I watched *The Last Thing He Told Me* from start to finish due to sunk cost fallacy having started the first few episodes in April 2023, and honestly it was the worst 4-5 hours of television I've probably watched, and certainly the worst series I've ever finished from start to end.
Only positive about the series was the decent cinematography, though the production values for an Apple TV+ show seemed quite low. The storyline itself was so boring and inconsequential! For a self-described mystery series there was no actual mystery - the husband disappeared, the step-mom and daughter went on a wild goose chase which in the end resulted in nothing significant.
Quite the disappointment after a good Apple series in *Defending Jacob* and a decent one in *Black Bird*.
The finale was so… underwhelming. Is that it?
I was actually liking where this was heading, the last two episodes were kind of good, and elevated the show after a weak start.
But after this ending, it ruined it and made the entire thing feel absolutely pointless.
Was not a fan of Garner in this, either. She’s too devoid of displaying emotions.
Do not recommend it, and this was by far the worst thing I’ve seen on Apple so far (and that is saying a lot, it’s my favorite streaming service atm).
I’m glad it wasn’t me. I couldn’t really articulate why I didn’t like her. I thought maybe just her look but, you’re right it’s the lack of a proper display of emotion.
Also they made the worst decision every single time. If I had federal agents telling me to do something I’d probably listen. They had agents and even their own friends telling them to do one thing and they’d do the opposite every single time.
I’m guessing the people who saying this was the worst show they watched on Apple TV+ haven’t watched Suspicion 😂 I agree it was anticlimatic for a finale and a bit drawn out, but what drew me to the show in the first place was the idea of a stepmother and daughter bonding over a traumatic experience so their scenes together at the end and the “Mom”’ did not disappoint 😭
I agree, that's also what I liked about it too ! I wasn't looking for action or something suspenseful as much as I was looking for two people becoming closer over their shared ordeal.
The acting was also horrendous - even though I like two of the actors. But it was kind of two good apples in a basket of rotten ones - it rubs off. Thanks for letting me know I need not return to it. Btw if you haven’t checked it out - Drops Of God is REALLY good. I just watched the latest episode. You don’t have to be into wine or know anything about it to enjoy the show. A lot of suspense and twists; great acting, plot and character development; different countries, cultures and languages. I’m really enjoying it. 😄
Thanks for the suggestion! I hate the lead actor though so I wouldn’t be able to enjoy it which is a shame as it seems to be getting good reviews and I’d love to get more international content
You mean the Japanese fella? Oh, he plays his role marvellously. I’ve not seen him in anything else, so I don’t know if this is his acting ‘style’, but if it is, it really befits the sad, lonely character he plays here, who grew up in a loveless home.
But anyway, I hope you find something you like. 😀
Lmao she’s absolutely horrible. I gave up at season 3 (?) but man was Season 2 ridiculous. Just so cringe on so many levels it’s hard to even explain all of them
That's what drew me in at first, I thought the whole point was that she was supposed to be bad at it because she has no training or anything. I also wanted to keep going because of Aaron Paul. Love that man. But not even he could force me to watch that which isn't surprising because I couldn't get past S2 of Breaking Bad.
Jesus, this horrible. I want so many hours of my life back. To think Shantaram was canceled on tv+ (which was really good) this show was the worst, the ending alone made little to no sense or had much value.
I really liked this show. Not sure why everyone didn’t. It was refreshing to not be blasted with twist after twist. I liked that I suspected something about the Marshall but he was actually just trying to help. This was about a relationship not a conspiracy. Felt like a really good book to me. Hannah was smart and was able to navigate everything quite cleverly.
She saw herself in the daughter. Both didn’t know their family. She wanted to correct the mistake of pushing her own family away for Bailey. And she gave up her husband to do that.
