiller uses composite characters to put a human face on the impact of the opioid crisis, including pharma sales rep Shannon Schaeffer (played by West Duchovny) and federal prosecutor Edie Flowers (Uzo Aduba) who builds the legal case against Purdue.

Director and executive producer Peter Berg told Rotten Tomatoes that there have been “tens of thousands of Glens” over the history of the opioid crisis. “So when people say, ‘Is Glen a composite character?’ I say, ‘Kind of yes and no.’ I’ve known Glens. I’m sure you’ve known Glens or if you don’t know them personally, you know someone that does.”

What happens to Glen at the end of the show?

In one of the final episodes, Glen, who has been spiraling deeper into his addiction, tries to turn his life around. He tells his family that he's done with OxyContin, gets his job back, and is trying to reconcile with his family while temporarily living at a motel.

Unfortuantely, things take a turn for the worse.

Glen stumbles across a bag of OxyContin and ends up snorting some crushed up pills in his car. The audience hears Glen's heartbeat slowing and sees someone shaking him through the open window of his car, but Glen is already dead, per RadioTimes. The police then call in saying that it's a suspected overdose.

You can watch Painkiller streaming now on Netflix.

If you or someone you know is seeking help for substance use, call the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

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