Amazing Stories "The Cellar" kicked off the reboot's first season with a melodramatic time-traveling love story. Steven Spielberg's original Amazing Stories series from 1985 was revamped, with season 1 containing ten episodes. The episode begins with Sam (Dylan O’Brien) and his brother Jake (Micah Stock) in an old farmhouse they've been hired to renovate. On their second day at the house, Sam is working in the cellar when a sudden and massive thunderstorm rolls out of nowhere. Something strange happens and Sam is transported back in time to 1919.

In this episode of Amazing Stories, Sam discovers a young woman named Evelyn (Victoria Pedretti) is living in the house, betrothed to an older man she does not want to marry as a means for her and her mother to save the family home. Over the next week, Sam discovers the storm is responsible for him having jumped through time and bonds with Evelyn, agreeing to take her with him back to 2019. While waiting for the day when the storm can send them through time, they fall in love and have a secret romantic relationship. Eventually, Sam ends up trapped in 1919 and Evelyn in 2019.

What Happens In Amazing Stories: The Cellar's Ending

Amazing Stories "The Cellar" is a sweet and classic story, if a little predictable. It's reminiscent of the 1980s movie Somewhere in Time, with some thriller elements thrown in and a few somewhat predictable Back to the Future plot twists. That said, the last few minutes of the episode move so quickly, it's easy to miss what's going on in the Amazing Stories "The Cellar" ending. Before Sam goes back to 1919 to retrieve Evelyn, he spends a brief moment in the future of 2034, where Evelyn, a successful singer, is singing to her little boy.

Because of this moment, when the beam falls on Sam's leg in the cellar, trapping him so that only Evelyn can travel to 2019, he knows what's going on and accepts it. Later, he writes letters to Evelyn and his brother Jake, telling them how he survived and was able to live a life of purpose in 1919. This frees Evelyn up to go and live her life how she's always wanted, surrounded by music and free to make her own choices. Really the only question that remains is: who is the father of Evelyn's little boy in 2034?

Who Is The Father Of Evelyn's Child?

In many ways, Amazing Stories "The Cellar" is a classic love story. With that in mind, the usual love story trope would have Sam as the father of Evelyn's child. However, if that were the case, the boy would have to be 14 or 15 years old in 2034, which he clearly is not. Although Sam and Evelyn's secret relationship is shown only as a brief montage, there is no indication they went any farther than kissing. Even if they did, it doesn't appear to be relevant to the story, as Evelyn's little boy is perhaps six years old.

This is one of the twists that makes the Amazing Stories interesting. If Sam is not the father of Evelyn's child, then who is? Could it be Evelyn ended up with Sam's brother Jake? It's a possibility but seems a little too convenient. More likely the father is never shown in the episode because he is a part of Evelyn's future life that has no connections to Sam and his story. The episode never reveals the boy's father, but perhaps it doesn't matter since Evelyn is happy and has the life she's always wanted.

Sam And Evelyn Were Born For Different Times

Amazing Stories "The Cellar" opens with Sam in 2019 as a lost and bored young man. He hasn't found his purpose and is stifled by having too many choices. Evelyn, on the other hand, is unhappy in 1919 because she has too few choices. She's being forced to marry a man she doesn't love and can only listen to the music she likes in secret. She even has the potential to become a singer, but she'll never be given that opportunity in 1919. Each of them is born in a time period that represses them personally.

This is why, when Sam is eventually trapped in 1919 and Evelyn in 2019, they each thrive. Sam uses his construction skills to start a business and work with his hands, while Evelyn pursues her singing and appears to become successful, based on the poster Sam sees in 2034 showing her performance at a famous theater. The Amazing Stories "The Cellar" ending shows they were each "born for another time." Sam finds happiness in a simple life and Evelyn finds it through opportunity.

Amazing Stories "The Cellar's" Real Meaning

Amazing Stories "The Cellar" is largely about fate while also commenting on the advancements and pitfalls of modern society. In 1919, women had very few choices in life. It was hard for them to make a living on their own, and it was common for women to marry for stability and financial security. Evelyn wants more from life and finds freedom in the opportunities of modern life in 2019.

Sam is lost in 2019 and doesn't have the drive or a purpose. He finds these things in 1919 by living a simple life. As the events play out that will trap Sam and Evelyn in different time periods, it feels as if they were destined to be in this situation. Sam's personality works best for a simple life, while Evelyn's is suited to a time when artistic passions can be pursued.

What The Cellar 2020 Meaning Is Explained By The Director And Cast

Co-showrunner Edward Kitsis talked about Amazing Stories "The Cellar" and what he felt the meaning of the episode was for him. According to Kitsis, "These two needed each other at this time in their lives so that they could become the people that they were meant to become" (via Variety) This lines up with the idea that these were people out of time who needed to figure out where they belonged. As the premiere of the rebooted Amazing Stories, it was the idea that played out throughout the episodes of the entire season.

"The challenge for us on this was, how do you surprise an audience but still maintain a happy ending?" Adam Horowitz explained. He then said that the Amazing Stories "The Cellar" ending put both people on their own path, which to them was "the happy ending." He then explained that this episode, on top of the finale "The Rift" allowed them to lay out Amazing Stories in a way that starts off in the real world but offers a fantasy experience that is grounded in emotional stories. With that, "The Cellar" is a perfect example.