Bykov's "secret plan" was... to tell Kisegach that he's gonna quit, then wait till she tries to dissuade him out of it. She never did, and when Kupitman visits Kisegach two weeks later, she tells that she's tired of him, knowing that it's yet another scheme. Kupitman tries to convince her that things are serious this time, but it doesn't work. He then asks Levin about Bykov, whether he leaved him some signs or hidden orders, and learns that Bykov had lost his influence in the Therapy, with Levin de-facto taking over; as for Bykov himself, he's just lying on a coach in on-call room and doing nothing. Gleb, when asked, tells that he didn't see Bykov all this week at all. Everyone else whom he asks, gives similar answers. And no one takes him seriously, with some outright offering him to calm down, or even asking whether he's sober; they all knows that Bykov would never actually quit!
In the elevator, Kupitman meets Alisa, who came to visit her father... and take him with her into Saint-Petersburg. This leads Kupitman into near-hysteric: Bykov chose to leave like that, and didn't think what would happen to his friend! How Kupitman would survive without Bykov? Bykov comforts him: it's not that far away, so they would remain in contact. The still-sobbing Kupitman hugs him. Alisa then meets Gleb, and both reveals to know quite a lot about each other's past (mis)adventures, despite not meeting in person in years, revealing that they never forgot about each other. Kupitman tells Lyuba to go with him, and says her that he's gonna ask her to make a very important decision; he wants them to be together, so he's gonna ask... would she move with him to Saint-Petersburg? Bykov is gonna quit and move there, and Kupitman wants to stay near him. Lyuba, who already said "yes", suddenly realises that the question was not about the marriage, and gets violently angry, not giving Kupitman the time to say that there, in Saint-Petersburg, they would finally marry; he has to scream it just to be heard. Lyuba agrees.
Alisa asks Bykov why he has to leave in the middle of the night, but he insists that it's necessary. But before they can leave, they gets confronted by everyone: did Bykov really expected that he would be allowed to leave without a proper goodbye? And what may be a better goodbye than the last party? After the party, Gleb and Alisa awakes in one bed. Alisa reveals that she's not gonna leave him... for now. They are planning to make more "fun", but hears that their fathers are here, talking about something. And indeed, Bykov came to talk to Victor and tell him that he's leaving, so Anastasia is now his — not because he'd "won", but because Bykov knows that with him, she's never gonna be happy, but she's too proud to make the first move and actually leave. And when they would part ways permanently, she would need someone to stay with her and help her — and Bykov entrusts Victor with that. Gleb tells his mother about what he just heard, saying that he may or may not later regret this and she rushes to the train station — just in time to say goodbye to Lyuba. Unfortunately, it's too late to catch up with Bykov and Kupitman, who're currently riding towards Saint-Petersburg.
The time has passed. Bykov and Kupitman are still living together; they have found a job in the local hospital, but Bykov seems to fall into depression, becoming a heavy drinker, with only Kupitman keeping him afloat. Kupitman suggests Bykov a new job which he just discovered: a group of people wants to make a series about medics, and needs a consultant; Bykov reluctantly agrees. The series they are making suspiciously resembles Bykov's past life and old job. When leaving, Bykov hears from Kupitman that here's a taxi waiting for him. When going outside of the studio, Bykov sees a car's door opening, revealing that Kisegach has arrived; she's heard that Bykov has a place in his new team, so maybe he would take her? He says that he can... but only as an intern.
This episode provides examples of:
- The Alcoholic: After moving into Saint-Petersburg, Bykov became a heavy drinker who barely cares about anything else. Weirdly, it's Kupitman (completely sober and in good mood) who calls him out on this.
- Authority in Name Only: Bykov is still technically Levin's superior, but he stopped doing any work a week ago and it's Levin who does everything; Bykov just lies in on-call room, doing nothing. Everyone's aware of this, and already accustomed with Levin being their new boss.
