Breaking Down the Heartbreaking Ending of Maxton Hall Season 2

by

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 in a British boarding school, it’s actually based on a German book series by Mona Kasten, and was filmed with a German cast and crew.

Schreier explains they initially created the show specifically for a German audience, even playfully suggesting they might have filmed it in English otherwise. However, after the first season launched in 2024, he was happily surprised to learn that Prime Video’s international teams believed it could appeal to viewers worldwide. That’s when they realized the show might be even more successful than they’d anticipated.

As a total TV buff, I’ve been really impressed with how much buzz Maxton Hall has been getting worldwide. It was already climbing the charts on Prime Video before the new season even dropped in November! I think a lot of viewers who loved The Summer I Turned Pretty were eager for another big, romantic series, and it clearly paid off. According to FlixPatrol, the second season hit No. 1 in 82 countries and landed in the top 10 in a whopping 112! It’s a huge success.

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 in the latest episodes, 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 any single reason. According to Schreier, “It really takes a lot of things aligning perfectly – it’s like capturing lightning in a bottle.” A key ingredient? The actors playing the leads. “We spent over six months searching for the right pair, testing many different combinations. Their chemistry is a huge part of what makes the show work.”

I was so impressed when I heard about how Damian Hardung, who’s only 27 and plays James Beaufort, landed the role. Apparently, he was the very first person cast! The director, Schreier, told me Damian actually showed up to the audition already in character, even though they were trying to keep the role under wraps. He just knew what they were looking for and came prepared as James – arrogant and everything. Schreier said it was perfect, and they instantly knew he was the right guy. It’s a fantastic story, honestly – a real dedication to the part!

Hardung, a current medical student, described how he figured out the project’s details. He explained that the team wouldn’t reveal the project’s name and kept using temporary titles. However, they accidentally left last names visible in one scene, which Hardung then searched online. This allowed him to fully prepare by studying the relevant chapters of the book, specifically those told from James’ perspective.

Schreier immediately knew Herbig-Matten, the 22-year-old actress who played Ruby Bell, was perfect for the role. “After her audition, I told the producers and Amazon team that we’d be making a mistake if we didn’t cast her – she was Ruby,” Schreier recalls. It took a lot of convincing to get everyone on board with the casting choice. While fans of the original book series were initially hesitant, Schreier says, “Now everyone loves her, and they’ve completely forgotten any concerns they had based on the book. She truly embodies Ruby Bell.”

Because of illness, Herbig-Matten couldn’t respond to questions. However, Hardung discussed the connection between the two actors with TIME. He believes there’s an unexplainable, almost magical quality that makes certain pairings work. “That’s the beauty of filmmaking – you never know which projects will succeed,” he explained. “If there was a guaranteed formula, it wouldn’t be art.” He expressed gratitude for working with Harriet, calling her a fantastic collaborator.

Director Schreier brings a visually rich and emotionally resonant style to the core relationship in the story. Having worked on feature films like the 2019 romance Dreamfactory, he believes in the power of showing, not telling. “Often, what isn’t said is more impactful,” Schreier explains. “A look, combined with beautiful music, can convey more than dialogue.” He feels this approach is universally understood – music and visuals can create powerful emotions that transcend language barriers.

Schreier defends the show’s use of slow-motion, explaining it allows viewers to fully experience and connect with important emotional moments. He believes it’s a beautiful technique that prevents scenes from feeling rushed and gives feelings room to resonate. He doesn’t understand the criticism of using it, arguing it enhances the emotional impact.

Schreier also played a key role in choosing the music for the series. He suggested popular songs like SYML’s ‘Where’s My Love?’ and ‘Moth to a Flame’ by Swedish House Mafia and The Weeknd, and both ended up being used in the first season.

As a critic, I found that Schreier really understands why Maxton Hall is resonating with audiences. He believes, and I agree, that sometimes we just need an emotional escape – something uncomplicated that lets us forget, even for a little while, all the stress and problems of the real world. He thinks that desire for pure escapism is a big part of why the show has become so popular, and honestly, I can’t argue with that.

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 impulsively 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 in his dark bedroom is particularly powerful and emotionally vulnerable – it’s the one director Schreier is most proud of from the entire season. He deliberately filmed it differently than the rest of the show, stripping away the bright colors, loud music, and fast pace to focus solely on the raw emotion between the two characters. He wanted a quiet, intimate moment with almost no sound, letting their feelings speak for themselves.

This relationship can’t continue as it is. Ruby doesn’t feel she can trust James with her feelings, particularly now that she’s on the verge of achieving her lifelong dream of going to Oxford University. She ends the relationship, explaining that she can’t be responsible for fixing his problems.

