Miss You After Goodbye

starring: HALEY LOHRLI & BEN TAYLOR

REVIEW

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Oh this one starts so well, with an excellent role reversal of a story we have seen a lot.

The first 2/3 really works because the script keeps the characters from straying too far into the outrageous.

@mauralefevre as the sister/mate who is so hyped on supporting Haley she goes too far in trashing Neil

@josh_welles as weak Simon, who takes advantage where he can, never really committing to Keira, but stringing her along and enjoying the ego boost

And this is made by the central performances.

@haleylohrli has the impossible task of making spoilt, self centered princess Keira someone we root for - and she manages it. I had hope throughout Keira might make better choices. And felt sorry for her, that the men in her life enabled her behaviour rather than calling her out on it, from Dad not raising her right, Simon toying and Neil doing far too much. Amazing performance, total lack of vanity and bravo 👏

But this is all about @bentaylor_757 or the Tom Hanks of verts as I am now calling him. No one better at playing the everyman, the identifiable connection. He is extraordinary in this. Somehow Neil is never a victim, just the picture of restraint and disappointment in Kiera. Thank goodness we don't have many inner monologue voice overs, you don't need them when you have an actor of this caliber and know everything he is thinking from his face. He broke my heart with that single tear.

Then he is resolute strength once he makes his mind up to leave, manages to make the astronaut suit look good, and quiet exasperation when dealing with Keira.

He is so good and I can't think of anyone else who would have been able to pull off this role.

Why 4 stars? Well it all falls away rather in the last third. We get stuck in yet another banquet hall saga that no one needed, and I lost interest for about 15 episodes. It does come back at the very end, with a great final episode and very satisfying ending. Just a shame the storyline slightly bottled the originality and took us to the banquet hall

💖 Top swoonworthy moment:

Neil does get his happy ever after - thank GOODNESS. Also kudos to Ben Taylor for ensuring a ‘downtrodden’ character never becomes a victim, and actually has lots of swoonworthy moments (most of the NASX scenes).

🦹🏼‍♂️ Top villain award:

Ok so it’s clearly Keira. But she has helpers - demented sister Beth is exhausting - girl why are you invested in your sister’s relationships? One to dig into with the therapist. And Simon is a weaselly one, who turns on the puppy dog eye charm whilst simultaneously savaging Neil.

😂 Comedy gold:

Keira’s delusion that if she shouts at Neil and behaves really badly he will love her again and come home 😂

🎺 Unsung hero:

Keira’s dad, who at least has the self awareness to see what a problem his daughter is, is never anything but civil and kind to Neil, and is left picking up all the pieces at the end.

✍🏼 DETAILS

Director Ruixi Royce Gao | 2025

Available on Dramabox and Reelshort