Based on the novel by Carley Fortune, Every Year After follows Percy Fraser as she returns to Barry’s Bay after a decade away, forcing her to confront the people, secrets, and heartbreak she left behind. Across eight episodes, the Prime Video adaptation explores her complicated history with Sam Florek and the events that changed all of their lives.
This Every Year After Episode Guide breaks down everything that happens throughout the season, from Percy’s return to Barry’s Bay and Sue Florek’s funeral to the truth about Percy and Charlie, Sam’s difficult choices, and the emotional ending that brings several storylines full circle.
Episode 1
The series opens with Percy Fraser getting ready to attend the engagement party of her best friend, Chantal, and Drew. As the celebration unfolds, Percy gives a heartfelt speech about love. She talks about how difficult it can be to find the right person, someone who stays by your side through life’s challenges and celebrates every part of who you are. While everyone believes she is speaking about Chantal and Drew, her thoughts are elsewhere.
As Percy speaks, flashbacks reveal moments from her past with Sam Florek. The two spend time together on the lake, swimming, rowing, and lying side by side on the beach. It quickly becomes clear that the love story occupying Percy’s mind is her own.
After the party, Percy leaves with Jake, Drew’s half-brother. She has no interest in a serious relationship and is only looking for a distraction. But later that night she receives an unexpected phone call from Charlie Florek, Sam’s older brother. It is the first time she has heard from him in ten years.
Charlie tells her that his mother, Sue, recently died from lymphoma and asks her to return to Barry’s Bay for the funeral. He believes Sue would have wanted her there.
The next morning, Percy confides in Chantal that the call triggered a panic attack, something she has not experienced in years. Chantal reminds her that for the first several years of their friendship, Percy struggled with panic attacks, and for the years that followed she buried her feelings by dating the wrong men and pretending she did not care.
Percy admits she still carries enormous guilt over how things ended with Sam. She cannot stop thinking about him, even after all these years. Since his social media accounts are private, she has no idea what his life looks like now. Sam was the love of her life, and Percy convinces herself that returning to Barry’s Bay is the only way she can finally say goodbye to Sue, to the town, and to the feelings she never truly left behind. Chantal agrees to drive her there.
Summer 2011
The story shifts back to Percy’s first summer in Barry’s Bay.
New to town, Percy spends her time reading on the dock behind her family’s lake house. One day she spots two boys swimming nearby: Sam and Charlie Florek.
Later, Charlie introduces himself and quickly takes an interest in the newcomer. Since he already has plans with friends, he encourages Sam to spend time with Percy instead.
Sam helps Percy settle into her room, and the two begin talking. Percy shares some of the problems she has been dealing with back home, including a falling out with her friend Delilah that left her feeling isolated. Sam tells her about his family’s restaurant and life around the lake.
Their friendship develops naturally. They spend hours watching movies together in the Floreks’ basement television room. A montage follows as Percy, Sam, and Charlie swim, dive off docks, and enjoy the carefree days of summer.
Returning to Barry’s Bay
In the present, Percy and Chantal arrive in Barry’s Bay.
The trip brings back memories of Sue, who had become more of a mother figure to Percy than her own mother. Sue taught her everything from making margaritas to playing pool and even took her for her first bikini wax. Percy is overwhelmed by guilt for disappearing from their lives without explanation.
Chantal notices that Percy is placing impossible expectations on herself. She wants to have everything figured out before seeing Sam again, but in a town as small as Barry’s Bay, that reunion feels unavoidable.
Soon after arriving, Percy spots Sam talking on the phone near the lake. Before he notices her, she slips away.
Meanwhile, tensions are running high inside the Florek family. Sam and Charlie argue about the months spent caring for their mother before her death. Charlie insists he helped whenever he could, while Sam points out that he put his medical residency on hold for six months because their mother needed him.
Later, Percy runs into Delilah at the general store. Delilah is now married and still spends her summers in town. Their reunion is awkward, and things become even more uncomfortable when Charlie arrives.
Delilah questions Charlie’s decision to invite Percy back, believing it will only hurt Sam. Charlie reveals that inviting Percy was one of Sue’s final wishes.
At the motel, Percy unexpectedly runs into Jordie, another familiar face from her summers at the lake. He barely remembers her.
Charlie Rescues Percy
The emotional weight of being back in Barry’s Bay eventually becomes too much.
While out running with Chantal, Percy wanders into the woods and finds her old family home, which is scheduled to be demolished. The memories come flooding back.
Overwhelmed, she jumps into the lake and starts swimming. But as panic sets in, she struggles to stay calm. Flashbacks and anxiety quickly take over until Charlie finds her and helps her back to shore.
Shaken, Percy admits she underestimated how difficult this return would be. She spent years convincing herself she had moved on, but now she realizes she has simply been running from the past.
She tells Charlie that swimming used to feel effortless because Sam was always beside her. She blames herself for destroying everything they had and finally asks Charlie the question she has been avoiding.
Does he hate her?
The scene ends before he answers.
Sam Learns Percy Has Returned
Not long afterward, Jordie tells Sam that Percy is back in town and staying at the motel. He also reveals that Charlie was responsible for inviting her.
Sam immediately confronts his brother. Furious, he insists Charlie had no right to make that decision. Their argument becomes physical as they shove each other into the lake.
Once tempers cool, Sam finally admits the truth.
Percy was not just his girlfriend. She was his best friend. She was family.
Another flashback follows, showing Percy and Sam sharing a meal with Sue. During the conversation, Sam opens up about his father, who died from a heart attack. He admits people rarely talk about him because it makes Sue too sad.
Later, Percy gives Sam a friendship bracelet. For the first time, she has someone she truly wants to give one to.
In the present day, that bracelet is still packed away among Percy’s belongings.
Percy and Sam Finally Reunite
Eventually, Percy gathers the courage to visit the Florek family restaurant.
Walking through the building triggers a flood of memories. She remembers working there, laughing with Sam, stealing kisses, and building a life that once felt permanent.
She spots Sam in the kitchen washing dishes and quietly says his name.
He turns around.
After a long pause, Sam pulls her into a hug.
Percy immediately apologizes for everything, but Sam tells her that simply being there is enough. Wanting to help, she joins him at the sink, and before long they fall back into an old routine. The conversation feels natural. Familiar. Almost as if no time has passed at all.
Back at the Florek house, Delilah arrives to discuss another issue. She asks Charlie whether Sam knows that she plans to buy the family tavern. Charlie asks her to wait before telling him, arguing that Sam has already been through enough. Delilah reluctantly agrees.
Meanwhile, Sam and Percy continue washing dishes together. Small touches and lingering glances suggest how comfortable they still are around each other.
Then the moment is interrupted. Taylor, Sam’s girlfriend, walks in.
The reunion instantly takes on a very different tone.
Episode 2 Recap
After discovering that Sam is dating Taylor, Percy struggles to sleep. Restless and unable to quiet her thoughts, she leaves the motel in the middle of the night and sneaks into the Florek family restaurant. She takes a beer, but Sam spots her and joins her.
The two fall back into an old tradition from their teenage years: sharing three updates about their lives.
The episode moves between the present and the summer of 2012 as Sam and Percy compare notes on what has changed over the past year.
