Fans compare Netflix's My Oxford Year to Emilia Clarke-Sam Claflin's Me Before You: 'Seen this film before; didn't like the ending'

Time of India

12 hours ago

Netflix's new movie My Oxford Year starring Sofia Carson and Corey Mylchreest is leaving the internet in tears, and honestly, we're right there with them. If you went in blind, lured by the charming trailer that gave major Y2K rom-com vibes, surprise: it's the romance without the comedy, and with a heartbreak that hits hard. (Spoiler alert ahead.)
After watching the film, many viewers have taken to social media, especially X, to unpack that heartbreaking ending. Some are even drawing comparisons to Me Before You, the 2016 tearjerker starring Emilia Clarke and Sam Claflin.
What is Me Before You about?
Me Before You is an emotional and tender story about love, loss, and finding purpose in unexpected places. Based on Jojo Moyes' bestselling novel, the film centres around Louisa 'Lou' Clark (Emilia Clarke), a bright, quirky young woman from a small English town who's struggling to find direction in her life. She takes a job as a carer for Will Traynor (Sam Claflin), a once-adventurous and successful man whose life was forever changed after a tragic accident left him paralysed from the neck down.
At first, their worlds couldn't be more different. Lou is all sunshine and awkward charm, while Will is bitter, withdrawn, and emotionally closed off. But over time, Lou's kindness and refusal to treat him with pity begin to break through his walls. She introduces him to the small joys of life again, like laughter, friendship, and moments of lightness, while he, in turn, challenges her to dream bigger and live more boldly.
As their bond grows into something deeply meaningful, Lou discovers that Will has made a heartbreaking decision about his future. What follows is a powerful and bittersweet journey as she tries to convince him that life is still worth living, even if it looks different than before.
More than just a love story, Me Before You is about how two people can change each other's lives in quiet, profound ways, and how sometimes, love means letting go.
What is My Oxford Year about?
My Oxford Year follows Anna De La Vaga (Sofia Carson), a bright and ambitious young American who earns a prestigious Rhodes Scholarship to study at Oxford University. With dreams of a successful financial career back home, Anna sees this year abroad as just a brief detour before jumping into a job that could launch her into the corporate world.
But at Oxford, she meets Jamie Davenport (Corey Mylchreest), an effortlessly charming, sharp-witted local who initially rubs her the wrong way and turns out to be her professor. What starts as banter and flirtation turns into a fleeting romance, and Anna finds herself falling for him, even though she hadn't planned on any emotional entanglements.
Just as she's beginning to fall deeper for both Oxford and Jamie, Anna discovers that Jamie is living with a terminal illness, and his time is limited.
The second half of the film shifts in tone as Anna is forced to choose between guarding herself from heartbreak or leaning into love while she still can. She decides to stay, not to try to save Jamie, but to truly be with him, even in the face of inevitable loss.
Before his death, he makes amends with his father, who wanted to try every new drug and fund research to cure his son but then letnature take its course. In the end, Jamie dies, leaving Anna with a grief that's profound but also with a new understanding of life and love. He teaches her what it means to live fully, honestly, and with heart. Moved by their time together, Anna reconsiders her career path. Instead of jumping straight into politics, she chooses a road that feels more meaningful and authentic—one inspired by Jamie's strength and her own growth.
Me Before You and My Oxford Year: Where do the comparisons stem from?
In Me Before You, Will Traynor lives with the consequences of a motorcycle accident that left him a quadriplegic. In My Oxford Year, Jamie battles a rare and aggressive cancer. Could they have lived longer if they had pursued every possible treatment or held out hope for a miracle? Maybe. But the more important question is—did they want that for themselves? The answer, in both cases, is no.
In My Oxford Year, Jamie opens up to Anna about his late brother Eddie—how their father tried everything to save him, but all it did was prolong the suffering. Eddie didn't live longer; he died slowly. Jamie didn't want the same fate. He chose to forgo further treatment and instead spent his final days with dignity, passing peacefully in Anna's arms. Will, in Me Before You, had already spent years bedridden, and despite the deep bond he formed with Lou, he chose euthanasia—not out of despair, but to free himself from a life he no longer saw as his own.
Both Jamie and Will found love, joy, and moments of light through their partners. But they also understood that love doesn't erase pain, and life as a patient—or a carer—isn't easy. In the end, they made the choices they felt were best, not just for themselves, but for the people they loved most.
One user drew the parallels between Me Before You and My Oxford Year on X and wrote, "I think I've seen this film before… and I didn't like the ending. #myoxfordyear."
i think i've seen this film before… and i didn't like the ending 😭 #myoxfordyear pic.twitter.com/fym1cf810Z
My Oxford Year is now streaming on Netflix, while you can watch Me Before You on Amazon Prime Video.
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