What do the two timelines signify for Natalie

*WARNING: Spoilers ahead for Look Both Ways*

Netflix’s film library is jam-packed with every kind of rom-com you could imagine but the latest entry into the genre, Look Both Ways, shakes up the formula for a film that is both charming and inventive.

The film follows Natalie, a college-aged student facing the impending result of a pregnant test. It could ruin her five-year plan.

Natalie’s life then diverges into two possible timelines and explores the potential futures depending on whether the test is positive or negative.

Because Look Both Ways blends events from two timelines, viewers are left with many questions. This means that the ending and timelines of the show need to be explained.

Timeline 1: Natalie gets pregnant

Look Both Ways looks at the first timeline in detail. It is where Natalie’s pregnancy test proves positive, and she is faced with the possibility of becoming a mom. This derails her plans to move to LA for her career in animation.

She decides to have the baby, but she also agrees that Gabe and her should co-parent the child, as she fears that a breakup could be detrimental for the baby.

After initially being shocked at the revelation, Natalie’s parents agree to let her stay so that she can raise her child, a daughter named Rosie.

Natalie has to stay home while Cara, Natalie’s friend, ventures out to Los Angeles to see how Cara is doing. Natalie feels she is missing out on the original plan.

Natalie regrets her decision to not get in a relationship with Gabe. Gabe then meets Miranda and proposes.

Natalie creates Night Owl, a comic to distract herself from the pitfalls of rock bottom. She submits it to South by Southwest (SXSW), where it is well received.

At the event, Natalie meets back up with Gabe, whose band is performing there, and she learns that his engagement to Miranda didn’t pan out and they agree to give their relationship a proper go.

Timeline 2: Natalie does not get pregnant

Natalie travels to Los Angeles in the same timeline as her plan to start her career as an animator.

Natalie is determined to get into the industry and applies for a job to be Lucy Galloway’s personal assistant. Natalie also attends Tall Story Animation’s party hoping to meet her.

However, Lucy isn’t there but instead, Natalie ends up meeting Jake, a prospective filmmaker, and the pair instantly hit it off.

Natalie succeeds in getting the job working for Lucy but quickly realises that it’s nothing like she hoped as she spends most of her time fetching the coffee rather than showing off her art.

Natalie and Jake have been enjoying a good relationship and are planning to move in with each other. But, Jake gets a job offer that will force him to move to Nova Scotia.

They try to make their relationship work, but the distance proves too much. Their romance starts to crumble and Natalie loses her job as a Lucy employee.

Natalie, like the other timeline, finds herself at rock bottom. However, she decides that she will pick up the pieces and find her artistic voice. So she creates Indigo an animated short film which she submits SXSW. The film is a huge success.

Lucy offers Natalie an animator job, and Jake quits his Nova Scotia job to go to the festival. The pair rekindle their relationship.

Look Both Ways ending explained

The climax of the film brings both timelines back to where it all started, the bathroom of Natalie’s sorority house where she is about to take the all-important pregnancy test.

Both future Natalies will be present and try to reassure Natalie the original that it won’t matter what happens.

It’s never revealed which of the timelines ends up happening but that is part of the film’s message, that no matter the bumps in the road and the different paths on offer, things will always find a way of working out.

Both versions of Natalie had their five-year plans ruined despite having different experiences.

She may not have been able to move to LA, or have her idol reject her. However, she has learned from both timelines and is now pursuing her goal to become an artist. While the timelines lead her to different places, she still achieves the goal she set at the beginning.

Watch Look Both Ways online now Netflix After releasing August 17, 2022.

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