'Inside Out 2' Ending Explained: What happens to Riley? Anxiety and Joy at crossroads
Contains spoilers for 'Inside Out 2'
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: The highly anticipated sequel of 'Inside Out' has been released in theaters, much to the delight of fans.
'Inside Out 2' revolves around Riley (Kensington Tallman), who has just turned 13 and is preparing to enter high school. Her core emotions - Joy (Amy Poehler), Sadness (Phyllis Smith), Anger (Lewis Black), Fear (Tony Hale), and Disgust (Liza Lapira) - have developed a new area in Riley's mind known as her "Sense of Self".
Everything goes well for Riley and her emotions until a new emotion, Anxiety (Maya Hawke), arrives. As Anxiety starts to influence Riley's thoughts and actions, her other emotions face problems to adapt and find a balance.
Riley faces the challenges of adolescence with an anxiety attack
As Riley navigates the challenges of her teenage years, a series of new emotions make their dramatic entrances. Anxiety arrives first, with wide eyes, a mouth full of teeth, and frazzled hair.
Later on, Envy (Ayo Edebiri) appears, eagerly fawning over the control board and causing disruptions with her constant comparisons and desire for what others have.
Shortly after, Embarrassment (Paul Walter Hauser), a hulking and awkward emotion, follows suit. Meanwhile, Ennui (Adèle Exarchopoulos) enters and makes himself comfortable on the couch.
Riley, eager to attend a 3-day hockey summer camp, is devastated to learn that her two best friends won't be joining her at the same high school. This news triggers the entrance of Anxiety into her life. Her hockey game also continues to suffer as a result.
In 'Inside Out 2', Anxiety gradually constructs a new belief system for Riley, systematically replacing the positive foundation that Joy and her companions have spent years establishing.
After taking control of Headquarters, Anxiety becomes the dominant emotion for Riley, leading her to eventually experience a panic attack.
While playing a hockey game, Riley's anxious attitude begins to affect her performance significantly, which subsequently leads her to become excessively aggressive during the game.
Not only does she snatch the puck from one of her teammates, but she also inadvertently injures her best friend, Grace (Grace Lu).
After this incident, Riley starts experiencing a heart-pounding panic attack. Her breathing becomes rapid and shallow, her heart races uncontrollably, and Anxiety cannot do anything to stop it.
Does Riley reunite with her friends in 'Inside Out 2'?
As the film progresses, Anxiety frantically attempts to help Riley during her panic attack. Despite its efforts, it proves futile in alleviating Riley's distress.
As Anxiety whirls around the control panel, her frantic movements create a swirling vortex of anxious energy, making it difficult for Joy to reach her. Despite the chaos, Joy attempts to break through the storm to remove her from the panel.
Joy pleads with Anxiety to release the control panel and allow Riley to reconstruct her belief system. After a moment of contemplation, Anxiety releases her grip on the panel. However, despite this breakthrough, the tornado of anxiety that she created continues to rage.
Subsequently, Riley's belief system undergoes a transformation, shifting in shape and color as she begins to reconcile with her best friends, Bree (Sumayyah Nuriddin-Green) and Grace. She gradually frees herself from the grip of anxiety and emerges from her anxious slump.
At the end of 'Inside Out 2', Riley apologizes and reunites with her friends, maintaining regular contact with them through frequent texting while at school.
Riley isn't alone at her new high school either; she becomes part of Valentina's (Lilimar) social circle of hockey players. With nine different emotions now collaborating, Riley has a real opportunity to pursue her dream of joining the school's hockey team. Riley finally finds a happy ending in 'Inside Out 2'.