Explanation of the Ending of It Ends With Us

This article discusses sensitive topics including domestic violence and sexual assault.

Warning: Spoilers for It Ends With Us ahead! The film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s acclaimed novel, It Ends With Us, offers a potent conclusion that diverges from the original narrative to amplify the themes of resilience and healing from abuse. The storyline revolves around Lily Bloom, portrayed by Blake Lively, a woman haunted by her mother’s experiences with domestic violence. Despite her determination to break the cycle, Lily’s life takes an unexpected turn following her father’s funeral when she encounters Ryle Kincaid, a neurosurgeon with an irresistible charm. Their paths cross again when Lily, unknowingly, hires Ryle’s sister at her flower shop.

As their relationship blossoms, Ryle tests Lily’s limits and inflicts emotional pressure on her despite her objections. Gradually, their connection morphs into a romantic partnership, which soon spirals into a nightmare of abuse. It isn’t until Lily reconnects with her childhood sweetheart, Atlas, that she acknowledges the full extent of her predicament. Following a harrowing assault, Lily finds herself at the hospital with Atlas’s support, only to discover she’s pregnant. This pivotal moment takes the story to its emotional and hopeful conclusion, epitomizing the strength inherent in survivors of abuse.

Why Lily Decides to Leave Ryle

Lily’s Life-Changing Decision After Pregnancy Reveal

In the film, two critical moments highlight Lily’s courageous departure from Ryle: first, when she physically escapes following his attempted assault, and secondly, when she mentally frees herself by demanding a divorce. Initially, her decision stems from fear, a primal instinct for survival. Later, she comprehends that returning to Ryle would only jeopardize her daughter’s future. Although she harbors feelings for Ryle, her commitment to providing Emerson with a better life than her own drives her to leave.

The act of leaving Ryle is a monumental display of bravery, particularly given that the most perilous moment for a domestic violence victim often occurs during the leaving process. Lily understands this peril all too well, having witnessed her mother’s entrapment in a similar cycle of abuse. Reflecting on her past, Lily confides in Atlas, revealing her anguish over not wanting to become her mother. She had previously believed she was too intelligent to fall victim to such a relationship, but unwittingly desensitized to red flags by her father’s behavior, she failed to recognize them in Ryle.

Lily’s decision to leave Ryle further underlines her bravery. Recognizing the heightened danger when escaping an abusive partner (as indicated by JBWS), she fortuitously announces her divorce publicly to lessen her risk. Additionally, unlike in the book, the film eliminates any semblance of a co-parenting relationship with Ryle, a crucial tweak that prioritizes her child’s safety.

If you or someone close to you is dealing with domestic violence, please reach out to the National Domestic Violence Hotline at (800) 799-7233 or visit thehotline.org.

Atlas and Lily’s Shared History

Atlas and Lily: A Deep Connection from Youth

Brandon Sklenar as Atlas Corrigan, smiling, in It Ends With Us

In It Ends With Us, Atlas serves as the first individual to recognize Lily’s plight, a realization forged from their intertwined history. The two met as teenagers when Atlas, facing homelessness due to an abusive household, forged a bond with Lily while he sought refuge in an abandoned house nearby. His firsthand experiences of abuse and his observations of Lily’s turbulent home environment primed him to identify the signs of domestic violence.

Moreover, the romantic entanglements of their youth—Lily and Atlas’s brief sexual relationship—become pivotal when Ryle learns of this past connection on their first encounter. Lily’s heart tattoo, representing a carved hollow love heart from Atlas, further complicates matters, as Ryle uses this history to justify his abusive behavior.

It is essential to note that no context can justify abuse. Ryle’s abuse, regardless of whether Lily had been unfaithful (she wasn’t), remains unequivocally wrong. Furthermore, from the outset, Ryle displayed red flags, including coercive behavior and boundary violations, yet Lily’s history with Atlas made it easier for Ryle to rationalize his actions.

Ryle’s Parallels with Lily’s Father

The Charismatic Abusers: Ryle and Andrew Bloom

Justin Baldoni as Ryle Kincaid looking at Blake Lively in It Ends With Us — Image via Sony Pictures

Both the original novel and its cinematic rendition utilize subtle messaging to elucidate the cycle of abuse, notably through the comparison of Ryle to Lily’s father, Andrew Bloom. Both men are high-profile figures wielding significant influence in their careers. Ryle, a neurosurgeon, literally holds lives in his hands, while Andrew Bloom, as mayor, impacts the entire community. This authority and control set the stage for potential domestic violence.

Additionally, both Ryle and Andrew are portrayed as charming and charismatic, traits that aid in masking their abusive tendencies. While this dynamic is more evident in the book’s characterization of Andrew, the film soon mirrors this by hinting that abusers often gain victims’ trust through their charisma, allowing them to orchestrate and perpetuate cycles of abuse. This parallel is crucial for understanding the mechanisms of abuse and Lily’s eventual entrapment.

