The year 2023 marked the conclusion of the After series with “After Everything,” featuring Hero Fiennes Tiffin as Hardin Scott and Josephine Langford as Tessa Young. Written and directed by Castille Landon, the film series, based on Anna Todd’s After novels, attracted a huge audience, particularly the younger generation. The fifth installment of the After series follows the aftermath of Hardin’s messy breakup with Tessa, portraying his journey through writer’s block and the subsequent self-introspection. As he grapples with the success of his first book, “After,” the film explores whether Hardin is ready for a second manuscript.
In this article, we discuss the plotline of ‘After Everything,’ along with a conclusion that takes place at the film’s end. Please note that the article contains spoilers; the reader’s discretion is advised.
After Everything (2023) Plot Summary & Movie Synopsis:
The film picks up from the moment Tessa decides to leave Hardin after feeling betrayed by him for publishing the bestselling book ‘After’ without her consent, including her in it. Hardin’s life has taken a huge toll post-breakup, and he is not handling this phase well.
Moping and drinking, Hardin has been using the time to reflect on his past behavior, while his publisher, Katherine, nags him about the first draft for the next book. His parents are equally worried about him and how he has been wasting his precious time, drinking and not making any efforts to move on in life.
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Hardin explains to them that Tessa was the main reason he could write, and his writer’s block has to do with everything since she is no longer in his life. His mother tries to pump him up by suggesting that he should consider visiting Lisbon, which might help him write and subtly mentions that Natalie also lives there.
What happens when Hardin meets Natalie in Lisbon?
Hardin soon flies to Lisbon after considering his mother’s hints, and he discovers where Natalie works. Natalie has made a new life, owning a small bridal boutique in the city. His unannounced visit to her shop shocks her, and she promptly asks him to leave. In a flashback, it is revealed that Hardin had hurt her immensely when his friend leaked their sex video, a result of Hardin tricking her into winning a bet among his friends. Natalie, burdened by guilt and loss, left everything behind to start afresh in Lisbon.
As Natalie wraps up her work, she comes across Hardin’s book, “After,” in her shop. This triggers memories of his visit, prompting her to meet him at a nearby bar. During their meeting, Hardin apologizes for his past actions, and Natalie invites him to join her and her friends on the beach. However, one of Natalie’s friends, Sebastian, who is aware of Hardin’s bad influence, doesn’t seem to vibe with his presence in the group. Meanwhile, Hardin continues to send texts to Tessa, expressing apologies and explaining that his life is not the same without her, but to no avail.
Why does Hardin get locked up in jail?
Natalie and Hardin decide to sail one day when she shows him her dream house by the cliff. While talking about their lives, Hardin discusses his breakup with Tessa, realizing that he has actually ruined both Tessa and Natalie’s lives by publicizing their intimate details without considering any repercussions. Upon returning to the beach, Hardin gets drunk again and starts to dance intimately with Natalie’s friends, provoking Sebastian to beat him up for his misbehavior. Hardin gets locked up in jail by the local police, and his father comes to bail him out.
While walking around the place, Hardin’s father motivates him to do better than waste away sulking and not trying to change his life. He pushes him to work on himself to be better for Tessa. After returning to his place, Hardin looks around and only finds liquor bottles. This irks him, and he decides to clean up the mess in his life, both physically and emotionally. He also decides to quit drinking and focuses on writing the manuscript that Katherine has been demanding. Meanwhile, he decides to return Landon’s messages (that he has been ignoring for ages) after learning he is getting married.
Do Natalie and Hardin share a kiss?
Days after their last encounter, Natalie visits Hardin with a specially curated care package to apologize to him for Sebastian’s behavior. Hardin tells her that a lot has happened lately, including self-introspection about his life. Natalie mistakes Hardin’s vulnerabilities as having feelings for her, and she tries to kiss him, but he reminds her that he is very much in love with Tessa. However, he thanks her for forgiving him and giving him a second chance.
Does Hardin finally write his next book?
Hardin uses all his time to get back to writing again. Taking inspiration from the time spent with Natalie, he finishes his manuscript, titling it ‘Before.’ He then hands a copy of ‘Before’ to Natalie as a gesture to thank her and reveals that he has included her in it. He asks if she is okay with the manuscript before he can submit the draft to his publisher. Meanwhile, we also see Hardin purchasing the coastal house that she always talked about and surprising her with the keys to the house. Later, we see Natalie sending him a message that she is happy with the draft and wishes him good luck for his future with Tessa.
After Everything (2023) Movie Ending Explained:
Do Hardin and Tessa get back together?
After returning to the US, he visits Landon as his best man at the wedding. The film had earlier begun with this particular scene when Tessa is with Nora, who is getting married to Landon. As the couple gets worked up for their marriage ceremony, we can see Tessa and Hardin equally nervous about seeing one another for the first time after two years of them having broken up. As the ceremony begins, Tessa and Hardin walk in together as the best man and woman. Later, Hardin tips his half-brother to dance with Tessa at the wedding reception so he can join her.
During the best man speech, Hardin uses his experience of being away from the love of his life as a metaphor to celebrate the life of the wedded couple. However, Tessa becomes sad and leaves the reception midway, making Hardin follow her immediately. He apologizes to her, and Tessa calls them a mess after making love to him.
Hardin proposes to her, and she agrees. The final chapter of the popular After franchise, “After Everything” (2023), ends with a flash forward to Hardin carrying his book – “Later,” under his arm and entering his house. He greets his little daughter and hugs his heavily pregnant wife, Tessa, ending their chapter on a note of ‘Happily Ever After.’