In the present, Percy reveals that she is still writing obituaries for a newspaper. She offers to write Sue’s obituary, but Sam tells her Taylor is already working on it.
Later, Percy admits to Chantal that seeing Sam again was not as frightening as she expected. The reunion had been the part she feared most. Now, she wants more. She misses the closeness they once shared and wants to feel important to him again. Sam was always the person she could count on.
Percy Tries to Help With the Funeral
Wanting to contribute, Percy visits Delilah, who is organizing Sue’s memorial service, and offers her help.
At first, Delilah brushes her off and insists everything is under control. Eventually, however, she explains what is really bothering her. While she is glad Percy returned, she also knows Percy missed ten years of Sam and Charlie’s lives. Delilah wants to make sure Percy is back for the right reasons.
Percy reminds her that Sue was like a second mother to her.
Delilah is not convinced. She points out that Percy has a strange way of showing it after disappearing for so long. She also makes it clear that Sam and Charlie have built stable lives for themselves and asks Percy not to disrupt that, especially when it comes to Sam and Taylor.
Meanwhile, Charlie is focused on preparing the family tavern for the memorial service. He wants to make repairs and clean the place up, partly because it will eventually need to be sold. Sam immediately pushes back. He is not ready to think about selling anything connected to his mother. Charlie argues that, at the very least, the tavern needs to be presentable for the memorial.
As Charlie struggles with a broken refrigerator, Delilah finds another way to keep Percy busy. She sends her on a series of errands, including hauling bags of ice so the food for the memorial does not spoil.
The plan backfires when Sam pulls up beside Percy and offers her a ride back to the tavern.
Summer 2012
The flashbacks reveal how much Sam and Percy’s friendship has grown.
Percy has started writing stories and tells Sam about a writing contest her professor encouraged her to enter. She wants to win, but she is uncertain about her talent. Sam has no such doubts and encourages her to submit her work.
The summer also marks Delilah’s return to their circle after she and Percy repaired their friendship.
Sam worries that adding another person to their tight-knit friendship will change things. Percy reassures him that everything will be fine and insists Delilah is not complicated.
It does not take long for Delilah to prove otherwise.
Almost immediately, she takes an interest in Charlie. She even jokes that Percy could date both brothers if she wanted to. Percy laughs it off, insisting Sam is her best friend and Charlie is simply his annoying older brother.
Chantal and Jordie Grow Closer
While Percy is busy helping with funeral preparations, Chantal spends time working out of Jordie’s office.
Jordie encourages her to step away from work for a while and shows her around town. The two grab ice cream and begin opening up about their lives.
Chantal explains that getting engaged was never the most important thing to her. What matters is that she has accomplished every milestone she set for herself.
Jordie shares his own disappointment. He once believed he would become a professional basketball player, but an injury ended that dream. Now he is back in the small town he promised himself he would leave behind, running the family business he never intended to inherit.
Old Memories Come Back
While driving back to the tavern, Sam and Percy discover an old CD they made years earlier. Before long, they are singing along together, slipping back into the easy rhythm they once shared.
Back at the tavern, they accidentally interrupt Charlie and Delilah, who have started hooking up exactly as Chantal predicted.
Later, one of Delilah’s errands sends Percy to the Florek house, where she runs into Taylor.
Taylor is sorting through Sue’s belongings and dividing them into piles to keep, donate, or throw away. She mentions a particular box that Sam can never seem to make up his mind about. Every time she labels it for donation, he moves it back into the keep pile. Inside are the DVDs that Sam and Percy used to watch together during their summers at the lake.
The conversation triggers another memory. During one movie night years earlier, Percy got her first period. Sue immediately stepped in to help, comforting her and making sure she felt safe.
By the end of that summer, Percy and Sam had fully repaired their friendship and were closer than ever.
The Engagement Ring
Elsewhere in town, Jordie notices how often Delilah has been spending time at the tavern.
When he questions her about it, she insists she is only helping with preparations for the memorial. Jordie is not entirely convinced. He tells her that whatever she is going through, Charlie Florek is probably not the answer.
As the day continues, Percy returns to Sam’s room to collect photo albums for the memorial. While searching, she discovers a small ring box hidden behind them.
Inside is an engagement ring. The discovery hits her hard.
Upset and overwhelmed, Percy calls her mother. Her mother reminds her that she had planned to come to Barry’s Bay only for the funeral itself and questions why she arrived so many days early.
She also makes it clear how she feels about the town and the Florek brothers. In her view, both are part of a painful chapter Percy should leave behind. She urges her daughter to leave Barry’s Bay and come home.
After the call ends, another piece of Percy’s family life comes into focus. Her parents are divorced, and her mother is now married to a woman.
A knock suddenly comes at the door. Percy opens it to find Sam standing there.
The episode ends before either of them says a word.
Episode 3 Recap
The episode continues moving between the present day and the summer of 2013, the year when Percy, Sam, Charlie, and Delilah began to look less like children and more like the adults they were becoming.
During that summer, Percy is still writing stories while spending most of her days swimming, watching movies, and hanging out with Sam and Delilah. Delilah notices that Sam has changed over the past year and tells Percy it is finally time to act on the feelings she clearly has for him.
At the same time, Charlie has a similar conversation with Sam. He points out that Percy has grown up and suggests that maybe Sam should stop seeing her as just a friend. Charlie also admits he has noticed how much Delilah has changed.
Sam and Percy Grow Closer Again
In the present, Sam and Percy continue working on Sue’s obituary together.
Sam
asked her to write it the night before at the motel. Taylor has temporarily left town but plans to return for the funeral.
Although Percy tries not to show it, she admits to Chantal that Taylor intimidates her. After all, Taylor is a successful pediatric surgeon, and Percy cannot help comparing herself to her.
Meanwhile, Charlie is surprised to learn that Sam eventually asked Percy to write the obituary. Sam brushes it off by pointing out that writing obituaries is literally Percy’s job.
Charlie warns him to be careful. He reminds Sam that he has built a life with Taylor and that some things are better left in the past. Sam insists there is nothing to worry about. He and Percy ended years ago, and he is happy with Taylor.
Percy later drives Chantal home. Chantal is preparing to return to her job and her fiancé, while Percy continues avoiding calls from her mother. During their conversation, Percy admits she knows she and Sam cannot be together.
Their plans change when Chantal discovers her passport expired the day before. Percy suggests Charlie might be able to help because of his professional connections.
Charlie and Chantal’s Road Trip
While Percy is dealing with funeral preparations, Delilah pulls Charlie aside and tells him they need to end whatever is happening between them.
Charlie responds with his usual charm and quickly talks her into reconsidering. He admits he has thought about her over the years, and the two are getting close again when Chantal interrupts to ask Charlie for help with her passport situation.
The two head off together toward the consulate.
During the drive, Chantal gets a clearer picture of who Charlie is. He openly admits that he tends to put himself first and believes being selfish is part of what helped him become successful.
Unfortunately, the trip hits a snag when Charlie’s truck breaks down on the side of the road.
The truck belonged to Sue, and as Charlie tries to diagnose the problem, the conversation shifts to his complicated relationship with his mother. He remembers how Sue always preferred fixing old things rather than replacing them. For Sue, repairing something built character. For Charlie, life was already difficult enough without making things harder.