Ryle’s Family’s Awareness of His Abuse

Lily’s Revelation to Allysa about Ryle’s Abuse

Blake Lively and Jenny Slate smiling at the shop in It Ends With Us

Significant departures from the novel also occur in the film relating to Allysa’s awareness of Ryle’s abusive behavior. In the original narrative, the extent of Allysa’s knowledge regarding Ryle’s character remains ambiguous. In contrast, the film explicitly shows that Allysa is unaware of Ryle’s abusive tendencies during her conversation with Lily towards the finale. This shift diminishes Allysa’s complicity in Ryle’s actions and enhances the emotional weight of her warning to Lily that she will sever ties if she returns to him.

The Symbolism of the Oak Tree

Blake Lively as Lily Bloom in It Ends With Us

The oak tree within Lily’s childhood home garden serves as a potent symbol throughout It Ends With Us. In flashbacks, Atlas and Lily admire the oak, contrasting its resilient growth with more fragile plants that rely on love for their sustenance. While Lily likens herself to the vulnerable flora, the oak tree truly embodies her strength and fortitude.

By the film’s conclusion, Lily emerges as a resilient mother, thriving despite her past traumas and the parental neglect from her father. The significance of the oak tree is further illustrated when Ryle attacks the tattoo inspired by the heart from the oak tree—an attempt to strip away Lily’s inner strength. Ultimately, both the tattoo and Lily remain intact, signifying her unwavering resilience.

Does the Film Address the Book’s Controversies?

Nuanced Portrayal of Abuse in the Film

It Ends With Us Cover featuring a pink background, flower petals, and the title

Colleen Hoover’s It Ends With Us sparked discussions due to critiques surrounding the romanticization of abusive relationships and the portrayal of domestic violence as a mere plot device. The initial trailers indicated that the film aimed to amend these criticisms, making the narrative around abuse prominent rather than framing it as a romantic love triangle. Fortunately, the film effectively addresses other contentious aspects as well.

The movie navigates the subject of violence with greater nuance, clarifying that the abuse is never justified, even as Lily may idealize her relationship. A notable contrast from the book emerges when Atlas delicately raises the topic of abortion with Lily, signified by the word “if”instead of the more definitive “when.”In addition, the film does not cast Ryle as a redeemable character, amplifying the warning signs of his abusive behavior from the start. At its conclusion, the narrative reflects Lily’s vigilance by allowing Emerson unsupervised time away from Ryle.

Interpreting the Ending of It Ends With Us

A Message of Empowerment: Survivors Move Forward

Blake Lively as Lily Bloom walking in a crowd in It Ends With Us — Image via Sony Pictures

The film’s closing scenes diverge significantly from the book, each modification imparting deeper meaning. Notably, a montage depicts the transformation Lily undergoes from childbirth to her reunion with Atlas, showcasing her revitalization and joy—starkly contrasting the emotional desolation experienced during her time with Ryle. This narrative choice emphasizes that, while trauma may leave a lasting impact, it doesn’t have to shape one’s identity or future.

By the finale of It Ends With Us, Lily appears to embrace single parenthood. This alteration provides a narrative of hope, illustrating that individuals can liberate themselves from their abusers and cultivate a life for their children that surpasses their own previous experiences. Instead of depending on her abusive ex-partner, Lily finds solace and support from her mother, Allysa, and ultimately, Atlas. This decision safeguards her daughter from the pervasive threat of her father’s violent history, fostering an environment where both Lily and Emerson can thrive.

Reception of the Film’s Ending

Positive Audience Reception of the Film Ending

The creative team behind the film was acutely aware of the narrative modifications.

In a conversation with The Wrap, Justin Baldoni detailed that the original script had aligned closely with the book’s ending; however, collective insights pointed to its ineffectiveness. He elaborates:

The truth is, from our research and from our partners, we know that the majority of men go back to being abusers, and that’s the fact. And then it didn’t feel right to tell a story about a man who was a minority in that, because that wouldn’t be honoring the original intention of why we were trying to tell the story.

So the best ending for Ryle was to look at his wife and kid, and the life that he could have had, the life that he blew up, and to walk out the door and for us not to see him again. And that was, for me, what felt the best in adapting the book and turning it into a film is to say goodbye to him there.

Fans of the film seem to share this sentiment, noting that it provides Lily with an opportunity to grow independently, free from the shadow of her past trauma. The Globe and Mail praised Blake Lively’s performance, highlighting her ability to convey a sense of strength and luminosity, declaring that her portrayal enhances the overall experience of the romantic thriller genre. Ultimately, the combination of Lively’s compelling performance and the reimagined ending renders It Ends With Us a resonant success with viewers.

Sources: JBWS, The Hotline, Reddit, The Wrap, and The Globe And Mail

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