Netflix's Russian Doll: What Does The Ending Really Mean?

4. A Happy Ending For Alan

For as much as the series focuses more on Nadia, the ending we get is very much a happy one for Alan. He smiles at the end, with a real sense of being at peace; he's found true acceptance, both within himself and with another person like him. This is his moment of success.

It's a slightly more mixed ending for Nadia. There's a sense of happiness there, along with relief, but her reaction suggests something more melancholic. Consider everything she's been through, and how much more difficult to was for Alan to win her around than vice versa, and it's clear that she's been through too much, so she doesn't go forward with a grin like Alan, but what really matters is that she's able to go on at all.