Fans of the After franchise are expressing frustration after the release of After Everything, the final installment in the beloved romantic saga. Josephine Langford, who has portrayed the central character Tessa Young since the first film, appears significantly less in this latest chapter — and audiences are not happy about it.
Social media quickly lit up with complaints and confusion following the movie’s premiere. Many fans took to X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok to share their disappointment that Langford’s screen time was noticeably reduced. “It doesn’t feel like an After movie without Tessa,” one fan wrote, while another added, “We waited for closure, not for a Hardin solo project.”
The film, which centers on Hero Fiennes Tiffin’s character Hardin Scott, shifts the focus almost entirely to his journey of self-discovery and redemption after the turbulent events of After Ever Happy. While this narrative choice gives Hardin’s arc a proper resolution, it comes at the expense of the powerful dynamic between the two leads that defined the series.
Director Castille Landon defended the creative decision in interviews, explaining that After Everything was meant to explore Hardin’s growth after losing Tessa — a story about letting go and finding peace rather than rekindling old flames. Still, longtime viewers felt the emotional depth and chemistry that made the films so compelling were missing.
Langford, for her part, has stayed gracious amid the reaction. In past interviews, she’s spoken warmly about her time on the series and her appreciation for the fans who’ve supported her and Fiennes Tiffin since 2019.
Despite the backlash, After Everything serves as a bittersweet farewell to one of modern YA cinema’s most polarizing yet passionate love stories. But for many fans, the final movie’s limited Tessa presence feels like saying goodbye to the franchise without truly getting to say goodbye to its heart.
