The Last Anniversary

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.

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.

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.

This is a friendly reminder to check in with yourself and your friends after having a baby. I've never seen a show that explores the haunting reality of post partum depression and its ramifications like this show does. While this show explores different topics it does focus on Graces journey. Her feeling like she's drowning, the disconnection, feeling like everyone else is more capable at being a mother to her son than her, the intrusive thoughts that something bad will happen to her son and then being in complete denial that she needs help and her family ignoring the signs she desperately needs help. At the end you realize this is actually a story of generational post partum depression. It has a good twist that I didn't see coming. It captivated me through to the end.

As someone who hadn't read the book, The Last Anniversary TV series offered an immediately appealing premise: a mystery woven through a tapestry of family secrets. This combination is always an enticing feast for viewers, and the series largely delivers on its promise, earning a solid 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Right from the start, the show impresses with its strong acting, sharp writing, and effective pacing. It does a commendable job of quickly developing its unique world and the diverse cast of characters within a relatively short runtime. The performances across the board were compelling, making it easy to invest in the lives of the Munro family and the newcomer, Sophie. There's a good sense of suspense and intrigue that keeps you hooked, eager to unravel the central "Munro Baby Mystery." The series also manages to weave in some good emotional development, allowing us to witness the journey and growth of its predominantly strong female characters, which was definitely a highlight.

However, where The Last Anniversary sometimes falters is in its tone. At moments, it felt like the show wasn't quite sure what type of series it wanted to be, occasionally feeling stuck somewhere between a lighthearted romantic comedy à la Bridget Jones and the more atmospheric, enigmatic vibe of The Haunting of... series. This slight tonal inconsistency, while not a deal-breaker, did create some minor dissonance. Additionally, one particular character detail - a 39-year-old's obsession with romance novels - felt somewhat forced and silly, pulling me out of the narrative briefly.

Despite these minor quibbles, The Last Anniversary TV series is a mostly good time. It successfully blends its central mystery with engaging character dynamics and enough emotional depth to make for a worthwhile watch. If you're looking for a well-acted, character-driven mystery with a cozy, yet intriguing, island setting, this adaptation is certainly worth a look.