The second season focuses heavily on James’s journey as he deals with harmful patterns in his life, like his reliance on alcohol. He begins therapy and makes a real effort to improve himself, not just for his own well-being, but also for the sake of 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 shares his own experiences with mental health. This vulnerable act earns him Ruby’s respect and allows him to confront his father, who believes showing emotion is a sign of weakness. According to director Hardung, the scene, which involved around 200 extras, was particularly difficult to film. He recalls having to close off the set at one point because the emotion was so overwhelming.

As Season 2 comes to a close, Ruby and James have reaffirmed their commitment to each other, but their relationship remains complicated. Mortimer Beaufort, still grieving his wife and acting increasingly controlling and abusive, is desperate to separate Ruby from his son. He’s willing to go to extreme lengths – even threatening Ruby’s scholarship and her mother’s job at the bakery – to achieve his goal.

Hardung believes James truly grasps how far his father will go – how ruthless he is – when he takes that specific action. According to Hardung, this is a turning point where James realizes his father will do anything to control people and ruin Ruby Bell’s life. It’s a painful moment, but also freeing, giving James a sense of power while simultaneously causing him hurt.

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, wrongly suspected of having a relationship with Professor Sutton. This is especially ironic considering Ruby and James met when she unexpectedly walked in on Professor Sutton kissing James’ sister, Lydia. James first spoke to Ruby hoping to keep the incident a secret.

Okay, so as we got to the end of Season 2, I was sure Sutton and Lydia’s secret was about to come out! Remember that photo that lacrosse player, Cyril, took of them hugging at the party? Well, Elaine – who’s still upset that James is with Ruby – actually asked Cyril to send it to her. And by the end of the night, Headmaster Lexington had received the picture… it was a really tense moment, and I thought for sure they were going to be caught!

Lydia and Sutton react surprisingly calmly to the news. While it means Sutton will have to give up her career, they’re happy to be together. The season finale reveals that Elaine was the one who sent a photo of Sutton and Ruby from the party in Season 1. The photo shows them talking about Ruby’s affair with Lydia, and it looked like a private moment because Sutton had leaned in close to keep their conversation confidential.

It was James, surprisingly, who took the photo. He was secretly collecting evidence to try and prevent Ruby from revealing what she’d witnessed regarding Lydia and Sutton – even though Ruby hadn’t planned on saying anything. When Lexington received the photo, he immediately called a meeting to discuss the incident with Sutton and determine what steps needed to be taken. Mortimer Beaufort was also present at the meeting.

Believing he and Lydia have been discovered, Sutton resigns himself to the consequences. He doesn’t realize the committee – including Lexington and Mortimer – have misunderstood the situation until the meeting is already underway. He doesn’t clarify their mistake before the police escort him away. Meanwhile, Ruby is informed, along with her mother, that she’s been suspended from Maxton Hall, putting her chances of attending Oxford – or any university – at risk. Overwhelmed, she 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.

Mortimer prioritizes being in charge rather than showing love, while Percy, the Beaufort family’s chauffeur who has acted as a father figure to James and Lydia, is secretly grieving Cordelia. As the story reaches its conclusion…

We see Percy visiting Cordelia’s grave, where he gently touches a key he wears around his neck. He previously told Ruby he grew up with Cordelia, and that his family has worked for the Beauforts for many generations. The show then cuts between Percy and James both looking up at the sky, suggesting they have something in common. This raises the question: could Percy actually be James and Lydia’s father?

When planning the season finale, Schreier worried about leaving the audience feeling too down. Although the original book ends with James betraying Ruby after his mother’s death, the show’s creators chose to stop just before that point, aiming for a somewhat positive conclusion in case the show wasn’t renewed. As Schreier explained, it was crucial for both him and Amazon that Season 1 ended on a hopeful note – with the couple still together, despite the mother’s death serving as the cliffhanger, ensuring the love story felt complete.

The creators intentionally ended Season 2 on a cliffhanger, knowing they had the opportunity to continue the story. They wanted to leave viewers with a strong emotional response – whether happy or sad – and eager to find out what happens next. They feel the ending successfully achieves this, 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 be based on the third book in Mona Kasten’s Save Me series and will conclude the romantic storyline between Ruby and James.

Schreier isn’t allowed to share specifics about Season 3, which is already in production, but he says he’s pleased with how it’s progressing. He explained that the goal for the season is to wrap up the story and give each character a satisfying conclusion and goodbye. He hopes the audience will be happy with how everything ultimately resolves for everyone after all the challenges they’ve faced.

Read More

2025-12-09 19:08