But standing there beside the broken truck, Charlie realizes he is doing exactly what his mother would have wanted. Instead of taking the easy way out, he decides he is going to fix it himself as a way to prove himself. Chantall decides to wait because she understands it’s a way of grieving for Charlie.
Summer 2013
Back in 2013, a storm knocked out the power while Percy was home alone watching a horror movie.
Scared, she heads to the Florek house. Since there are no spare beds available, Percy and Sam end up sharing Charlie’s room for the night. Lying awake together, they admit neither of them has slept with anyone before.
The conversation is awkward but honest. Sam reaches toward Percy’s hair at one point but loses confidence and turns away.
The next morning is different. Sam wakes before Percy and quietly watches her sleep. This time, he gently touches her hair and face.
Nothing happens between them, as they get into the kitchen, Charlie is already getting breakfast, misreading the situation completely, Charlie assumes they have become friends with benefits. Sam immediately shuts the idea down and insists that Percy is just his friend.
Trying to explain himself, Sam only makes things worse. He says Percy is not someone he would ever think about dating.
Charlie notices the look on Percy’s face immediately.
So does Sam. Percy hides her hurt and leaves the room, while Sam realizes he has just deeply embarrassed her.
The Bonfire
Back in the present, Sam and Percy go swimming together, recreating one of the routines they shared growing up. Eventually Percy heads back, saying Chantal may need help with the passport situation.
Later that evening, the story returns to the end-of-summer bonfire in 2013.
Before the party, Delilah tries to convince Percy that Sam probably only said those things because Charlie put him on the spot. Percy is not convinced.
At the bonfire, Delilah meets Jordie for the first time and is immediately impressed. Jordie, meanwhile, already knows exactly who Percy is because Sam has told him stories about her, including the fact that she once ate fourteen pierogies.
While Jordie means no harm, the comment only reinforces Percy’s fear that Sam sees her as nothing more than a friend.
Delilah’s attention quickly shifts back to Charlie, only to discover he has already arrived with another girl.
The bonfire itself becomes increasingly awkward. Couples pair off around them while Percy and Sam remain stuck in an uncomfortable middle ground.
Sam apologizes for telling Jordie the pierogi story and compliments Percy when he notices she is wearing lipstick. But moments later, Percy learns Sam recently took another girl to the spring formal.
Feeling hurt, she grabs another beer and impulsively kisses the boy handing them out.
A Near Kiss in the Present
Back in the present, Percy and Sam spend time together at the tavern making pierogies.
As they work side by side, old memories keep surfacing. One moment in particular takes Percy back to the day after the bonfire.
In that memory, Sam admits the previous night was not how he wanted the summer to end. He asks if the boy at the bonfire was her first kiss.
Percy lies and says no. Sam then admits something of his own. Seeing her kiss someone else made him jealous.
What scares him is not the jealousy itself but the possibility of losing what they already have. He tells Percy that being with her feels different. She makes him feel safe, and their friendship means too much to risk.
Percy agrees. She does not want to lose him either. The two decide to remain friends rather than turn their relationship into something more.
In the present, however, those old feelings have clearly returned.
As Sam ties Percy’s apron and the two move closer together, it looks like they are finally about to kiss.
Before they can, Delilah walks in and immediately realizes she has interrupted something.
Embarrassed, Percy leaves to look for Chantal. Before going, she apologizes to Sam. The apology is not just about leaving the tavern. It is also about everything that happened between them years ago.
After Percy leaves, Sam admits something to Delilah.
When he is with Percy, he does not think about Taylor at all.
Later, as Percy returns to the motel, Sue’s estate lawyer arrives looking for her.
He informs Percy that Sue included her in the will and that she needs to attend the reading the following day.
When Percy asks for an explanation, the lawyer simply tells her everything will become clear tomorrow.
The episode ends with Percy left wondering why Sue included her in the will at all.
Episode 4 Recap
The day of Sue’s will reading arrives, and Percy has no intention of attending. The last thing she wants is another uncomfortable encounter with Sam.
Chantal refuses to let her back out. She reminds Percy that coming to Barry’s Bay was never just about the funeral. She came because of Sam, and avoiding him now will not solve anything. Chantal decides to accompany her.
When Percy and Chantal arrive, both Sam and Charlie are surprised to see them. The surprise grows when Chantal introduces herself not as Percy’s friend, but as her lawyer.
The reading quickly takes an unexpected turn. Sue divided most of her estate equally between Sam and Charlie. The exception is the family tavern, which she leaves entirely to Percy.
Neither Sam nor Charlie can believe what they are hearing.
Percy immediately tells them she does not want the tavern, but neither brother stays long enough to discuss it. Both storm out, furious.
Summer 2014
The flashbacks move to the summer of 2014.
Sam and Percy have settled into a routine. They run together, share their annual “three things” updates, and spend long days swimming at the lake.
One afternoon, while lying in the sun, Percy admits she hates running but appreciates that it helps clear her mind when she gets stuck writing. She then reveals a goal she has been thinking about for a long time.
She wants to swim across the entire lake.
To Percy, it feels impossible, which is exactly why she wants to do it. Sam immediately offers to help her train.
A montage follows as Percy spends the summer preparing. She writes every day, practices longer swims, and gradually builds up her endurance while Sam stays beside her in a rowboat. Eventually, she completes her latest story and allows Sam to read it before attempting the swim.
With her parents, Sue, and Charlie cheering her on, Percy successfully makes it across the lake.
Delilah Wants the Tavern
Back in the present, Percy and Chantal try to make sense of Sue’s decision.
They wonder why Sue changed the will in 2021, especially considering everything that happened between Percy and the Floreks.
While discussing it at a bar, Delilah joins them. She congratulates Percy on becoming the tavern’s new owner. Chantal is surprised that news has already spread throughout town.
It does not take long for Delilah to reveal why she came. She wants to buy the tavern.
Delilah already has plans for the property. She talks about exclusivity, memberships, and transforming the place into something more upscale.
Percy immediately dislikes the idea. To her, the tavern has always been a place for everyone. Turning it into a private club would destroy what made it special.
Delilah also shares another piece of news. Percy’s old family property is not simply being demolished. Developers plan to replace it with a modern luxury home, erasing the cabins and simple lake houses that once stood there.
The information hits Percy hard.
A Night at the Old House
Later, Percy, Chantal, and Delilah sneak into Percy’s old family home.
Inside, they discover that some of Percy’s belongings still remain.
A few drinks loosen everyone’s guard, and the three women begin opening up.
Percy admits she still does not know what would have happened between her and Sam if Delilah had not interrupted them the previous day. She confesses that she has never truly fallen in love with anyone since Sam. Instead, she spent years moving from one casual relationship to another. Now she is questioning whether she is still in love with him or simply in love with the memory of what they had.
Delilah reveals problems in her own life.
Her husband has not come to the lake all summer. The two agreed to spend the season apart to figure out what they want, but instead of clarity, she feels miserable. She admits that part of the reason she wanted the tavern so badly was that she needed something that belonged solely to her, something separate from her marriage.
Chantal makes a confession of her own. She is afraid of getting married. Work has always been her priority, and she worries that marriage could interfere with the life she has built.
