The Bitter Aftertaste: Fans React to After Everything (2023) and the End of the "Hessa" Saga
"After Everything," the fifth and (supposedly) final installment of the "After" movie franchise, based on Anna Todd's wildly popular novels, arrived in 2023 with a weight of expectation – and a pre-existing mountain of baggage. While the novels built a fervent fanbase captivated by the turbulent romance of Tessa Young and Hardin Scott (affectionately nicknamed "Hessa"), the cinematic adaptations have consistently faced criticism for their portrayal of toxic relationships, shallow character development, and deviations from the source material. "After Everything," intended to provide closure and a satisfying ending to the saga, has further polarized fans, sparking a complex web of reactions ranging from bitter disappointment to cautious acceptance.
One of the most pervasive criticisms leveled against "After Everything" stems from its perceived lack of focus on the core relationship. Fans who invested in the "Hessa" dynamic felt cheated by the film's emphasis on Hardin's individual journey and his attempt to reconnect with his childhood friend, Natalie. This shift in narrative priority left many feeling that Tessa was relegated to the sidelines, a mere plot device to propel Hardin's character arc. Social media platforms like Twitter and TikTok exploded with hashtags like #WhereIsTessa and #JusticeForTessa, reflecting the sentiment that the female lead was shortchanged in her own story. Reviews echoed these sentiments, criticizing the film for sacrificing the central romance in favor of a narrative that felt tangential and ultimately unsatisfying.
"It felt like Hardin's redemption tour, not a love story," one reviewer lamented. This sentiment captured the frustration of many viewers who felt the film spent too much time justifying Hardin's past behavior and not enough time showcasing the growth and maturity of the relationship. The focus on Hardin's struggles with writer's block and his internal demons, while potentially interesting in isolation, felt disconnected from the core appeal of the franchise: the passionate, albeit tumultuous, connection between Tessa and Hardin.
Another significant point of contention revolved around the ending. While the film does ultimately bring Tessa and Hardin back together, the resolution feels rushed and lacks the emotional depth that many fans craved. The epilogue, a quick montage of their future life together, felt like a hastily tacked-on attempt to appease viewers who demanded a happy ending. However, the brevity and lack of detail left many feeling underwhelmed and questioning the long-term viability of the relationship. "They spend five movies fighting and then we just get a montage of them being happy? Where's the development? Where's the commitment?" asked one disgruntled fan on a Reddit forum.
However, amidst the sea of negative reactions, a smaller contingent of fans offered a more nuanced perspective. Some viewers acknowledged the film's flaws but appreciated its attempts to address Hardin's problematic behavior and offer a glimpse of his personal growth. They argued that focusing on Hardin's individual journey, while not entirely faithful to the books, was a necessary step towards portraying a more mature and healthy relationship in the long run. They also pointed out that the film, despite its shortcomings, provided a sense of closure for those who had invested years in the "Hessa" story.
"It wasn't perfect, but I appreciated that they tried to show Hardin taking responsibility for his actions," wrote one commenter on a YouTube review. "I think it's important to remember that people can change, and this movie showed that, even if it wasn't executed perfectly." This more forgiving perspective highlights the difficulty of satisfying a diverse and passionate fanbase with varying expectations.
Ultimately, "After Everything" stands as a testament to the challenges of adapting complex and controversial source material for the screen. While the film attempts to provide a definitive conclusion to the "Hessa" saga, it falls short of delivering a truly satisfying experience for many fans. The focus on Hardin's individual journey at the expense of the central romance, the rushed and underdeveloped ending, and the overall lack of emotional depth have left a bitter aftertaste for many viewers. While a segment of the fanbase may find solace in the closure offered by the film, the prevailing sentiment surrounding "After Everything" is one of disappointment and a lingering question: could this story, with all its potential and flaws, have been told better? The polarized reactions to "After Everything" serve as a reminder that satisfying a passionate fanbase is a delicate balancing act, and in this case, the scales tipped decidedly in the direction of unmet expectations. The "Hessa" saga may be over, but the debate surrounding its cinematic adaptation will likely continue to rage on for years to come.
