Breaking Down the Heartbreaking Ending of Maxton Hall Season 2

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Martin Schreier, the director of Maxton Hall—The World Between Us, was surprised when the show became Prime Video’s most popular international original series. Although the teen romance—which follows the story of scholarship student Ruby Bell (Harriet Herbig-Matten) and wealthy James Beaufort (Damian Hardung)—is set at a British boarding school, it’s actually based on a German book series by Mona Kasten, and was created with a German cast and crew.

Schreier explains they initially created the show specifically for a German audience, even jokingly suggesting they would have filmed it in English otherwise. However, after the first season launched in 2024, Prime Video’s international teams were impressed and saw its potential for a wider audience. “That’s when we realized it might be even more successful than we anticipated,” Schreier says.

The show has been gaining popularity worldwide. Before the second season even premiered with its first three episodes in early November, Maxton Hall was already climbing the ranks on Prime Video’s list of most-watched series. It seems fans of The Summer I Turned Pretty were eager for another captivating love story, and the second season quickly became Prime Video’s No. 1 show in 82 countries and a top 10 hit in 112 countries, according to data from FlixPatrol.

Now that the second season of this popular German TV show has ended, let’s talk about why it’s been so successful, what happened with Ruby and James, and what might be in store for season three.

The magic behind Maxton Hall

Like many popular shows, the success of Maxton Hall isn’t due to just one thing. According to Schreier, “It really takes a lot of elements coming together – a bit of luck, if you will.” A key part of that was finding the right lead actors. “We spent over six months searching for the perfect pair, testing different combinations until we found actors with great chemistry, which really made a difference.”

Damian Hardung, 27, was the first actor chosen for the role of James Beaufort. According to director Schreier, Hardung unexpectedly showed up to the audition already as James Beaufort, despite the character being kept under wraps. “He somehow found out we were casting based on the books,” Schreier explained, “and came fully prepared, acting exactly like the arrogant James Beaufort. It was perfect – we immediately knew he was the right fit.”

Hardung, a current medical student, described how he figured out the project’s details. “They kept the project name secret,” he explained, “and used fake names. But they accidentally left the real last names visible in one scene, so I searched for them online.” This allowed him to fully prepare by studying the sections of the book told from James’ perspective.

The actor chosen to play Ruby Bell, 22-year-old Herbig-Matten, quickly impressed everyone. According to director Schreier, he immediately told the producers and Amazon team after her audition that she was the perfect fit – a decision he felt strongly about. It took some convincing to get everyone on board with her casting, especially since fans of the original book series had different ideas about who should play Ruby. Initially, there was some hesitation, but now Herbig-Matten has completely won over the audience. People have embraced her performance and have forgotten any preconceived notions they had from the book. She truly embodies the character of Ruby Bell.

Because of illness, Herbig-Matten couldn’t respond to questions, but Hardung discussed the connection between the two actors with TIME. He believes there’s an unexplainable, almost magical quality to their chemistry, and that’s part of what makes filmmaking special. You can’t predict which projects will succeed, and if you could, it wouldn’t be art. Hardung expressed his gratitude for working with Harriet, describing her as a fantastic collaborator.

Schreier’s experience as a feature film director, including the 2019 film Dreamfactory, is evident in how he portrays the central relationship. He focuses on creating emotional impact through visuals and music, believing that these elements can often convey more than dialogue. Schreier explains that this approach transcends language barriers, as the combination of compelling imagery and music can evoke powerful emotions in anyone.

Schreier defends the show’s use of slow-motion, explaining it’s a way to emphasize important moments. He believes slow motion isn’t a negative technique, but rather a beautiful one that allows viewers to fully experience and connect with the emotion of a scene without feeling rushed, giving those feelings room to resonate.

Schreier also played a key role in the show’s music. He chose songs for the soundtrack, including ‘Where’s My Love?’ by SYML and ‘Moth to a Flame’ by Swedish House Mafia and The Weeknd, both of which appeared in the first season.

According to Schreier, the intense, made-up emotions in Maxton Hall offer a welcome escape from everyday worries. He explains, “People need something that touches their hearts, something uncomplicated that lets them forget the world and its problems.” He believes this is a key reason for the show’s popularity.

What happens in Maxton Hall Season 2?

The first season of Maxton Hall showed how Ruby and James met, initially disliked each other, and eventually started a relationship over six episodes. However, things take a dark turn in Season 2. The season begins after the unexpected death of James’ mother, Cordelia, which deeply affects him. In the first episode, James spirals out of control and unexpectedly kisses Elaine in front of Ruby at a party.

Ruby is devastated by Cordelia’s death and rushes to be with James. The scene where she comforts him – a deeply emotional moment in his dark bedroom – is one the director, Schreier, is particularly proud of. He intentionally filmed it differently than the rest of the season, which is full of vibrant visuals and sound. This scene is stripped down – almost silent – focusing solely on the raw emotion between the two characters.

Look, I could see the writing on the wall with Ruby and James. She’s got her sights set on Oxford, and understandably, she’s hesitant to fully open up to someone she doesn’t fully trust, especially when he’s clearly struggling. It was heartbreaking, but she made the tough call and ended things, letting him know she couldn’t be his savior. It felt realistic, and honestly, a little empowering to watch her prioritize her own future.

The second season focuses heavily on James’s growth as he deals with harmful habits, like his reliance on alcohol. He begins therapy and makes a determined effort to improve his life, not only for himself but also for his twin sister, Lydia, and Ruby.