Percy reassures her that fear is normal and does not necessarily mean she is making the wrong choice.
While exploring the house, Percy also finds some of the stories she wrote as a teenager. Reading them again, she realizes how much confidence she once had as a writer.
Charlie and Sam Confront the Past
At the tavern, Sam and Charlie finally begin talking honestly.
The brothers reminisce about all the years they spent there and the memories connected to the place.
As the conversation continues, Charlie admits that Sue was not always the mother Sam remembers.
After their father died, Sue struggled deeply. Charlie remembers days when she barely got out of the house and periods when she seemed lost and overwhelmed. Sam never saw most of it because Charlie deliberately shielded him from those realities.
While Sam was younger, Charlie handled grocery shopping and many of the responsibilities around the house.
He believed it was his job to protect his little brother.
Eventually Sue recovered, but Charlie still carries resentment from those difficult years. Sam, meanwhile, finally understands how much Charlie sacrificed for him and tells him what a good brother he has been.
Percy and Sam Become a Couple
The flashbacks continue through the summer of 2014.
After successfully swimming across the lake, Percy jokingly tells Sam how pretty he is when she becomes exhausted.
Later, while Sam reads her writing, Percy again comments on how handsome he looks when he is concentrating.
Their flirting becomes impossible to ignore. As they talk, Sam begins listing things he has learned about Percy. His hand slowly moves along her body until Percy finally kisses him.
The two officially become a couple.
Not long afterward, Sue sits them down for a serious conversation. She is happy for them but reminds them that both of them have big dreams. Falling in love should never come at the expense of those dreams.
She makes them promise not to forget what they want from life.
The advice clearly affects Sam.
As summer comes to an end, he tells Percy she is the best thing that has ever happened to him. But despite how much he loves her, he is worried about what comes next.
Junior year is approaching. He has a hospital internship ahead of him, while Percy has a writing seminar and needs to focus on earning a scholarship.
Convinced that their futures will pull them in different directions, Sam breaks up with her.
He admits he does not want to be with her right now, but he also struggles with the thought of her being with someone else.
Percy is devastated.
Sam and Percy Finally Talk
Back in the present, the police arrive at the old house and force Percy, Chantal, and Delilah to run.
Unlike the others, Percy gets caught and arrested for trespassing.
Sam is the one who comes to bail her out.
Although she thanks him, Percy immediately confronts him about his behavior.
She tells him she is tired of the mixed signals. Showing up at the police station. Swimming together. Making pierogies. Acting like there is still something between them.
Percy admits she no longer knows where she stands with him.
The situation is confusing, painful, and unfair. Not just to her, but to Taylor as well.
Sam finally gives her an answer.
Seeing Percy again brought back feelings he thought were long gone. He became confused and allowed himself to get carried away.
Then he apologizes. He promises it will not happen again.
A New Chapter
Later, Percy enters the tavern using her new keys as its legal owner.
Feeling overwhelmed, she calls her father and tells him everything that has happened.
Her father surprises her with a different perspective.
Maybe the tavern is exactly the fresh start she needs.
He also reveals that Sue called him the day Percy’s first byline appeared in The Seattle Times because she was so proud of her, close to when she changed the will. She was afraid that becoming a journalist would make her stop writing her stories.
According to him, Barry’s Bay was the only place where Percy ever seemed truly inspired. When she left, she did not just lose Sam. She lost a part of herself.
Percy realizes he is right. After leaving the lake, she struggled to write the way she once had.
She admits that Barry’s Bay is still the place where she feels most like herself.
Her father reminds her that after the funeral, both Sam and Charlie will eventually leave, but she does not have to. She can stay if she wants to.
He also repeats one of Sue’s favorite sayings from the summer Percy trained to cross the lake.
The only way to the other side is through.
Meanwhile, Sam tells Charlie that perhaps their mother believed leaving the tavern to Percy would help her in some way.
Even so, he admits that having Percy back in Barry’s Bay has been difficult for him.
Charlie has a solution. They are going to contest the will.
Sam agrees. Right now, Charlie is the only person he fully trusts, just as he always has.
Episode 5 Recap
The episode opens with Sam waking from a dream. In it, he finds Percy inside the tavern. When he tells her to stop sneaking in, she reminds him that she owns the place now. She asks him to taste a sauce she is making, and just as they kiss, Sam wakes up.
The dream leaves little doubt about where his thoughts are.
Later, Sam shows Jordie the engagement ring Percy discovered earlier. He reveals that he plans to propose to Taylor that very day. While the timing may seem strange during the week of his mother’s funeral, Sam insists Sue would have wanted people celebrating life.
Jordie is not convinced. He questions both the timing and Sam’s certainty, especially now that Percy is back in Barry’s Bay and clearly not leaving anytime soon.
Sam brushes off the concern. He reminds Jordie that he and Charlie are contesting Sue’s will and that he is moving forward with Taylor, who he describes as the perfect person for him.
Charlie is fully on board with the proposal. He jokes that if someone is going to carry on the Florek name, it certainly will not be him. Shortly afterward, he heads to see a lawyer in hopes of finding a way to stop Percy from inheriting the tavern.
New Year’s Eve 2014
The flashbacks move to New Year’s Eve 2014.
Percy and Delilah return to Barry’s Bay with a plan. Percy has brought Delilah’s cousin Mason with her, hoping to make Sam jealous and show him exactly what he lost.
Charlie immediately sees through the strategy. Now living in Toronto and focused on building his career, Charlie tells Percy that Sue practically had to force Sam to attend the party. According to Sue, Sam barely left his room during the fall after their breakup.
When Sam arrives and sees Percy, he is immediately caught off guard. Things only get worse when he meets Mason.
Throughout the evening, Sam struggles to hide his jealousy. He watches Percy dance and flirt with Mason, constantly paying attention to what they are doing.
Eventually, he inserts himself into one of their conversations. When Mason admits he knows very little about Percy’s writing, Sam immediately begins talking about her stories, her interests, and her favorite movies, highlighting just how well he still knows her.
Later, Percy pulls Sam aside and tells him to stop. Sam finally admits the truth. He realizes he made a terrible mistake. He ended their relationship without giving either of them a chance to figure things out together. Instead, he decided on his own that Percy would stand in the way of his future.
When he tries to kiss her, Percy stops him. She reminds him that he does not get to break her heart and then come back when it suits him.
As far as she is concerned, they are over.
Meanwhile, Charlie spends much of the evening flirting with Delilah. At one point, however, Delilah sees him leave with another woman.
Jordie arrives shortly before midnight. During the countdown, he and Delilah share an awkward first kiss that quickly turns into something more genuine.
Back inside, Percy kisses Mason.
Percy Decides She Wants the Tavern
Back in the present, Percy tells Chantal she is seriously considering keeping the tavern rather than selling it.
Chantal encourages her. The tavern was Sue’s decision, not Percy’s fault, and she should not feel guilty for inheriting it.
The conversation shifts when they run into Jordie. Chantal immediately notices something is bothering him. Her lawyer instincts quickly kick in, and before long she figures out exactly what is happening.
Sam is planning to propose to Taylor. Even more telling, Jordie clearly does not support the decision.
The revelation leaves Percy shaken.
Summer 2015
The story shifts to the summer of 2015.
