Episode 5 of Every Year After pushes several long-simmering storylines closer to a breaking point. Between flashbacks to 2015, growing tension around Sue’s will, and Sam’s increasingly obvious feelings for Percy, the episode spends most of its runtime forcing characters to confront emotions they’ve been trying to ignore.
And by the final scene, there’s no more hiding.
Every Year After Episode 5 Recap
The episode opens with Sam waking up from a vivid dream involving Percy in The Tavern’s kitchen. In the dream, Percy mentions that Sue left the restaurant to her, a detail that clearly rattles him.
Rather than examining what the dream might actually mean, Sam immediately pivots toward a life-changing decision. He tells Jordie that he intends to propose to Taylor.
Jordie isn’t convinced. He quickly points out what seems obvious from the outside: this sudden desire to get engaged may have more to do with Percy than with Taylor. Sam refuses to entertain the idea.
When Charlie joins the conversation, he backs Sam’s plan, arguing that Taylor is the best thing that could happen to him. Jordie eventually falls in line, though his support feels more reluctant than genuine.
New Year’s Eve 2015 Brings Old Feelings Back to the Surface
A flashback takes viewers back to a New Year’s celebration at The Tavern in 2015.
Delilah encourages Percy to bring her new boyfriend, Mason, around specifically to make Sam uncomfortable after their breakup. Percy follows through, introducing Mason to Charlie before Sam arrives.
The moment Sam sees them together, his reaction says everything.
Although Percy is there with Mason, Sam inserts himself into their conversation almost immediately. He starts talking about Percy’s writing ambitions and personal interests, behaving as though he’s the one who truly understands her. In the process, he completely overshadows Mason.
Percy notices exactly what he’s doing.
When she confronts him, Sam admits that seeing her with someone else has forced him to reconsider things. For the first time, he’s looking at their breakup differently.
Percy isn’t interested.
She reminds him that he was the one who ended the relationship and refuses to take him back simply because jealousy has suddenly changed his perspective. To make her point crystal clear, she kisses Mason while Sam watches.
Elsewhere at the party, Charlie unsuccessfully attempts to flirt with Delilah before leaving with someone else. Later that night, Jordie finds Delilah, and the two share a New Year’s kiss.
Percy Tries to Ignore the News About Sam and Taylor
Back in the present timeline, Chantal attempts to discuss The Tavern and the complications surrounding Sue’s will.
During their conversation, Percy admits something she’s been struggling to hide: she wants Sam to come back to her and leave the past behind.
Not long after, they run into Jordie.
Trying to keep Sam’s plans confidential, Jordie accidentally reveals that Sam intends to propose to Taylor. The news hits Percy hard. Chantal encourages her not to panic, but Percy is clearly shaken and heads off alone to clear her thoughts.
It’s one of those moments where all the progress she’s been trying to make suddenly feels meaningless.
Summer 2015 Shows Percy Trying to Make Sam Jealous
Another flashback takes viewers to the summer of 2015.
Percy tells Delilah that she still hasn’t crossed paths with Sam since returning to Barry’s Bay. That changes when Sam approaches her outside The Tavern and invites her on a double date with Mason and his new girlfriend.
The invitation catches Percy off guard.
Determined not to be blindsided, she asks Delilah to bring Mason along. When they arrive at The Tavern, Percy discovers that Sam is dating his coworker, Lake.
Her plan to make Sam jealous quickly falls apart.
Instead of gaining the upper hand, Percy becomes increasingly frustrated watching Sam and Lake together. Hoping to remain close to him, she takes a part-time job at the restaurant.
That decision only makes things worse.
One memorable scene finds Sam and Percy washing dishes together. What begins as a routine task turns playful as they splash water at each other and end up completely soaked. For a brief moment, their old chemistry resurfaces naturally.
Then Lake walks into the kitchen and reminds Sam about their movie date, instantly breaking the spell.
Drew’s Arrival Creates New Problems for Chantal
Meanwhile, Drew and Jake arrive in Barry’s Bay as a surprise for Chantal and Percy.
The visit doesn’t go smoothly.
Drew isn’t feeling well, leaving Chantal to care for him throughout the trip. As her frustration grows, she vents to Percy about constantly being expected to manage everything.
Percy listens and tries to reassure her, but Chantal’s exhaustion is becoming impossible to ignore.
Later, Percy attempts her own solution to emotional turmoil. Hoping to distract herself from thoughts of Sam and his possible engagement, she takes Jake for a walk and tries to pursue something physical with him.