The series takes a significant turn in Episode 3, during a charity event for mental health organized by Ruby, James, and the Maxton Hall committee. When the scheduled speaker cancels, James unexpectedly takes the stage and opens up about his own mental health journey. This honest moment not only impresses Ruby but also marks James’s defiance against his father, who believes showing emotion is a sign of weakness. According to director Hardung, the scene was particularly difficult to film, involving around 200 extras and becoming so emotionally charged that they had to separate the actors from the crowd. “I couldn’t really hold it back anymore,” Hardung recalls, describing it as a very intense experience.

As Season 2 comes to a close, Ruby and James have reaffirmed their commitment to each other, but their happiness is still threatened. Mortimer Beaufort, grieving the loss of his wife, is becoming increasingly controlling and abusive. He’s desperate to keep Ruby and his son separated and will stop at nothing – even risking Ruby’s scholarship and her mother’s job – to achieve his goal.

According to Hardung, it’s this event that truly shows James how far his father will go to maintain control and ruin Ruby Bell’s life. He describes it as a pivotal moment filled with both immense pain and a sense of freedom – a painful but empowering realization.

How does Maxton Hall Season 2 end?

Though Maxton Hall offers a temporary distraction, the second season doesn’t conclude on a positive note. Ruby is suspended from school, accused of having a relationship with Professor Sutton. This is especially ironic considering Ruby and James met when she unexpectedly interrupted a romantic moment between Sutton and James’s sister, Lydia. James first tried to bribe Ruby to keep quiet about what she’d seen.

As Season 2 nears its end, it seems like Sutton and Lydia’s secret relationship is about to be revealed. Earlier in the season, a photo was taken of them hugging at a party. Elaine, upset that James is with Ruby instead of her, requests this photo from the person who took it. By the end of the party, the headmaster receives the potentially damaging picture.

I was honestly so relieved when Lydia and Sutton found out about the twins – they handled it with such grace! It’s heartbreaking that this likely means Sutton has to step away from her career, but at least they can face it together. But then, the final moments of the season revealed everything! It turns out Elaine had a photo from the Maxton Hall party – a photo of Sutton and Ruby talking about Ruby’s affair with Lydia. They were huddled close because Sutton was trying to keep their conversation private, which, looking back, makes the photo seem a lot more…intimate. It all suddenly clicked, and I understood what Elaine had been up to!

It was James, surprisingly, who took the photo. He was actually trying to collect evidence to pressure Ruby into keeping quiet about Lydia and Sutton, even though Ruby wasn’t planning on revealing anything. When Lexington receives the photo, he calls a meeting to address the situation with Sutton and determine what steps need to be taken. Mortimer Beaufort is also present at the meeting.

Believing he and Lydia have been discovered, Sutton resigns himself to whatever will happen. It isn’t until the meeting is underway that he realizes the committee – including Lexington and Mortimer – have the wrong information. He doesn’t point out their mistake before the police escort him away. Meanwhile, Ruby and her mother learn Ruby has been suspended from Maxton Hall, putting her chances of attending Oxford – or any university – at risk. Overwhelmed, Ruby runs from the office and finds comfort in James’ embrace, and they share a tearful reunion.

The story concludes with the reading of Cordelia Beaufort’s will. James, Lydia, and their Aunt Ophelia believe Cordelia intended for her children to inherit the Beaufort company, but the will surprisingly leaves everything to Mortimer. Ophelia, Cordelia’s sister, suspects Mortimer changed the will and plans to fight the decision in court.

It’s fascinating to me how Mortimer prioritizes being in charge over actually connecting with people. Meanwhile, Percy – Hyun Wanner plays him, and he’s always been like a dad to James and Lydia – is secretly heartbroken over Cordelia. And things really come to a head in the final scenes…

As a total cinema devotee, I was really struck by a moment with Percy – seeing him lay flowers on Cordelia’s grave and then kiss a key he wears around his neck felt incredibly significant. We learn through a conversation with Ruby that he basically grew up with Cordelia, and his family has been loyal to the Beauforts for generations. Then, the show cleverly cuts from Percy looking up at the sky to James doing the same – it really makes you wonder if there’s a connection there. It got me thinking – could Percy actually be James and Lydia’s biological father? It’s a fascinating possibility!

When planning the season finale, Schreier worried about leaving audiences feeling too down. While the original book concludes with James betraying Ruby after his mother’s death, the show’s creators opted for a slightly more optimistic ending, just in case the show wasn’t renewed for a second season. They wanted to mirror the feeling of Season 1, where the central couple remained together despite a tragic event – the mother’s death – serving as the cliffhanger, but leaving their love story intact.

The creators intentionally ended Season 2 on a cliffhanger, knowing they had the opportunity to continue the story later. They wanted to leave viewers with strong emotions – whether happy or sad – and eager to find out what happens next. They believe this ending successfully achieves that, leaving the audience on the edge of their seats and wanting more.

Will there be a Maxton Hall Season 3?

Following the popularity of its first season, Prime Video has renewed Maxton Hall for both Seasons 2 and 3. Season 3 will adapt the third book in Mona Kasten’s Save Me series, concluding the romantic storyline between Ruby and James.

As a huge fan, I was so excited to hear from Schreier about Season 3! He couldn’t reveal much, but he did say things are going really well with filming. What he did share is that they’re aiming to wrap up the story nicely, giving each character a satisfying conclusion and a proper goodbye. He really hopes fans will be pleased with how everything ultimately works out for everyone after all the ups and downs we’ve been through!

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2025-11-28 10:07