When Percy returns to Barry’s Bay, Sam is not there to greet her. It turns out he did not even know when she was arriving.
Soon afterward, Sam apologizes for what happened on New Year’s Eve. He admits he was jealous and confesses that he misses talking to her.
He hopes they can all spend the summer together: Percy, Mason, himself, and his new girlfriend.
What Sam does not know is that Percy and Mason have already broken up.
Back in the present, Drew arrives unexpectedly at the motel, surprising Chantal. Unfortunately, he arrives sick after a fishing trip.
Delilah is not particularly sympathetic. She points out that Drew behaves like a child despite being kind and loving.
Meanwhile, Percy learns that Jake, Drew’s cousin, is also in Barry’s Bay. Given everything happening with Sam, she immediately sees Jake as a useful distraction.
Old Feelings Refuse to Stay Buried
Back in 2015, Percy starts working as a waitress at the tavern. Part of the reason is simple: she wants Sam to see her every day.
At the tavern she discovers that Sam’s girlfriend is Lake, a girl who had spent the whole school year pursuing him before they finally got together.
She also reconnects with Jordie, who appears interested in Delilah.
A montage follows as Sam and Percy slowly fall back into old habits. They work together, wash dishes, laugh, and spend time side by side. For a while it feels as though they have found their friendship again.
Then Lake appears and reminds Percy that nothing is as simple as it once was.
In the present, Taylor returns to Barry’s Bay.
She wonders aloud whether Sue left Percy the tavern because she wanted Percy and Sam to find their way back to each other.
Sam immediately shuts the idea down. Whatever existed between him and Percy belongs in the past. Taylor is his future.
Charlie and Delilah Reach a Breaking Point
Charlie’s meeting with the lawyer brings bad news. There is no realistic way to contest Sue’s will.
Frustrated, Charlie continues looking for alternatives, while Delilah decides she will negotiate directly with Percy if she truly wants the tavern.
When Delilah questions why Charlie is fighting so hard over a property they planned to sell anyway, Charlie admits it is not really about the money.
He simply does not believe Percy deserves it. Their conversation soon turns personal.
Delilah reveals that her marriage is officially over. The tavern was supposed to be her independent project, something she could build for herself.
Charlie makes it clear that he is still not interested in a serious relationship.
That answer finally pushes Delilah away.
She tells him that he was never anything more than a temporary distraction, a bandage over a wound. Nobody goes to Charlie Florek looking for commitment.
The comment stings, even if Charlie knows there is some truth in it.
Secrets Come Out
Elsewhere, Jordie runs into Chantal. She admits she has no patience for Drew’s constant need for attention and worries that Percy is coping with her feelings for Sam by making out with Jake.
When Jake jokingly asks how many guys have experienced the secluded spot where he and Percy have been spending time together, Percy immediately thinks of Sam.
The realization stops her cold. She tells Jake she cannot keep doing this, and the two head back to town.
She then visits Delilah and finally opens up. She confesses that she returned to Barry’s Bay expecting the good memories to remain and the painful ones to be gone. Instead, she has found the opposite.
Even trying to move on with other men is not working.
For the first time in years, Percy and Delilah begin rebuilding their friendship. Percy apologizes for the way things ended between them.
Their conversation is interrupted when Charlie arrives.
Without realizing Percy is nearby, he points out that he kept the tavern afloat and even helped pay for Sam’s medical school, Percy comes out when she finds Delilah was sleeping with Charlie.
Then Charlie says something that changes everything. If he could go back and change one thing from ten years ago, he would.
Before he can explain further, Percy steps in and stops the conversation.
Privately, Charlie lashes out at her.
He reminds her that they agreed never to tell anyone what happened. He blames her return for complicating everything and insists he never asked Sue to leave her the tavern.
Then he goes even further. Charlie tells Percy that if Sue had known the truth, she never would have left her the tavern. He also warns that Sam can never find out.
Although Charlie agrees to keep the secret, he admits he wishes Percy had never answered Sue’s call and never returned to Barry’s Bay.
Sam Makes a Decision
That evening, Sam prepares for his proposal.
As he gets ready for a romantic dinner, Taylor gently acknowledges the obvious. Losing his mother and seeing Percy again must have stirred up a lot of emotions.
Her comment triggers a flood of memories from every summer Sam and Percy spent together.
By the time the dinner reaches its most important moment, Sam cannot go through with it.
Instead of proposing, he breaks up with Taylor.
At the motel, Drew apologizes to Chantal for getting sick. He admits he assumed she would naturally take care of him.
Chantal responds with surprising honesty. She does not want to spend her life managing everyone else’s needs. Sometimes she wants someone who already understands what she needs without being told. Drew listens, but the conversation leaves them both with difficult questions.
Shortly afterward, Jordie arrives with supplies. He brings soup and Gatorade for Drew and ice cream for Delilah after remembering her favorite flavor, and she is touched by the gesture.
A Second Chance
Charlie later finds Delilah and apologizes.
For the first time, he admits he does not want to be the same person forever. With his mother gone and Sam moving toward a new chapter, he is beginning to think it might be time for him to change too.
He asks if they can try again. Delilah refuses.
Most of her life she would have jumped at the chance, but not anymore. They both need to figure out who they are on their own.
The episode ends by bringing the past and present together.
In 2015, Sam finds Percy sitting at her favorite hidden spot by the lake.
In the present, he finds her there again.
The two conversations unfold almost identically.
In the past, Percy reveals she and Mason broke up. Sam admits Lake accused him of having feelings for Percy before ending their relationship.
In the present, Sam tells Percy he never proposed to Taylor. Instead, he ended the relationship. He explains that he stood there with the ring in his pocket and realized he could not keep living a life that did not feel honest.
Then he asks the question he never stopped wondering about.
Is it possible to get a second chance?
Both timelines lead to the same answer. Percy kisses him.
In the present, Sam tells her he wants a real life with her, not a life built on pretending.
Before he can say anything else, Percy stops him.
There is something she needs to tell him.
The episode ends before she reveals what it is.
Episode 6 Recap
The episode picks up immediately after Percy’s confession.
She finally tells Sam the secret she has been carrying for ten years: after he broke up with her, she slept with Charlie.
Percy makes it clear it happened only once, that it was a terrible mistake, and that she has regretted it ever since. She tells Sam she loved him then and still feels heartbroken over what happened.
Sam is stunned. More than anything, he is hurt that the betrayal came from Percy. He admits he might have expected something like that from Charlie, but never from her. Unable to process what he has just heard, he pulls away and leaves.
Summer 2015
The flashbacks continue in the summer of 2015, when Sam and Percy have gotten back together.
Their relationship is stronger than ever, but while Sam is ready to take the next step physically, Percy asks for more time. Sam immediately reassures her that she can move at whatever pace feels right.
A montage follows as they spend the summer together, kissing, working at the tavern, and enjoying being a couple again. Eventually, Percy tells him she is ready.
Back in the present, Percy sends Charlie a message telling him that Sam knows everything.
Before she can process what comes next, she receives an urgent phone call.
Sam and Charlie’s Relationship Falls Apart
At the Florek house, Charlie tries to talk to Sam. Sam wants nothing to do with him.