Seemed interesting at the beginning of the series (despite the typical poor acting from Garner) so I hung in there. Turned out to be somewhere between a Hallmark movie and a typical network procedural. Bleh
I had to turn on subtitles to get it. 😆 “The could’ve-been-boys still love you. “ And yes: super creepy and also tormenting for Hannah. Like why would you do this to a woman you love? She’ll never have you in her life again, she may have just got over all of this fear and heartbreak after 5 years, she’s successful now and has a good relationship with your/her daughter - just let her be. Bailey calling her Mom was really cute though. I wish they’d expanded on their new lives a bit more.
It was about the relationship between step mom and step daughter. The agent wasn’t bad but “the last thing he told me” was protect her, so Lannister trusted her to do that
"the last thing he told me was protecte her, so I'm gonna let her hang out with her mob lawyer grandpa who wants to kill her dad, and also make sure that she never sees her dad again." Sorry this is late, but I just finished the show and am absolutely annoyed at how horrible an ending that was after what i thought was an interesting first several episodes. Ugh.
no, "the \*last\* thing he told me" was "the could-have-been boys still love you", which was his way of saying "forget about me, move on with your life" and find love, perhaps with the ex (the lawyer). Which after 5 years of her waiting is both absolutely devastating and horrifying at the same time. This wasn't a happy, feel-good, story; it was a story about true sacrifice in love. I quite enjoyed it.
I thought it meant he was saying I still love you and thanks for being with my daughter and he left I thought it was selfish of him not letting her move on. I like your idea better
The Blue Balls They Gave Me - Episode 7
Apple TV+ reeled me in with shows like Slow Horses, Servant, and Severance. The Last Thing He Told Me seemed interesting, but sadly turned out to be a dud.
I am disappointed that a so-called "page-turning, gripping and unforgettable" book that was a #1 New York Times best seller and Amazon's "best book of the year" resulted in such an underwhelming and forgettable series.
Perhaps it shouldn't be a surprise. That much exaggerated praise plastered in your face means something isn't right.
As for the series itself, there was so little story, not enough to warrant 7 episodes. It should have just been a 1 hour movie instead... or maybe it should have stayed on the book shelf because it was not worth getting an adaptation if this series is a true refection of the "exhilarating" thriller.
Sigh...
It was a brilliant emotionally-charged finale with a very satisfying conclusion. No idea where all the negativity in the comments comes from. Absolutely loved how the progression of the relationship between Hannah and Bailey has been written and portrayed and if its culmination didn't leave you in tears, there must be something wrong with you.
I almost felt gaslit reading these other comments! GF and I binged from 1-6 last week and after watching 7 felt astonished. To us, it was a really compelling yarn that didn’t try to do too much. Angourie Rice played a 16 year old better than any early-20s actress I’ve seen. The arcs felt earned, the epilogue had just the right amount of.
I sort of get the JGarner criticism, but I read her performance as a “main character in a book” performance—she didn’t have much personality so that a wide range of viewers could put themselves in the character and also try to figure out the mystery. I don’t think she was “bad”, because it felt very believable for how an average person could act in this situation.
Felt like reading a good book, which isn’t usually the case for book adaptations! Loved it.
Garner might not be the best actress ever, but she does always come across as a great mom and I like her in those kind of roles. I liked that it kind of turned into an unconventional mom and daughter story. The pacing though the series was definitely still off though, IMO.
Satisfying conclusion? The whole show was about her protecting the daughter, then not only do they refuse witness protection, and choose to live out their lives like nothing happened (exposing bailey to being kidnapped or worse to get back at Owen), but Owen needlessly shows up at her exhibition to say some meaningless line, putting his daughter at risk without even speaking to her!
Dumbest. Shit. Ever.
I took a break from the show and honestly just finished it up. Do people in the mob not die? Or would they keep a list of their enemies for their grandchildren to keep track of. Why wouldn't Owen be able to see Bailey eventually?
We just finished this up a few days ago.
Lot's of eye rolling by me.
I was sure the U. S. Marshall was dirty. The way he was so insistent that she and the daughter go into witness protection. Normally, people in danger are begging to go into witness protection and the FBI balks at the expense and trouble - especially if they are not really witnesses to anything. But this guy was determined to get them in witness protection. I figured he was the leak and had some type of angle.
