The Last Anniversary
(2025)Type: tvshow
Overview: A mystery that touches on family matters, motherhood and those women whose legacy defines the generations that blossom after them.
Language: en
Genres:
Questions
What is the plot?
The Last Anniversary unfolds on Scribbly Gum Island, opening with Sophie Honeywell, portrayed by Teresa Palmer, unexpectedly inheriting a house from Connie, the great-aunt of her ex-boyfriend. The island is a remote, almost mystical setting, shrouded in secrets that will gradually surface as the series progresses.
The very first scene places Sophie arriving on the island, her emotions a mix of apprehension and curiosity. The house is weathered yet charming, imposing in its silence. The island itself holds an eerie stillness, and whispers of its past linger in the salty air. Sophie’s exploration reveals subtle clues to the island’s history, marked by an undercurrent of suspense.
As Sophie settles in, we meet Rose (Miranda Richardson), a key island resident whose complex history intertwines with the island’s legacy. Young Rose (Josephine Blazier) appears in flashbacks, giving the audience a deeper understanding of Rose’s character arc — a woman shaped by secrets and bygone events. Each flashback layers past and present, blurring into an intricate narrative.
Throughout early episodes, the story reveals the island’s haunting mystery: decades ago, a young couple vanished without a trace, a mystery that transformed Scribbly Gum into a magnet for true crime tourism. This unresolved disappearance acts as a shadow over every character and interaction. Sophie becomes enmeshed in this mystery, her investigations bringing her closer to uncovering truths hidden by time and silence.
Veronika (Danielle Macdonald) is another prominent figure whose life is deeply affected by the island’s tensions. The interactions between Sophie and Veronika are charged, revealing tensions and alliances that shift as secrets unravel.
Supporting characters like Enigma (Helen Thomson), Margie (Susan Prior), and Connie herself (Angela Punch McGregor) enrich the tapestry of the island’s story, each holding pieces of the wider puzzle. Their dialogues and confrontations are emotionally charged, revealing nuanced layers of grief, betrayal, and resilience.
Midway through the series, dramatic scenes highlight Sophie’s evolution from outsider to someone deeply entangled in the island's fate. Her relationships with Thomas (Charlie Garber) and Callum (Uli Latukefu) deepen, adding emotional stakes that heighten the tension. Sophie wrestles with her own identity and the weight of legacy — the central thematic elements touching on family, motherhood, and the impact of women across generations.
The penultimate episodes intensify in atmosphere, with dark secrets surfacing in flashbacks and present confrontations. Revelations about Connie and the island’s women show how their legacies ripple through time. The narrative intertwines personal dramas with the overarching mystery of the disappearance, leading to moments of emotional catharsis and shock.
In the final episode, the truth behind the disappearance, and the complex history of the women on Scribbly Gum Island, is laid bare. Sophie’s journey culminates in a powerful reckoning, both with the island’s haunted past and her personal demons. The closing scenes resonate with a bittersweet closure — the island's secrets partly unearthed, but some mysteries lingering, reflecting the enduring complexity of memory and family.
From a viewer’s perspective, the series crafts a visceral experience with immersive visuals of the island’s rugged beauty juxtaposed against the dark, intimate human dramas unfolding. The characters' arcs are deeply emotional, particularly Sophie’s transformation through confrontation with history and self-discovery. The Last Anniversary leaves a haunting impression, entwining suspenseful mystery with poignant explorations of legacy and identity.
What is the ending?
⚠ Spoiler – click to reveal
The ending of The Last Anniversary (2025) reveals the complex family secrets on Scribbly Gum Island finally coming to light. Sophie Honeywell, who inherits a house there, uncovers the truth about the decades-old disappearance of a young couple, as well as the deep, intergenerational ties among the women who live on the island. The mystery resolves with revelations that reshape Sophie’s understanding of her own identity and the legacy of motherhood on the island.
In the final episode of The Last Anniversary, the narrative unfolds in a richly detailed, scene-by-scene progression:
The episode opens with Sophie Honeywell standing in the inherited house, contemplating the layers of history embedded within its walls. We see flashbacks interspersed that trace back to the island’s past, revealing moments from Connie’s youth, and the fateful night linked to the couple's disappearance. These memories are vivid—soft moonlight filtering through gum trees, the anxious faces of young Rose and Connie, and the quiet tensions bubbling beneath the island’s serene beauty.
Sophie meets with Rose, now an older woman, on the rocky shore. Their conversation is tense but filled with unspoken understanding. Rose reveals that the mystery of the missing couple was tangled with family lies meant to protect the island's fragile peace. Sophie listens intently, her emotions shifting as each piece falls into place.
They trek through the island’s dense bushland, leading to a hidden clearing where a long-forgotten marker commemorates the couple. Here, Sophie finds a letter left by Connie, explaining her sacrifices and the reasons behind the silence that has gripped the island's women for decades.
Back inside the house, Sophie discovers an old diary belonging to Connie. The camera lingers on the handwritten pages, revealing intimate reflections about love, loss, and the difficult choices she faced as a matriarch trying to shield future generations.
Meanwhile, the island’s other women—Veronika, Margie, and Grace—gather in the kitchen, sharing stories of endurance and resilience. Their friendship and solidarity underscore the theme of female legacy as the series weaves their narratives with Sophie’s.
The climax unfolds when Sophie, empowered by new knowledge and connections, decides to open the island’s history to the outside world, breaking the cycle of secrecy. The final scene is a sweeping shot over Scribbly Gum Island as Sophie stands on the veranda, the wind tousling her hair, symbolizing both an end and a new beginning for the island’s story.
This ending carefully draws together the mysteries while emphasizing the importance of confronting the past to heal and evolve. The story closes on a note of hope, highlighting the strength found in embracing truth and the enduring bonds among women across generations.
Is this family friendly?
The TV show The Last Anniversary (2025) is a mystery drama centered on family, motherhood, and generational legacies, featuring strong female characters and emotional depth. It has a tone that fluctuates between lighthearted romantic comedy elements and darker, atmospheric mystery.
Regarding family-friendliness and potential content concerns:
- Potentially upsetting themes: The series touches on complex family issues, including a traumatic birth and postnatal depression, which might be sensitive topics for children or viewers sensitive to mental health themes.
- Emotional and dramatic content: The show involves unresolved family mysteries, abandonment, and strained relationships that may include episodes of emotional distress and tension.
- Tone variation: The tone sometimes shifts from lighter to more enigmatic and somber, which might be unsettling or confusing for younger audiences or those expecting a consistently light mood.
No explicit or graphic content warnings were noted in reviews or descriptions, but the presence of mature themes such as trauma, mental health struggle, and family conflict suggests it may be better suited for older teens and adults rather than young children.
In summary, The Last Anniversary may not be fully family-friendly for young children due to its mature themes and emotional intensity, although it is not described as containing explicit or violent scenes. Sensitive viewers should be aware of its focus on family trauma and mental health issues.
Does the dog die?
⚠ Spoiler – click to reveal
In the TV show The Last Anniversary produced in 2025, the dog does not die. While the book version includes the death of a dog, the TV adaptation explicitly avoids this, and no dog death occurs on screen or in the storyline of the show.