Charlie begs him to yell, hit him, or do something, but Sam remains cold. He tells Charlie he is not surprised by what happened. In Sam’s eyes, Charlie has always found a way to poison everything around him.
Then Sam delivers the harshest blow yet. They will get through their mother’s funeral. They will get through the rest of their obligations. After that, he wants Charlie out of his life.
Meanwhile, Percy rushes to help Delilah. Movers have arrived at Delilah’s house and are packing up her belongings. Delilah needs to vacate the property before her husband arrives.
When Delilah notices Percy has clearly been crying, Percy blames it on allergies. The two decide to call Chantal for help.
At the time, Chantal is out fishing with Jordie. Before ending the call, she tells them one thing very clearly.
Do not leave the house.
Delilah’s Marriage Falls Apart
The story briefly returns to the summer of 2015.
Percy tells Sam that her parents are leaving town for a few days and that she is finally ready to take the next step in their relationship.
Before she can enjoy the moment, Delilah unexpectedly arrives early. Something is clearly wrong.
When Percy excitedly shares her plans with Sam, Delilah barely reacts. Her mind is somewhere else entirely.
Back in the present, Delilah’s husband never arrives. Instead, his assistant Barney shows up.
He informs Delilah that her prenuptial agreement contains an adultery clause. He then presents photographs showing her relationship with Charlie.
Unless she leaves immediately, she risks losing everything. Percy encourages her to leave and protect herself financially.
As Delilah packs, she bitterly remarks that this is yet another problem she can blame on Charlie Florek.
Elsewhere, Charlie receives a call from the funeral home. Sam never picked up Sue’s ashes.
Charlie collects them himself, all while repeatedly trying to call Sam, who refuses to answer.
Chantal and Jordie Grow Closer
While fishing together, Chantal and Jordie continue growing closer. Jordie helps her after she catches a fish, and the two share a quiet moment together.
Their conversation is interrupted when Charlie calls Jordie, desperately trying to locate Sam.
During the call, Charlie reveals that Sam ended things with Taylor. Jordie immediately senses that Charlie is connected to whatever happened.
Delilah’s Secret in 2015
Back in 2015, Charlie casually tells Percy and Sam about another one of his latest romantic conquests before encouraging the couple to spend time alone.
Percy heads home to change. Delilah is desperate to talk to her, but Percy is completely focused on Sam and the night ahead. Even when Delilah hints that something serious is wrong, Percy barely notices.
Eventually Delilah reveals that Miles broke up with her. Before she can explain further, Percy changes the subject and continues talking about Sam.
After Percy leaves, the reason for Delilah’s distress finally becomes clear. She pulls a pregnancy test from her bag.
The Search for Sam
Back in the present, Delilah finishes loading her belongings into her car.
Jordie arrives and immediately notices how emotional she is. For the first time, Delilah opens up completely. Jordie listens, supports her, and offers a shoulder to lean on.
Meanwhile, Jordie, Charlie, and Chantal continue searching for Sam.
During the drive, Jordie learns the full truth about Charlie and Percy sleeping together years ago. Charlie and Chantal both stress that it happened once, after Sam had already broken up with Percy.
Jordie keeps trying to call Sam without success. Eventually, he remembers where Sam used to disappear after Percy left Barry’s Bay years earlier. The group heads to the same bar where Sam spent months drinking after she ghosted him.
At the same time, Percy helps Delilah secure a room at the motel. It is one small way of trying to make up for how she failed her friend in the past.
Percy Learns the Truth
The flashbacks continue.
Sam has transformed his bedroom into a romantic setting, complete with rose petals scattered across the bed. Just as Percy and Sam are about to spend the evening together, Jordie bursts in and asks to speak with Percy alone.
He is furious. Jordie cannot believe Percy spent time with Delilah and failed to notice what was happening.
Percy initially reacts defensively, accusing him of ruining one of the most important nights of her life.
Then Jordie tells her the truth. Delilah is pregnant.
The news instantly changes everything. Realizing how badly she has failed her friend, Percy rushes home.
At first, Delilah does not want her there, but after Percy apologizes, she finally lets her in. The two reconcile and embrace, and Percy accompanies her to get the abortion.
Sam Spirals
In the present, the search finally leads everyone to Sam. Drunk and angry, he causes a scene at the bar.
He lashes out at Charlie and even turns his frustration toward Chantal, demanding to know whether she knew the truth.
A bartender steps in when Sam gets too close to Chantal. While trying to diffuse the situation, Jordie accidentally gets caught in the middle and ends up injured when a fight breaks out involving another patron.
The group eventually leaves the bar after Sam punches Charlie.
Later, while Chantal helps care for Jordie’s injury, the two share a moment that almost turns into a kiss before Charlie interrupts them.
Love, Regret, and Forgiveness
Later that night, Jordie checks on Delilah. Finding her asleep, he ends up talking with Percy instead.
He refuses to judge her for what happened years ago.
As far as Jordie is concerned, it is not his business. What he does tell her is that people who love each other can also hurt each other. Love is powerful enough to do both.
When Percy asks about Delilah, Jordie makes it clear that he intends to be there for her however she needs him.
Percy tells him Delilah is lucky to have someone like him in her corner. Jordie quietly returns the compliment.
Meanwhile, Chantal finally comes clean to Drew. She admits she almost kissed another man.
To her surprise, Drew does not react with anger. He points out that finding someone attractive is not the same thing as acting on it.
When he asks who it was, Chantal tells him it was Jordie. Drew then asks the question she has been avoiding.
Does she still want to get married? For the first time, Chantal admits she does not know. That uncertainty scares her because she is usually sure of everything.
Barry’s Bay has changed something inside her, whether she likes it or not.
The Past and Present Collide
The flashbacks return to the aftermath of Delilah’s pregnancy.
Late that night, Percy comes back after accompanying Delilah to an abortion clinic.
She is furious that Delilah’s boyfriend contributed so little support during the process. Sam comforts her and promises that if they ever face difficult moments together, things will be different.
That night, Percy and Sam finally sleep together for the first time.
Back in the present, Charlie helps Sam get home and puts him to bed. He leaves a bucket and water beside him before preparing to leave.
In a rare moment of honesty, Sam speaks up. Despite everything that happened, Charlie is still the only family he has left.
Charlie apologizes again for what he did. Before falling asleep, Sam admits one more thing.
He still loves Percy.
Episode 7 Recap
The episode opens with Charlie confronting Percy after learning she told Sam the truth.
He cannot understand why she broke their agreement to stay silent. Percy explains that she had no choice. Sam came to her after ending things with Taylor and started talking about second chances and a future together. She could not let him make those decisions without knowing the truth.
Charlie does not see it that way. He accuses Percy of creating collateral damage and tells her that if she truly loved Sam, she would get back in her car and return to Seattle immediately. In his eyes, she is being selfish.
Summer 2016
The flashbacks move to the summer of 2016.
For the first time, the iconic yellow speedboat finally appears as Percy, Sam, and Charlie enjoy what is supposed to be their last carefree summer together before college.
Charlie has restored their father’s boat, although the celebration is short-lived when the three end up stranded in the middle of the lake.
The future is rapidly approaching. Sam is preparing to leave for Stanford, while Percy will be attending college only a few miles away. They are determined to make the summer unforgettable.
