The Ending Of Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 2 Explained

The "Twilight" saga was a huge part of many young readers' lives. The hype was only intensified when the movies were made with Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, and Taylor Lautner in the lead roles. Stephenie Meyer's book series featured a unique take on both vampires and werewolves — including something of a vampire mafia dubbed the "Volturi." What really intrigued fans was the forbidden love story between Edward Cullen and Bella Swan, and the struggles they had to go through before they were finally able to be together.

The movies did extremely well, raking millions of dollars in box office sales. Now all five films are on Netflix, and fans — both those who have never stopped loving it and those who considered it only a phase — have flocked to the streaming service to relive the days of their youth. Though "Breaking Dawn Part 2" follows the book pretty closely, there are two endings, both of which left fans emotional. Here are those endings explained.

At the end of "Breaking Dawn Part 1," Bella (Kristen Stewart) has given birth to a half-human, half-vampire child named Renesmee (Mackenzie Foy). Her parentage allows her to grow at a rapid rate; however, she is mistaken to be an immortal child, which is illegal. In response, the Volturi arrive at Forks where the leader, Aro (Michael Sheen), murders Carlisle and causes a brutal fight. 

Jacob (Taylor Lautner), with Renesmee on his back, does his hardest to protect Edward (Robert Pattinson) and Bella's daughter, while the vampire couple helps the other werewolves tear their enemies apart. As expected from such a vicious battle, many do not survive, including Jasper Hale, Seth Clearwater, and his sister, Leah. It also appears that Edward will die at the hands of Aro before Bella tears the Volturi's head off. 

The scene left many fans in shock, particularly because this confrontation is not present in the book. It is soon revealed that it is only a glimpse into the future, courtesy of Alice's powers. However, this ending gives viewers a look at what is at stake, especially for the Cullens. It shows the intense greed of the Volturi, who will resort to violence if denied. The series tells us time and time again of Edward and Bella's love for each other, but this scene — despite it not actually happening — shows the extent of that. If Bella is willing to die in Edward's place in "New Moon," she is certainly willing to kill for him and her new family in "Breaking Dawn Part 2."

Because the battle between the Cullens and the Volturi did not happen — the Volturi end up leaving willingly — there is no need for anyone to grieve over the loss of their friends or family. This allows Edward and Bella to share a romantic moment alone in the meadow, an important place for the couple. 

There, Bella pushes away the mental shield that has blocked her mind from Edward's and other vampires' powers. She allows Edward into her mind, and there is a sequence from the past four films that chronicles the most important moments of their relationship, including their first kiss, their prom date, and their wedding. Edward is surprised and touched at her actions, and after professing that their love will be forever, the film ends with their kiss. 

This true ending of "Breaking Dawn Part 2" is very fitting for the series. Edward has been fascinated by Bella for years, and now he can finally see her thoughts; it only serves to strengthen their love, to reaffirm Bella's faith in him, and to help them understand each other a bit more. In addition, the flashbacks do much more than show Edward how Bella feels. They almost seem like a parting love letter to the fans, bittersweetly reminding them of the journey they went through with the Cullens at their sides.