The Final Kiss: After Everything and the End of the “After” Saga
The “After” series, born from the fertile ground of Wattpad fanfiction, has been a rollercoaster of hormones, heartbreak, and questionable life choices for its dedicated fanbase. After five films culminating in “After Everything,” which grossed a seemingly modest $10.6 million, the question hangs heavy in the air: is this the right end for the saga of Tessa and Hardin? While financial success doesn’t automatically equate to artistic closure, the response to “After Everything” suggests that perhaps, for the sake of the characters and the audience, it is time to close the book on this turbulent romance.
The initial appeal of the “After” series lay in its raw, unabashed exploration of young love. Tessa Young, the sheltered freshman, and Hardin Scott, the brooding bad boy with a tortured soul, presented a classic “opposites attract” scenario with a touch of forbidden allure. The tumultuous nature of their relationship, fueled by insecurities, misunderstandings, and dramatic revelations, kept audiences hooked, even if they were often frustrated by the characters’ self-destructive tendencies. However, as the series progressed, the constant cycle of conflict and reconciliation began to wear thin.
“After Everything” attempts to offer a resolution to this cycle, showcasing a slightly more mature Hardin grappling with his past and his present. He’s working on his writing, attending therapy, and attempting to earn Tessa’s forgiveness. The film hints at a brighter future for them, one built on trust and understanding, albeit with the lingering shadow of their past. However, the relatively lukewarm reception, reflected in its box office numbers, suggests that the audience’s patience may have finally run out.
One of the key arguments for ending the series is the diminishing returns in narrative depth. While “After Everything” tries to address the characters’ flaws and offer a path towards growth, it ultimately treads familiar ground. The core conflict remains the same: can Hardin truly change, and can Tessa truly forgive him? The repetition of this dynamic, even with incremental improvements, feels less like character development and more like narrative stagnation. Continuing the series beyond this point risks further diluting the story and alienating the remaining fanbase.
Furthermore, the financial performance of “After Everything” signals a possible waning interest in the franchise. While $10.6 million is not an insignificant amount, it pales in comparison to the success of the earlier films. This decline could be attributed to various factors, including negative reviews, audience fatigue, and the changing landscape of streaming services. Regardless of the specific reasons, the box office numbers suggest that the “After” bubble may have finally burst, making further investment in the series a risky proposition.
Ultimately, the question of whether “After Everything” is the right end for the series is subjective. For some die-hard fans, the yearning for more Tessa and Hardin will likely persist. However, considering the narrative arc of the series, the critical reception, and the financial performance, it appears that “After Everything” offers a reasonable, if somewhat unsatisfying, conclusion. It allows the characters to embark on a journey of self-discovery, even if that journey ultimately takes them apart.
Perhaps the true strength of the “After” series lies not in its longevity, but in its ability to capture the intensity and drama of young love, even in its most flawed and frustrating forms. By ending the series with “After Everything,” the filmmakers avoid the risk of overstaying their welcome and instead allow the story to exist as a snapshot of a specific moment in time, a time defined by passion, heartbreak, and the messy, unpredictable nature of growing up. While the ending may not be perfectly satisfying for everyone, it allows the “After” saga to conclude on its own terms, leaving fans to ponder the complexities of Tessa and Hardin’s relationship and imagine their own version of “happily ever after.” The final kiss, however hesitant, may be the most fitting end for a love story that was never meant to be easy.
