Character Relationship Map: Oxygen

Characters

• Tom (played by Stef Aerts) — protagonist

  The 17-year-old protagonist suffering from cystic fibrosis. He navigates friendship, illness, and moral dilemmas regarding life expectancy, ultimately sacrificing his lung transplant opportunity for h...

• Xavier (played by Wouter Hendrickx) — protagonist

  A 27-year-old man with cystic fibrosis and childhood friend of Tom. He enjoys diving, has a complex past relationship with Anneleen, and is on the lung transplant waiting list.

• Anneleen (played by Marie Vinck) — supporting

  A young woman with cystic fibrosis. She was Xavier's girlfriend but ends the relationship to pursue motherhood with a healthy partner.

• Eline (played by Anemone Valcke) — supporting

  A patient isolated due to a dangerous contagious disease. She forms a profound emotional bond with Tom through phone and glass-wall communication.

• Jimmy (played by Rik Verheye) — supporting

  A criminal acquaintance of Tom who exploits Tom's hospital visits to steal medication. He becomes entangled in the organ transplant dilemma.

• Lucas (played by Maarten Mertens) — cameo

  Tom's older brother, also suffering from cystic fibrosis. He receives a lung transplant but tragically dies during the surgery.

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Xavier → Anneleen (Romantic Former Partners) — Their romantic relationship ends under the pressure of illness and future uncertainty.

  Anneleen is identified as Xavier's girlfriend, but she ends the relationship after they disagree about having a child.

• Tom → Lucas (Family Older Brother) — Lucas is Tom's older brother and shares his illness.

  The plot identifies Lucas as Tom's older brother, and both suffer from cystic fibrosis.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Anneleen → Tom (Social Shared Companions) — Anneleen participates in a shared social outing with Tom and Xavier.

  Anneleen joins Tom and Xavier on a trip to the beach.

• Tom → Eline (Social Close Friends) — They develop a close emotional bond despite physical separation.

  Tom and Eline maintain phone and visual contact through a glass wall while Eline is isolated.

• Jimmy → Xavier (Conflict Attempted Killer) — Jimmy becomes a direct physical threat to Xavier.

  Jimmy prepares to kill Xavier after hearing that Xavier is also waiting for a lung, believing this would help Tom receive one sooner.

• Tom → Jimmy (Alliance Criminal Associate) — Tom assists Jimmy's recurring hospital-based medication theft.

  While hospitalized, Tom helps Jimmy steal medication.

• Tom → Xavier (Social Childhood Friend) — Their childhood connection develops into a close adult friendship.

  Tom and Xavier had already seen each other when they were children and later reconnect through their shared illness.

Story Analysis

A chronically ill teenager navigates friendship, loss, moral compromise, and the difficult choice to accept a possible future.

Plot Progression

1. Hospital Bonds and Theft — Tom's cystic fibrosis keeps him in hospital, where he helps Jimmy steal medication. He reconnects with Xavier and becomes involved in Xavier's difficult relationship with Anneleen.
2. Love Under a Deadline — Anneleen wants a child, while Xavier fears the consequences of their illness and limited life expectancy. Their disagreement ends their relationship before the group takes a beach trip.
3. A Brother Lost — A donor lung becomes available for Lucas, sending Tom and the others back to the hospital. Lucas dies during surgery, leaving Tom unable to say goodbye or attend the funeral.
4. Contact Through Glass — Tom and Eline form an emotional bond while she is isolated with a dangerous contagious disease. Tom breaks the rules to embrace her, then later learns he was not infected.
5. The Lung and the Choice — Tom rejects transplantation, but Jimmy threatens Xavier to improve Tom's chances. After Xavier exposes Tom's decision, a fever prevents Xavier from receiving a suitable lung and Tom accepts it instead...