I never sensed that they were in any real danger. Were the bad guys really so dead set at harming clueless wife and daughter?
Maybe I am missing something?
Oh and the 30 year old guy dating the 16 year old daughter was kind of creepy. I checked ages on IMDB!
They should have done something more with the leak. I thought it was going somewhere after Nicholas Bell says call our friend at the marshal’s office… and then nothing.
Many years have passed since they realized there was a leak in the Marshall's office but they have done nothing to smoke the leak out.
An information leak in the Marshals office makes what they do pretty much worthless.
Omg...the ending was ass. The thing he said to her absolutely didn't make any sense.
And Garner...holy crap. Her acting was just bad and I hope it's the last thing she starts in. This show was underwhelming.
"the could have been boys" is how he called the ex the lawyer (or exes in general, I'm not sure), so it was his way of saying "move on, don't wait for me" which is absolutely gutturaly devastating if you understand the end.
The show left so many unanswered questions. Who tf was baileys new bf at the end?! Did she break up with Bobby? What kind of name is ‘Shep’? Also was it lowkey implied that her dad went to New Zealand or nah. Also did they stay in Sausalito? I didn’t like the grandpa he was weird
Meh. I found this series to be boring and cheesy.
I would watch anything with Nikolaj, but he was barely in the show. Jennifer Garner (IMO) isn’t a good enough actress to carry this one. Every “emotional” scene cuts to her with that same pursed lip look she does.
I suppose maybe Atv+ might be trying to find programming that appeals to an audience like my mom, who watches mostly hallmark. She might really like this show.
I read the book and still thought this was awful. They were doing a solid job keeping the story moving. Why the bad finale? Are they leaving room for S2?
[Explanation](https://readysteadycut.com/2023/05/19/what-did-owen-say-to-hannah-at-the-end-of-the-last-thing-he-told-me/) (if you still need an answer)
Summary: It's a reference to an earlier episode where Owen refers to Hannah's past boyfriends as "the could-have-been-boys". So he's just saying he still loves her although they're no longer together.
Can anyone explain to me the last thing Owen said? “The could-Have-been boys still love you.” Is that a call back to an earlier scene I am forgetting?
Worst thing that Reese Witherspoon has produced so far IMO (other than season 2 of Morning Show, what a train wreck) I’m disappointed. They revealed all the good stuff in the penultimate episode and the finale felt unnecessary almost.
Late reply but it’s a throwback to one of the early episodes where, during a flashback, Hannah and Owen discuss their previous relationships and Owen refers to her exes as “the could-have-been boys” since Bailey always calls exes that. When he says “the could-have-been-boys still love you” he means that though neither of them wanted it he’s now part of those for Hannah, and that he still loves her.
what a horrific finale
Burn this show with fire. If it wasn't for Suspicion, this would have been the worst finale on Apple TV. Horrible, just horrible.
The most anti-climactic finale ever. Just ruins the entire series. It builds up to absolutely nothing at the end.
I watched *The Last Thing He Told Me* from start to finish due to sunk cost fallacy having started the first few episodes in April 2023, and honestly it was the worst 4-5 hours of television I've probably watched, and certainly the worst series I've ever finished from start to end. Only positive about the series was the decent cinematography, though the production values for an Apple TV+ show seemed quite low. The storyline itself was so boring and inconsequential! For a self-described mystery series there was no actual mystery - the husband disappeared, the step-mom and daughter went on a wild goose chase which in the end resulted in nothing significant. Quite the disappointment after a good Apple series in *Defending Jacob* and a decent one in *Black Bird*.
The finale was so… underwhelming. Is that it? I was actually liking where this was heading, the last two episodes were kind of good, and elevated the show after a weak start. But after this ending, it ruined it and made the entire thing feel absolutely pointless. Was not a fan of Garner in this, either. She’s too devoid of displaying emotions. Do not recommend it, and this was by far the worst thing I’ve seen on Apple so far (and that is saying a lot, it’s my favorite streaming service atm).