Then Sam shares unexpected news. He was accepted into a prestigious summer intensive program that starts in just two weeks and will keep him away for the rest of the summer.
Percy is hurt that he knew since April and never told her.
Sam admits he dreaded the conversation. He promises they will make the most of the two weeks they have left, but Percy cannot shake the feeling that their goodbye feels more permanent than it should.
Percy Skips the Funeral
Back in the present, Percy decides not to attend Sue’s funeral.
Instead, she chooses to say goodbye privately.
Chantal refuses to let her carry all the blame for what happened with Charlie. She reminds Percy that Charlie made the same choice that night and has spent the last decade avoiding responsibility for his part in it.
Percy has lived with guilt and regret for ten years. Charlie, on the other hand, seems to have continued with his life.
Chantal encourages Percy to stop apologizing for everything, tell Charlie exactly how she feels, and then leave Barry’s Bay behind.
Later, Chantal checks in on Delilah and is surprised to find her doing much better than the previous day. Delilah insists she will be fine and jokes that she plans to get everything she deserves, just like one of her father’s ex-wives.
Meanwhile, Sam and Charlie continue drifting further apart.
While sorting through ties for the funeral, Sam tells Charlie he plans to spend the rest of his stay in Barry’s Bay at the motel.
Charlie argues that he should stay in the family home because he was the one who took care of their mother.
Sam immediately pushes back, reminding Charlie that while he was caring for Sue, Charlie was living his own life. Charlie has no response.
Sam Opens Up to Delilah
At the tavern, Sam talks honestly with Delilah.
He admits that for years he believed becoming a cardiologist was his way of honoring his father’s memory. He worked incredibly hard to leave Barry’s Bay behind.
Now he is beginning to question whether that was really the reason. Part of him wonders if caring for Sue became an excuse to avoid dealing with the rest of his life. Delilah listens and then points out something uncomfortable.
Ghosting people seems to be one of Sam’s habits.
She had a front-row seat to every breakup between him and Percy, and reminded him that Percy took them all hard.
Charlie and Percy Get Trapped
In the present, Percy finds Charlie working in the shed.
An accident leaves the two trapped inside a storage room that can only be opened from the outside.
What follows is the conversation both of them have avoided for ten years.
Charlie finally admits that the night they slept together was not Percy’s fault alone.
Percy tells him she spent a decade blaming herself, while Charlie never seemed willing to acknowledge his role. As the argument intensifies, she suffers a panic attack.
Charlie immediately shifts gears and helps her through it. Once she recovers, Percy explains that the panic attacks started after that summer. She spent years punishing herself for what happened.
Charlie apologizes for refusing to take responsibility.
Percy admits that after Sam broke her heart, she acted out. She kissed other guys, paraded boyfriends in front of him, and eventually slept with Charlie. She did it because she was hurt and insecure.
Charlie stops her before she can take all the blame. He still does not fully understand why he made that choice either, but he knows one thing for certain.
It was not all on Percy. He was there too.
Chantal, Jordie, and Delilah
Jordie encourages Chantal to do one last thing before leaving Barry’s Bay.
He wants her to experience something outside her carefully planned routine, so he convinces her to jump into the lake.
Not wanting to go alone, Chantal invites Delilah.
Neither woman is enthusiastic about the idea, but Jordie jumps in first and eventually persuades them to join him.
Once they are back on shore, however, Delilah’s cheerful attitude begins to crack. Later at the motel, she finally breaks down.
Jordie is there to comfort her, listen to her, and support her.
Watching their growing connection leaves Chantal unexpectedly jealous, especially because Jordie had recently asked her to have a drink with him.
Summer 2016 Falls Apart
Back in 2016, Percy and Sam attempt a long-distance relationship.
One night they try having a movie date over FaceTime, but Sam keeps getting distracted by his roommates.
The next day Percy spends time helping Charlie continue restoring the boat.
As the summer progresses, she notices Sam becoming increasingly distant. He misses calls, postpones conversations, and repeatedly says he is too busy to talk.
Charlie notices it too.
When Percy asks if Sam has mentioned anything, Charlie admits he has not. He simply points out that Sam tends to shut down when life becomes difficult.
Despite everything, Charlie and Percy finish restoring the boat together. By the end of the summer, Percy tells him she actually had a good time.
Then everything changes.
An email arrives from Sam. In it, he explains that he needs to focus on his future and can hear the disappointment in Percy’s voice whenever they speak. He believes ending the relationship entirely is the best option.
He breaks up with her over email. Devastated, Percy immediately calls him.
A different girl answers the phone. Percy lashes out, furious that he ended their relationship this way.
Heartbroken, she goes to Charlie.
Charlie tries to comfort her. Percy tells him that Sam stole her final summer before college. Charlie promises he will kick Sam’s ass when he gets home.
For the first time, Percy realizes how much Charlie helped her survive the summer. Without him, she would have spent months staring at her phone waiting for messages that never came.
She thanks him. Then she kisses him. Charlie kisses her back. The two sleep together.
The next morning Charlie leaves Barry’s Bay and does not return for years.
The Truth About the Panic Attacks
Back in the present, Percy and Charlie continue talking inside the shed.
Charlie admits that after everything happened, he buried himself in work. Supporting Sam financially became his way of making amends.
Percy reveals what happened on her side. After the fallout, her panic attacks became so severe that her parents sold their house and left Barry’s Bay entirely. At one point she started taking pills from her mother’s prescription because she desperately wanted the pain and anxiety to stop.
Her parents were terrified. They believed leaving the lake behind would solve the problem.
It did not. The panic never really disappeared because Percy never dealt with what happened.
Charlie tells her it is time to forgive herself. Percy struggles with the idea. How can she forgive herself when Sam never will? How can she move on when she still loves him?
No matter what happens, she admits she will always love Sam. The two share a hug.
At that exact moment, Sam opens the door. From his perspective, it looks like something entirely different.
Sam Destroys the Past
Elsewhere, Sam is searching through the basement when he discovers the old horror movie DVDs he and Percy used to watch together.
Instead of holding onto them, he throws them away. Still angry and hurting, he heads into the woods carrying a baseball bat. There he finds the bench where Charlie carved his name years ago. Sam destroys it.
Episode 8 Recap
The finale begins on the morning of Sue’s memorial. Sam is at the lake and has no intention of attending. Charlie finds him there and tries to talk things through. He insists that nothing happened between him and Percy the previous day and reminds Sam that he loves him.
Sam is not ready to listen. Instead, he shoves Charlie into the lake and tells him to attend the memorial alone and pick up their mother’s family.
Percy Prepares the Memorial
Back at the motel, Delilah has no interest in getting ready for the memorial. Instead, she is sitting in bed eating junk food.
While they talk, Percy apologizes for disappearing from Delilah’s life all those years ago. Delilah tells her she understands why she left, but wishes Percy had trusted her enough to stay.
Percy admits she was trapped by shame and guilt. She convinced herself she no longer deserved good things, including their friendship. Now, she is finally trying to change that.
Wanting to help, Percy tells Delilah to rest while she handles the preparations at the tavern.
The story briefly returns to the summer of 2016. The morning after Percy and Charlie slept together, Percy tells Sue she plans to leave Barry’s Bay and return to Seattle. Charlie has already left. When Percy explains that Sam broke up with her, Sue encourages her to stay.
