Love, Simon - Ending Explained

The central mystery of "Love, Simon" is the identity of "Blue," the anonymous classmate Simon has fallen for online. Throughout the film, Simon suspects several different students, including Bram (Keiynan Lonsdale), Cal (Miles Heizer), and Lyle (Joey Pollari). Each possibility is seemingly eliminated, deepening the mystery. The plot's major turn occurs when Martin (Logan Miller), who has been blackmailing Simon, grows impatient and leaks Simon's emails on the school's gossip blog. This forces Simon out of the closet and causes a temporary rift with his friends, whom he had manipulated to appease Martin. It also causes Blue to stop communicating, seemingly ending their relationship.

In a final, courageous act, Simon posts on the blog himself, coming out on his own terms and asking Blue to meet him at the Ferris wheel at the winter carnival. The film's climax sees Simon waiting on the Ferris wheel, ride after ride, as a crowd of supportive classmates gathers. Just as he is about to give up, Bram gets on the ride with him, revealing himself to be Blue. Bram explains that Simon had seen him kissing a girl at a party when he was drunk and confused, but that his feelings for Simon are real. They share a kiss at the top of the Ferris wheel to the cheers of their friends and classmates. The ending solidifies the film's message of hope, showing that vulnerability can be rewarded with love and acceptance. Simon's life doesn't just return to normal; it becomes more authentic and joyful, as he now shares it openly with his friends and his new boyfriend, Bram.

While overwhelmingly praised, some critical analysis of "Love, Simon" offers alternative interpretations of its impact and message. One perspective argues that the film's focus on a white, upper-middle-class, conventionally masculine protagonist makes its portrayal of the gay experience "palatable" and non-threatening to a heterosexual audience. This critique suggests that in its effort to be a mainstream, universal story, it reinforces a type of "homonormativity," where acceptance is granted more easily to those who conform to otherwise traditional societal norms. The film's happy ending, set in an impeccably liberal and accepting community, has been described by some as idealistic and less representative of the harsher realities many LGBTQ+ youth face.

Another point of discussion is the climactic Ferris wheel scene. In the source novel, Simon's meeting with Blue is a private, intimate moment. The film transforms it into a public spectacle, with the entire student body cheering them on. One interpretation sees this as a powerful display of community allyship and celebration. An alternative reading suggests it detracts from the personal intimacy of the moment, turning a deeply personal milestone into a performance for the validation of a straight audience, and puts undue pressure on Blue to come out publicly before he may be ready.