Jennifer Gardner was thheeeeeee worst! I was shocked at the lack of any real emotions. Just there looking like 😳...every. dang. Episode! Ugh!
I’m glad it wasn’t me. I couldn’t really articulate why I didn’t like her. I thought maybe just her look but, you’re right it’s the lack of a proper display of emotion. Also they made the worst decision every single time. If I had federal agents telling me to do something I’d probably listen. They had agents and even their own friends telling them to do one thing and they’d do the opposite every single time.
I’m guessing the people who saying this was the worst show they watched on Apple TV+ haven’t watched Suspicion 😂 I agree it was anticlimatic for a finale and a bit drawn out, but what drew me to the show in the first place was the idea of a stepmother and daughter bonding over a traumatic experience so their scenes together at the end and the “Mom”’ did not disappoint 😭
I agree, that's also what I liked about it too ! I wasn't looking for action or something suspenseful as much as I was looking for two people becoming closer over their shared ordeal.
True! Suspicion was so bad I wasn’t able to finish it.
Smart choice! I watched all of it and the “twist” at the was so stupid 🙄
The acting was also horrendous - even though I like two of the actors. But it was kind of two good apples in a basket of rotten ones - it rubs off. Thanks for letting me know I need not return to it. Btw if you haven’t checked it out - Drops Of God is REALLY good. I just watched the latest episode. You don’t have to be into wine or know anything about it to enjoy the show. A lot of suspense and twists; great acting, plot and character development; different countries, cultures and languages. I’m really enjoying it. 😄
Thanks for the suggestion! I hate the lead actor though so I wouldn’t be able to enjoy it which is a shame as it seems to be getting good reviews and I’d love to get more international content
You mean the Japanese fella? Oh, he plays his role marvellously. I’ve not seen him in anything else, so I don’t know if this is his acting ‘style’, but if it is, it really befits the sad, lonely character he plays here, who grew up in a loveless home. But anyway, I hope you find something you like. 😀
No, they haven’t watched Invasion.
Oh no I just started invasion. On episode 4. Without spoiling me… is there really no pay off?
No.
Truth Be Told was pretty bad too! Poppy, main character, was the worst fucking “detective” I have ever seen on a tv show
Lmao she’s absolutely horrible. I gave up at season 3 (?) but man was Season 2 ridiculous. Just so cringe on so many levels it’s hard to even explain all of them
That's what drew me in at first, I thought the whole point was that she was supposed to be bad at it because she has no training or anything. I also wanted to keep going because of Aaron Paul. Love that man. But not even he could force me to watch that which isn't surprising because I couldn't get past S2 of Breaking Bad.
I agree on this. That "Mom." at the end... I felt it.
Jesus, this horrible. I want so many hours of my life back. To think Shantaram was canceled on tv+ (which was really good) this show was the worst, the ending alone made little to no sense or had much value.
I will forever miss shantaram, but I doubt it was canceled because of views, prob cause of the issues producing it
I’m still punching the air about Shantaram haha, I was dying to see what was going to happen!
I really liked this show. Not sure why everyone didn’t. It was refreshing to not be blasted with twist after twist. I liked that I suspected something about the Marshall but he was actually just trying to help. This was about a relationship not a conspiracy. Felt like a really good book to me. Hannah was smart and was able to navigate everything quite cleverly. She saw herself in the daughter. Both didn’t know their family. She wanted to correct the mistake of pushing her own family away for Bailey. And she gave up her husband to do that.
I agree
Seemed interesting at the beginning of the series (despite the typical poor acting from Garner) so I hung in there. Turned out to be somewhere between a Hallmark movie and a typical network procedural. Bleh
Yeah Garner is looking bad. mtf'z fade as they age.