Back in the present, Percy throws herself into preparing the tavern for the memorial.
Remembering Sue
While sorting through boxes, Percy discovers the pink tutu and crown Sue once wore during one of her spontaneous nights at the tavern.
The memory comes rushing back. One evening, Sue decided to make breakfast for dinner, cooking waffles, French toast, scrambled eggs, and whatever else she felt like making. She spent the night dancing, playing pool, and reminding everyone that sometimes being ridiculous is exactly what people need.
Sam arrives while Percy is setting things up and laughs when he sees what she is wearing. Percy explains that she is recreating that same evening because it was one of Sue’s favorites.
She also shares something Sam never knew. Despite making pierogies constantly, Sue actually hated eating them.
That was one of the stories Sue only ever told Percy. Sam asks Percy to stay for the memorial. It is obvious to him that Sue wanted her there.
The flashback continues as Sue opens up to Percy about her own struggles after Chris died. She admits she completely fell apart after losing her husband. One of her greatest regrets is how much Charlie had to carry during that period. Charlie struggled to trust people because the one person he needed most was unable to be there for him.
Although Sue eventually recovered, she never felt she fully repaired the damage. She tells Percy that grief leaves people with a choice. They can stay buried beneath it, or they can find a way back up.
Sue believes Percy is strong enough to do that. Until she believes it herself, Sue tells her to keep doing what helped her survive before. Dance like nobody is watching.
The two dance together, and in the present Percy hangs the same disco balls from that night around the tavern.
Sue’s Memorial
The memorial finally begins. Sam starts the speech by talking about how much his mother believed in true love. Sue met his father in high school and spent the rest of her life loving him.
As Sam becomes overwhelmed, both Charlie and Jordie step forward to support him.
Charlie then takes over. He admits that one of his strongest memories of his parents is watching them argue. Not because they were unhappy, but because Sue was passionate about everything. She loved deeply, fought fiercely, and gave everything she had to the people she cared about.
Charlie describes her as a fighter from beginning to end. At the reception afterward, Sam thanks Charlie for stepping in. For the first time, the brothers begin talking honestly again. Sam points out that they are both orphans now and that he no longer has much family left.
Elsewhere, Chantal starts dancing with Percy to lighten the mood. Delilah comforts Charlie and reminds him that he is not alone. The moment is sweet but uncomplicated. Nearby, Jordie watches from a distance before joining Chantal on the dance floor.
Later, Percy puts on a Dolly Parton song, the same one she danced to with Sue years earlier.
Charlie dances alone while Sam watches from across the room. Eventually, their eyes meet.
Percy and Sam Say Goodbye
Outside the tavern, Sam and Percy finally have the conversation they have been avoiding.
Sam asks why she came back to Barry’s Bay. Percy answers honestly: she loves him.
No matter what happened, no matter how unforgivable her mistake was, she never stopped loving him and never will.
As she speaks, the story flashes back to the summer of 2016. Sam returns and tells Percy that he loves her and wants a future together. But after everything that happened, Percy says goodbye and walks away.
Back in the present, Percy tells Sam they have always been terrible at goodbyes. This time, they deserve a proper one.
The conversation eventually leads them back to each other. They spend the night together in Sam’s car, admitting how much they missed one another. Afterward, as they sit together in the quiet, Sam finally tells Percy the truth.
He loved her. He wanted desperately to forgive her. But he does not think he can, Percy already knows.
The next morning, Percy and Chantal leave Barry’s Bay. Percy came back to do what she needed to do. Now she is saying goodbye.
Life Moves Forward
Back in Seattle, Percy slowly begins rebuilding her life.
She starts writing again. She attends a Halloween party with Chantal and Delilah, where Delilah ends up making out with a woman she meets there.
The seasons pass. By Christmas, Sam is pursuing cardiology. By spring, Percy is thriving creatively and writing stories again, getting them published, including one inspired by Persephone and her own life.
One day, a letter arrives from Sam. Inside are the keys to the tavern.
The gesture brings back a flood of memories from all those summers in Barry’s Bay. The tavern remains in Percy’s name, but she and Delilah renovate it together.
Percy has also found a publisher for her book and feels more inspired than she has in years.
When Delilah asks whether she has heard from Sam, Percy admits she has not. Sam knows about the tavern’s reopening through Jordie, but they still have not spoken.
Delilah is also worried about Charlie. Since Sam never reached out after the funeral, Charlie has buried himself in work.
As for Delilah’s own future, she makes it clear she is not interested in rekindling anything romantic with Charlie. She wants someone who appreciates her for who she is.
A New Beginning
Chantal eventually returns to Barry’s Bay as well. She and Jordie have hooked up a few times, but she refuses to put a label on whatever they are.
For someone who normally needs certainty, learning to live with ambiguity is new territory. Barry’s Bay has changed her.
It seems to have that effect on everyone. Meanwhile, Charlie is working late on a Saturday when he notices a framed photograph in his boss’s office. The picture shows Charlie, Sam, and Percy on the yellow speedboat years earlier. His boss explains that his wife bought the photograph from an art gallery in British Columbia.
Staring at the image, Charlie is suddenly overwhelmed by memories of home.
Back in Barry’s Bay, the tavern has reopened. The renovation modernized the space, but not too much. The pool table remains. The jukebox is still there. It is still recognizably the tavern everyone loved, but a little more sophisticated.
Jordie finally tells Chantal that he is tired of keeping things undefined. He wants something real. Chantal says yes. For once, Jordie is not asking her to become someone different. He simply wants her to be herself. As Delilah watches them kiss, she looks hurt.
Coming Home
Late one evening after closing, Percy is washing dishes at the tavern while Dolly Parton plays on the jukebox.
A familiar voice says her name. She turns around, Sam is standing there.
Just like their reunion earlier in the season, Percy says his name back. Sam smiles. Percy smiles too. She tells him he came home.
In Toronto, Charlie continues staring at the photograph in his boss’s office long after everyone else has left.
Then a sharp pain shoots through his arm. He collapses to the floor and struggles to breathe.
The final image of the season lingers on the photograph of Charlie, Sam, and Percy together on the yellow speedboat, putting at the center for the next season.
The Poster
FAQ
- How many episodes are in Every Year After? The first season consists of eight episodes.
- Is Every Year After based on a book? Yes. The series is adapted from the novel Every Summer After by Carley Fortune.
- Who does Percy end up with in Every Year After? The season ends with Sam returning to the tavern and reconnecting with Percy after a long period apart.
Key Details
- Series: Every Year After
- Release Date: June 2026
- Episodes: 8
- Author: Carley Fortune
- Showrunner: Amy B. Harris
- Executive Producers: Amy B. Harris, Carley Fortune, Lindsey Liberatore, Amy Rardin, John Stephens, Grace Gilroy
- Studio: Prime Video
- Source Material: Every Year After by Carley Fortune
- Cast: Sadie Soverall, Matt Cornett, Aurora Perrineau, Abigail Cowen, Michael Bradway, Joseph Chiu, Elisha Cuthbert
- Filming Location: Barry’s Bay setting featured in the series (specific filming locations not confirmed)