The Last Anniversary

The first 5 episodes were intriguing and kept my interest. The mystery was compelling. What happened to the baby's mother? Who was the father? Conflict, motives, and goals were well drawn for each character. The last episode was a disaster. Mental health issues of the magnitude one character displays cannot be treated by family alone, despite lip service to doctors. Postpartum depression must be treated not ignored; the "oh I'm fine" person is in the deep river of denial with suicidal ideation throughout the show's episodes. What sane person would want to be stuck on an island with these lunatics? Sell the house and RUN SOPHIE RUN!!!!

The Last Anniversary is my favourite novel by Australian author Liane Moriarty, and I was very excited when I heard it was being adapted into a series.

The series delivered in every way.

The TV show changes some key aspects from the book, but overall the adaptation is still faithful to the source material, in that the vibe of the book is maintained, as are the messages about family, motherhood, love, and loyalty. The acting was great, with all of the cast giving their characters depth and complexity. There was not a single flat performance. The ending was bittersweet, yet hopeful, just like the novel novel, leaving the viewer feeling all warm and fuzzy. Ten out of ten stars.

I am a huge fan of Liane Moriarty and have read all her books. The Last Anniversary is a great adaptation of the book and follows the story closely. The scenery is magnificent and the acting is superb, thanks to the strength of the actresses portraying the female characters. There are so many layers to this story and so many secrets on Scrubby Gum Island. The mystery is revealed as slowly as we learn details about each of the family members.

I watched the series over two days and was sad to say goodbye to the island and its inhabitants. So much to like about this series with themes of love, family, betrayal, forgiveness, new beginnings and being true to ones self.

Miranda Richardson was great in this and proves it every time she is on screen. But I think the others didn't quite gel in time when cameras started rolling and it could've done with different actors in a few different roles or could've swapped, the character of Ron played by JLT could've been played by Leon Ford in my opinion and someone else should've played the character of Grace.

The episodes felt a little too long and I feel like Liane Moriaty doesn't get a say in who gets cast? Maybe she should get more power in anything of hers that gets optioned.

I didn't mind the show altogether but several characters miscast and a story that feels like it could've been four episodes instead of six.

My Review-The Last Anniversary Streaming on Foxtel My Rating 7/10

This 6 episode series based on a novel by Liane Moriarty who also wrote Big Little Lies was also produced by that same company which includes Nicole Kidman as an executive producer.

Like Big Little Lies this series The Last Anniversary features some splendid performances from women and was worth watching just for the performances.

However for me this series got bogged down with to many characters and not enough plot-line.

Big Little Lies is a much better series and that story and held my interest for all 14 episodes.

The Last Anniversary I found was an example again to me of a fine feature movie being stretched out for hours like an elastic band to the point where you wish it would break.

Set on an island obviously somewhere near The Hawkesbury River Teresa Palmer stars as Sophie Honeywell who unexpectedly inherits a house on Scribbly Gum Island from her ex boyfriend's Great Aunt Connie .

Wonderful to see Angela Punch McGregor again on screen as the ghostly Miss Havisham like character Great Aunt Connie.

Sophie's arrival to claim her inheritance causes resentment and intrigue from Great Aunt Connie's female ancestors and intimate friends including elderly Rose played brilliantly by Miranda Richardson .

Veronika the granddaughter of Connie is played by Danielle Macdonald she is a key character who is initially hostile and determined to keep Sophie, the protagonist, out of her families affairs.

Helen Thomson as Enigma is the unlikeable character that this series mysteriously hovers around . Enigma is the mysterious baby Enigma whose parents Alice and Jack disappeared leaving her to be raised by Connie and Rose .

Now an adult and mother to the fragile Grace Enigma leads tours of the abandoned Munro cabin on Scribbly Gum Island, a place known for the unresolved Munro Baby Mystery.

This is the part of the story I couldn't swallow asking the question why would anyone be interested in a Disneyland mystery tour to find out why this unpleasant woman and bad mother herself was abandoned by her parents who probably just didn't like her?

Enigma's daughter Grace married to Callum is portrayed by Claude Scott-Mitchell. Grace is a struggling mother who has recently experienced a traumatic birth and is dealing with postnatal depression.

There are some male roles in The Last Anniversary but the only one who stood out for me was Uli Latukefu who plays Callum husband of Grace who is a high school music teacher and father to their newborn son Oliver.

Summing up I'm glad I stuck with The Last Anniversary but thankful there will be no season 2 as this magical mystery island tour and its complex characters gave me a sinking feeling towards the conclusion.