The Last Thing He Told Me creators reveal the truth behind Owen's last words to Hannah

In the final scene of The Last Thing He Told Me, a bearded man shows up at an art gallery where Hannah Hall is working. That man is Owen Michaels with a changed appearance, but unmistakably him.

As he brushes her hand and starts to walk away, he leans close and quietly says:

“The could-have-been boys still love you.”

Then he vanishes. The brief moment leaves Hannah (and the audience) stunned, with more questions than closure.

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The Last Thing He Told Me: What those words really mean as creators explain

The phrase “could-have-been boys” goes back to an earlier scene in The Last Thing He Told Me. Hannah and Owen shared a flashback where they talked about people from Hannah’s past- ex-boyfriends, men who once had a chance. They called them “could-have-been boys.”

For the original book author, Laura Dave, and the show’s screenwriter, Josh Singer, this callback was intentional. What Owen whispers isn’t random. It’s a reference to that old conversation.

Basically, Owen is telling Hannah,

“I was once one of those ‘could-have-been’ guys. I love you.”

But more than that, he’s giving her permission to move on. He’s saying those old men, the ones who might have been her future before him. They still exist, they still care. He’s letting her know she doesn’t have to stay stuck waiting for him.

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Why this ending feels bittersweet, not heroic

On the surface, Owen’s whisper might seem romantic, like a final declaration of love. But dig a little, it’s more like a farewell, a gentle nudge toward letting go. Instead of dramatic reunions or grand gestures, The Last Thing He Told Me offers quiet sacrifice. Owen chooses distance. He leaves Hannah with a memory, not a future. It hurts. But it also gives Hannah and her stepdaughter Bailey a chance at a safer, stable life.

That makes the ending complicated. Hope and heartbreak exist side by side. You understand why he did what he did, but you still ache for what might have been.

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What the creators wanted and what the show wanted us to feel

According to Laura Dave, the story of The Last Thing He Told Me wasn’t just about Owen and Hannah. It's also a story about family and what we are willing to sacrifice for those we love most.

The final act isn’t a typical thriller ending. There are no car chases, no final shoot-outs. There is just a quiet encounter, a whispered line, and then life moves on. That choice speaks to a deeper emotional truth: sometimes love isn’t about staying together. Sometimes it’s about letting go so someone else can live safely.

When Hannah’s stepdaughter Bailey calls her “Mom” in the final moments, it signals that despite everything, life goes on; maybe not the life Hannah thought she’d have, but a life she can build.

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Why fans are still debating it and why it works as a finale

Some The Last Thing He Told Me fans feel cheated. They wanted closure. A big ending. Maybe a reunion. Instead, they got uncertainty. The goodbye is rough. It feels unfinished.

But maybe that’s the point. Real life rarely gives neat endings. The final line gives both heartbreak and possibility. It leaves room for imagination, for healing, for what could come next.

In a landscape full of dramatic wrap-ups, this subdued, emotional farewell stands out. It’s messy, soft, and something that stays with you.