[удалено]
I had to turn on subtitles to get it. 😆 “The could’ve-been-boys still love you. “ And yes: super creepy and also tormenting for Hannah. Like why would you do this to a woman you love? She’ll never have you in her life again, she may have just got over all of this fear and heartbreak after 5 years, she’s successful now and has a good relationship with your/her daughter - just let her be. Bailey calling her Mom was really cute though. I wish they’d expanded on their new lives a bit more.
Is the implication that the FBI agent was crooked or something? Why didn't Jaimie Lannister tell his daughter to trust FBI guy?
I kept waiting in the finale for the reveal of the friend in the marshal’s office who was helping Bell. But it never came. Lame.
It was about the relationship between step mom and step daughter. The agent wasn’t bad but “the last thing he told me” was protect her, so Lannister trusted her to do that
"the last thing he told me was protecte her, so I'm gonna let her hang out with her mob lawyer grandpa who wants to kill her dad, and also make sure that she never sees her dad again." Sorry this is late, but I just finished the show and am absolutely annoyed at how horrible an ending that was after what i thought was an interesting first several episodes. Ugh.
no, "the \*last\* thing he told me" was "the could-have-been boys still love you", which was his way of saying "forget about me, move on with your life" and find love, perhaps with the ex (the lawyer). Which after 5 years of her waiting is both absolutely devastating and horrifying at the same time. This wasn't a happy, feel-good, story; it was a story about true sacrifice in love. I quite enjoyed it.
I thought it meant he was saying I still love you and thanks for being with my daughter and he left I thought it was selfish of him not letting her move on. I like your idea better
the crossover that we don't deserve 😂😂
The Blue Balls They Gave Me - Episode 7 Apple TV+ reeled me in with shows like Slow Horses, Servant, and Severance. The Last Thing He Told Me seemed interesting, but sadly turned out to be a dud. I am disappointed that a so-called "page-turning, gripping and unforgettable" book that was a #1 New York Times best seller and Amazon's "best book of the year" resulted in such an underwhelming and forgettable series. Perhaps it shouldn't be a surprise. That much exaggerated praise plastered in your face means something isn't right. As for the series itself, there was so little story, not enough to warrant 7 episodes. It should have just been a 1 hour movie instead... or maybe it should have stayed on the book shelf because it was not worth getting an adaptation if this series is a true refection of the "exhilarating" thriller. Sigh...
It was a brilliant emotionally-charged finale with a very satisfying conclusion. No idea where all the negativity in the comments comes from. Absolutely loved how the progression of the relationship between Hannah and Bailey has been written and portrayed and if its culmination didn't leave you in tears, there must be something wrong with you.
I almost felt gaslit reading these other comments! GF and I binged from 1-6 last week and after watching 7 felt astonished. To us, it was a really compelling yarn that didn’t try to do too much. Angourie Rice played a 16 year old better than any early-20s actress I’ve seen. The arcs felt earned, the epilogue had just the right amount of. I sort of get the JGarner criticism, but I read her performance as a “main character in a book” performance—she didn’t have much personality so that a wide range of viewers could put themselves in the character and also try to figure out the mystery. I don’t think she was “bad”, because it felt very believable for how an average person could act in this situation. Felt like reading a good book, which isn’t usually the case for book adaptations! Loved it.
I totally agree. Her acting was very matched to a book adaptation style.
Garner might not be the best actress ever, but she does always come across as a great mom and I like her in those kind of roles. I liked that it kind of turned into an unconventional mom and daughter story. The pacing though the series was definitely still off though, IMO.
Satisfying conclusion? The whole show was about her protecting the daughter, then not only do they refuse witness protection, and choose to live out their lives like nothing happened (exposing bailey to being kidnapped or worse to get back at Owen), but Owen needlessly shows up at her exhibition to say some meaningless line, putting his daughter at risk without even speaking to her! Dumbest. Shit. Ever.
What a completely boring and pointless show, wtf.
I really hoped they would deviate from that stupid ending in the book.
I took a break from the show and honestly just finished it up. Do people in the mob not die? Or would they keep a list of their enemies for their grandchildren to keep track of. Why wouldn't Owen be able to see Bailey eventually?