- Aw, Look! They Really Do Love Each Other: Before Bykov leaves, his interns (both current and former) reveals how much they actually respect and value him, with Polina and Alexei outright lamenting that he's not gonna be here to give them their diplomas; instead, it's gonna be Levin. Meanwhile, Phil says the same to Kupitman.
- Back for the Finale: Alisa returns in the literally last episode, to check on her father, and take him with her to Saint-Petersburg. She later tells that she's not gonna leave, and would stay with Gleb instead — at least, for a time being.
- The Bore: Levin gives painfully boring and uninspiring toast. Gleb interrupts him by saying that he's gonna vomit. Bykov says that it's disgusting... and tells him to continue, after which Gleb gives much better toast.
- Drowning My Sorrows: After moving to Saint-Petersburg, Bykov started drinking almost non-stop, with pauses only for sleep and work; he's looking almost zombie-like by this point. It's Kupitman, at all people, who calls him out on it.
- False Reassurance: Inverted; the way Kupitman talks to Lyuba makes her convinced that he's gonna propose to her, only for him to ask whether she would move to Saint-Petersburg with him, as he wants to stay near Bykov. Only then he adds that he's gonna marry her once they move — but by that point he has to scream to make her listen.
- Leaning on the Fourth Wall: Bykov gets hired as a consultant for a new TV series about medics, and rather blatantly bases his ideas on the people he knew while working in the hospital, while also commenting on why he made those suggestions (which comes as close to breaking the fourth wall as possible without actually doing it); the one idea we actually hear about is to make the main character's friend a venereologist rather than proctologist, cause it's less disgusting and adds some "eroticism", make him a Jew rather than Armenian, and make him an alcoholic, cause that combo would make him interesting and funny.
- My Friends... and Zoidberg: When saying the toast, Levin addresses his friends, colleagues... and Lyuba.
- Heel Realisation: After spending some time alone, Bykov finally understands that his antics only hurts Anastasia, and comes to conclusion that him giving up and letting Victor to step in would be for the best — best for Anastasia, not himself.
- I Want My Beloved to Be Happy: Bykov, knowing that Anastasia would never be happy with someone like him, chooses to finally resign and leave, letting Victor to (re)build their relationship, as she would need someone to stay near her and support. Gleb tells about this to Kisegach, knowing that it's the last chance to save their relationship, and it turns out to be a right decision, as she does actually reject Victor and later move in with Bykov.
- Last-Minute Hookup:
- Alisa finally returns after being absent since the third season, and confirms that this time, she's gonna stay with Gleb (well, at least for some time: she's a traveller).
- Downplayed with Kupitman and Lyuba; their relationship goes for some time already, but Kupitman actually proposes to Lyuba just before them leaving to Saint-Petersburg.
- In the literally last scene, Kisegach moves to Saint-Petersburg and asks Bykov whether she can join his team, meaning that she did make the choice between him and Victor — in Bykov's favour.
- Not So Above It All: Kupitman, who mostly acts serious (mostly), is revealed to buy a scooter for himself, so he may follow Bykov (who's planning to ride all the way towards Saint-Petersburg on a bike) and keep him in check. While doing so, he shows almost childish joy.
- Passing the Torch: Before leaving to Saint Petersburg, Bykov says that Levin actually fits as his successor — because there always should be someone whom everyone would hate; it's a tradition.
- Please, Don't Leave Me: The news about Bykov really planning to quit and move away drives Kupitman to tears. He begs Bykov to not leave him alone. Bykov says that he wouldn't stay alone: he has Lyuba, and they would still have the means of contacting each other. The two then hugs. Kupitman then decides to also move to Saint-Petersburg (taking Lyuba).
- Time Skip:
- At some point after the previous episode, Bykov prepared his resignation. The episode starts two weeks after that.
- The epilogue takes place in Saint-Petersburg, unspecified time after Bykov and Kupitman have moved there.
