The following contains MAJOR spoilers for My Oxford Year.My Oxford Year has been dominating the Netflix charts since its release, and the new film features a compelling and unusual relationship between Jamie and Cecelia. Boasting a strong cast of characters, My Oxford Year depicts one of the most heart-wrenching romantic stories yet seen on the service.

The Rotten Tomatoes score for My Oxford Year isn’t perfect, but there is a great deal of beauty in the film. Much of this comes from Anna’s relationships with the supporting cast of characters. This includes her friends Maggie and Tom, but one of the most important ancillary figures is Cecelia.

The ending of My Oxford Year is unexpected and provides a great deal of insight into certain characters. Seemingly introduced as Jamie’s girlfriend, Cecelia’s story in the new film is deep and emotional. Played by Poppy Gilbert, the character brings a great deal of weight to the film’s poignant close.

Cecelia Is Not Jamie’s Girlfriend: She Dated His Brother

Cecelia is at first suggested to be Jamie’s girlfriend, but it comes out later in the film that she actually dated Eddie, Jamie’s late brother, and has essentially become a part of their family since Eddie’s death. The two struggled together through Eddie’s cancer, and it brought them together within the Davenport family.

When Cecelia is first shown in the film, she seems to be a nagging girlfriend. She urges Jamie not to order chips with his fish for health reasons, and seems to always be around every time that Jamie and Anna find a moment to connect. The format of the film does some unusual things with this.

The first hint that Cecelia is not Jamie’s girlfriend comes from Anna’s actions. She begins to spend time with Jamie, and the two develop into a physical relationship, but there is no discussion of any issue concerning Cecelia’s relationship between them. These parts of the film suggest that Jamie and Cecelia’s relationship might not be what it seems.

All of this comes to a head when Jamie is not present for the boating races, and Anna discovers that Cecelia is not there as well. She becomes worried that Jamie is not being honest with her, and goes to his house to confront him. This ends with a shocking reveal.

Here, Anna learns that Jamie is actually sick, and is receiving treatment for his cancer. This moment is striking, and helps to explain the closeness that the two have shared. It also allows Anna to better explain what she has gotten into in this Netflix romantic film.

Why Cecelia & Jamie Are So Close In My Oxford Year

The relationship between Cecelia and Jamie is an important part of both of their stories. For Jamie, Cecelia gives him a piece of his brother to hold onto. He keeps her dear and is able to bond with her over the trauma that they shared in losing Eddie.

Cecelia is unable to let go of her past and move on. For most of the film, she struggles socially and in making new relationships, as she is unable to get past the love that she shared with Eddie. Holding fast to Jamie and his family helps her to get through each day.

Like in lead star Sofia Carson’s best movies, the characters experience significant growth. Cecelia has the challenge of contending with another loss in Jamie’s own diagnosis, but through his zeal for life and her connection with Anna, she is still able to see a way for her own life to go on.

Cecelia is a sweet character who has experienced some dark and difficult things, and there is genuine emotion in her story. Fortunately, by the end of the film, she is able to let go just enough to be able to pursue a connection with somebody else.

My Oxford Year is largely a film that is about appreciating what life has to give, no matter how big or small. This is exemplified by the aforementioned chips, which Jamie is unwilling to do without. Other foods, including the cake that Jamie brings to his first class, also symbolize this.

The relationship between Cecelia and Eddie, like the connection between Anna and Jamie, was not able to last. Life can be cruel, and there are horrible illnesses and losses that will always be a part of it. However, these must be accepted amidst the larger backdrop of hope, connection, and love.

Anna learns that through Jamie, including his relationship with Cecelia, she cannot focus on only the practical things in life. She does not want to work at Goldman Sachs, but feels that she must. Her connection to Jamie and Oxford helps her to understand that she has other options.

Instead, Anna takes over Jamie’s teaching position at Oxford at the end of the film. She has learned from characters like Cecelia that loss and hurt are unavoidable parts of life, but there is also much beauty in it. Thankfully, My Oxford Year is able to find a happy ending amidst all the pain.