For a romance movie, there are surprisingly high stakes going into the end of Netflix’s Purple Hearts. Both Cassie (Sofia Carson) and Luke’s (Nicholas Galitzine) lives are on the line in some fashion when they enter their marriage of convenience. Going into the end of the movie, the odds are stacked against them, and it seems unlikely that things will work out in their favor. Luke and Cassie’s love is able to overcome all adversity by Purple Hearts’ conclusion, but the couple’s happy ending comes with some questions attached.
The relationship between struggling musician Cassie and soldier Luke seems doomed from the beginning, as Purple Heart's two main characters have drastically different worldviews and backgrounds. They end up getting married for the benefits, with Cassie needing health insurance to properly manage her diabetes and Luke needing the extra money to settle an old score. However, Cassie and Luke get more than they bargain for when they have to live together as a real couple to avoid the truth about their marriage coming out after Luke is injured in combat. The lines begin to blur between fake and real emotion as they get to know each other, with their blossoming romance being threatened when the true motive behind their marriage is exposed.
Everything that can go wrong does by the end of the Netflix film. The truth about Luke and Cassie’s marriage is outed by Luke’s former drug dealer, Johnno, who has been blackmailing Luke with the information throughout the movie. Upset Luke did not tell her the truth about his past, which led to Cassie’s mother being threatened by Johnno, Cassie ends their arrangement and throws Luke out of their apartment. Luke is then charged and tried for fraud by an MP, with the potential for Cassie to be tried as a civilian for her involvement in her and Luke’s arrangement. Ultimately, Cassie and Luke’s love overcomes the insurmountable odds they face. While the resolution of their story is relatively straightforward, aspects of it are ambiguous.
Why Johnno Outed Luke & Cassie (Despite Getting Paid)
Though Luke settles the score with Johnno by paying his debt at the end of Netflix’s Purple Hearts, Johnno ends up outing Luke and Cassie for falsifying their marriage in order to receive benefits anyway. On the surface, it is unclear why Johnno would do this despite already having received the money, but small details throughout the film provide insight into why Johnno might have revealed the truth about Luke and Cassie's marriage. While Luke and Johnno’s relationship is tense and at times volatile in Purple Hearts, the movie hints that they once had a much closer relationship. When Johnno first encounters Luke after Luke has finished basic training, he is jovial and invites Luke to hang out with him. It is when Luke rebuffs him by saying he is clean from drugs that Johnno’s attitude towards Luke shifts, and he reminds Luke that he owes him money. Luke’s rejection of their former friendship and outstanding debt already soured interactions between Johnno and Luke, but their tumultuous relationship at the end of the movie comes to a head when they get in an altercation in a parking ramp, after which Johnno reveals the true nature of Luke and Cassie’s marriage. Although Johnno had already been paid in full by Luke, he likely chose to out Luke and Cassie to get revenge on Luke for ending their previous friendship and for their fight in the parking ramp (of which Luke is the victor), leading to Luke’s arrest for fraud.
Why Luke Pleads Guilty In Purple Hearts
Luke is aware of the risks of entering a marriage of convenience with Cassie from the beginning, with him initially being against the idea until he has no other choice due to his outstanding debt to Johnno. As such, he knows that in addition to his own charge and trial for fraud by the military, there is a potential that Cassie could also be charged as a civilian for her involvement in in the scheme at the heart of the Netflix romance. He already feels guilty about the events transpiring, since it is his difficult past that put Cassie and her mother at risk as well as led to the truth behind their marriage being revealed. Because of this and his growing feelings for Cassie, Luke attempts to atone for his mistakes by making a statement at the trial that he coerced her into a marriage she did not know was illegal. Luke pleads guilty to save Cassie, earning himself a six-month sentence and a dishonorable discharge.
Why Cassie Goes Back To Luke In Purple Hearts' Ending
Cassie is clearly very affected by Luke covering for her involvement in the plot behind their marriage at the trial by pleading guilty. He continues to be on her mind in the subsequent days between the trial and the start of Luke’s sentence, as shown by her rewatching their wedding video before her concert at the end of Purple Hearts. During the concert, Cassie performs “I Didn’t Know”, a song in Purple Hearts she wrote about her relationship with Luke and growing feelings for him. As she sings, her vocals and delivery become noticeably more emotional over the course of “I Didn’t Know,” and Cassie realizes that she really does love Luke. Cassie rushes after her concert to see Luke right before he is taken to serve his sentence. They reconcile before Luke is taken away, as both of them realize that their marriage was real after all.
What Purple Hearts' Credits Scene Means
Purple Hearts could have ended with Luke and Cassie’s reconciliation, but the movie also includes a credits scene, which is one of the most ambiguous parts of the movie. Cassie is seen hanging a new flag next to her existing collection on her apartment’s balcony that reads “Welcome Home,” signifying that six months have passed since the movie’s ending and Luke is returning from serving his sentence. Cassie, Luke, and their dog Peaches, head to the beach together. Here, Cassie gives Luke his wedding band, which he gave her for safekeeping when he left, and which reveals that she got his name tattooed on her ring finger. This exchange affirms Cassie and Luke’s commitment to each other. Although it is unclear if they are enjoying a honeymoon of sorts or just a beach day, Purple Hearts’ credits scene shows that Cassie and Luke’s marriage is officially real, based on love rather than convenience.
The Real Meaning Of Purple Hearts' Ending
Purple Hearts is a romance on the surface. At its core, the Netflix movie is about how opening oneself up to new perspectives and experiences can allow one to become the best version of oneself. Initially, Cassie was averse to receiving help and had a dismal view of love, but her relationship with Luke helps her learn to trust and lean on others as well as gain a more optimistic opinion of romance. When he met Cassie, Luke was haunted by his past actions, but his marriage allows him to step up for Cassie and be the man he always wanted to be. The end of Purple Hearts shows that although it can be difficult, love can prosper between the most unlikely subjects, and that their lives are ultimately better because of it.