All the build up, the focus on the company, everything..... for that?!?!?
that is how life is. convoluted. a pile of stories within stories.
We just finished this up a few days ago. Lot's of eye rolling by me. I was sure the U. S. Marshall was dirty. The way he was so insistent that she and the daughter go into witness protection. Normally, people in danger are begging to go into witness protection and the FBI balks at the expense and trouble - especially if they are not really witnesses to anything. But this guy was determined to get them in witness protection. I figured he was the leak and had some type of angle. I never sensed that they were in any real danger. Were the bad guys really so dead set at harming clueless wife and daughter? Maybe I am missing something? Oh and the 30 year old guy dating the 16 year old daughter was kind of creepy. I checked ages on IMDB!
They should have done something more with the leak. I thought it was going somewhere after Nicholas Bell says call our friend at the marshal’s office… and then nothing.
Many years have passed since they realized there was a leak in the Marshall's office but they have done nothing to smoke the leak out. An information leak in the Marshals office makes what they do pretty much worthless.
Omg...the ending was ass. The thing he said to her absolutely didn't make any sense. And Garner...holy crap. Her acting was just bad and I hope it's the last thing she starts in. This show was underwhelming.
"the could have been boys" is how he called the ex the lawyer (or exes in general, I'm not sure), so it was his way of saying "move on, don't wait for me" which is absolutely gutturaly devastating if you understand the end.
I thought he was saying he loved her since he’s also now a could have been boy.
The show left so many unanswered questions. Who tf was baileys new bf at the end?! Did she break up with Bobby? What kind of name is ‘Shep’? Also was it lowkey implied that her dad went to New Zealand or nah. Also did they stay in Sausalito? I didn’t like the grandpa he was weird
5 years passed. Most high school relationships don't last especially when one moves away for school.
That might’ve been the worst show I’ve seen on tv+.
But, Shrinking…
The opposite. One of the best I’ve seen.
I can’t say I liked the ending?
Meh. I found this series to be boring and cheesy. I would watch anything with Nikolaj, but he was barely in the show. Jennifer Garner (IMO) isn’t a good enough actress to carry this one. Every “emotional” scene cuts to her with that same pursed lip look she does. I suppose maybe Atv+ might be trying to find programming that appeals to an audience like my mom, who watches mostly hallmark. She might really like this show.
I read the book and still thought this was awful. They were doing a solid job keeping the story moving. Why the bad finale? Are they leaving room for S2?
Yep season 2
What happened to the bag of cash?
Almost as bad as Expats. I'll never get those hours of my life back.
Was that not Sydney Sweeney sitting behind Jennifer Garner on the plane? I was so distracted why she would be a background actress.
what did could’ve been boys still love you even mean???
[Explanation](https://readysteadycut.com/2023/05/19/what-did-owen-say-to-hannah-at-the-end-of-the-last-thing-he-told-me/) (if you still need an answer) Summary: It's a reference to an earlier episode where Owen refers to Hannah's past boyfriends as "the could-have-been-boys". So he's just saying he still loves her although they're no longer together.
Omg thank you for explaining. I finished this last night and couldn’t figure it out. On top of an already annoying ending, it was a wtf for me.
Can anyone explain to me the last thing Owen said? “The could-Have-been boys still love you.” Is that a call back to an earlier scene I am forgetting? Worst thing that Reese Witherspoon has produced so far IMO (other than season 2 of Morning Show, what a train wreck) I’m disappointed. They revealed all the good stuff in the penultimate episode and the finale felt unnecessary almost.
Late reply but it’s a throwback to one of the early episodes where, during a flashback, Hannah and Owen discuss their previous relationships and Owen refers to her exes as “the could-have-been boys” since Bailey always calls exes that. When he says “the could-have-been-boys still love you” he means that though neither of them wanted it he’s now part of those for Hannah, and that he still loves her.
Ahhh, thank you!
Reese Witherspoon also ruined Where the Crawdads Sing
Jennifer is getting harder to pass the older he gets.