She can’t do it.
No matter how hard she tries to move on, her feelings for Sam remain unresolved.
Taylor Questions Sue’s Final Wishes
Taylor eventually returns to town, and Sam is happy to see her.
Their conversation turns toward Sue’s will. Taylor raises the possibility that Sam’s mother may have wanted him and Percy to find their way back to each other.
It’s a surprising observation coming from Taylor herself.
Sam immediately pushes back against the idea. He tells her that he loves her and insists that the future he wants is with her, not Percy.
At least, that’s what he believes at the time.
Charlie and Delilah Reach Another Crossroads
Elsewhere, Charlie informs Delilah that Sue’s will cannot realistically be challenged because Sue was mentally sound when she made it.
Their conversation eventually shifts toward Delilah’s personal life. She reveals that her divorce from Whit is progressing.
Charlie begins to wonder whether there could be a future for them.
Delilah quickly shuts that idea down.
She tells him he isn’t the right person for a relationship, a comment that clearly wounds him. Charlie walks away hurt and frustrated.
Later, after Percy arrives at Delilah’s house looking for comfort, Charlie shows up again and confronts Delilah about dismissing his feelings. He talks openly about the sacrifices he has made for others throughout the years.
The argument takes an unexpected turn when Percy learns about Charlie and Delilah’s affair.
Then Charlie references the mysterious event from ten years ago.
Percy immediately intervenes and pulls him aside, warning him not to reveal anything. Charlie fires back by suggesting Sue might never have left The Tavern to Percy if she had known the truth.
The episode once again teases a major secret without fully explaining it.
Chantal and Jordie Continue Growing Closer
As tensions rise elsewhere, Chantal and Jordie’s connection keeps developing.
After spending time talking outside the motel, Jordie later returns with soup for Drew and ice cream for Chantal.
It’s a small gesture, but an effective one.
Unlike Drew, who constantly seems to need something from Chantal, Jordie pays attention to what she needs without being asked.
The contrast couldn’t be clearer.
Earlier, Chantal finally confronts Drew directly about the pressure he places on her. She admits she’s tired of always being the caretaker and wants someone willing to support her in return.
Jordie’s actions quietly reinforce that point.
Sam Finally Admits He Still Loves Percy
As the episode approaches its conclusion, Sam attempts to carry out his proposal plan. He can’t do it. Sitting across from Taylor, he loses his nerve and abandons the proposal altogether.
At the same time, Percy reflects on a memory from the summer of 2015. In that moment, Sam had confessed that Lake ended their relationship because she realized he was in love with Percy.
That memory lingers as Percy sits alone by the lake. Eventually, Sam finds her there.
For perhaps the first time all season, he stops running from the truth.
Sam admits that he couldn’t propose to Taylor because his feelings for Percy never disappeared. He asks for another chance and opens the door to a future together.
The episode ends just as Percy appears ready to reveal the secret she’s been carrying.
It’s a classic cliffhanger, but this time it feels like the story has genuinely earned it.
Review: Chantal and Jordie Are Becoming the Show’s Most Compelling Couple
I’m going to be honest: Every Year After still hasn’t completely won me over.
The biggest issue remains the adaptation itself. The series often feels disconnected from its source material, to the point where it sometimes plays like an entirely different story that merely borrowed the characters and premise. The changes are substantial, and not all of them improve the narrative.
The acting also continues to be inconsistent. There are emotional scenes that should land with much greater impact, but several performances struggle to sell the weight of the moment.
That said, Episode 5 does a better job than some earlier installments at keeping the emotional momentum moving.
The show’s structure continues to rely heavily on parallels between past and present, and for the most part, that approach works. Watching the 2015 timeline gradually explain the emotional baggage in the present remains one of the stronger aspects of the series. I still found some of the transitions slightly distracting because the characters look nearly identical across both timelines, making the passage of time feel less convincing than it should.
What surprised me most, though, is how invested I’ve become in Chantal and Jordie.
Their storyline feels refreshingly grounded compared to the endless push-and-pull between Sam and Percy. Drew’s behavior throughout the episode highlights just how one-sided Chantal’s relationship has become, while Jordie’s thoughtfulness provides a natural contrast. The simple act of bringing soup and ice cream says more about his character than some of the show’s larger dramatic speeches.
Of course, there are obvious obstacles. Jordie’s life is rooted in Barry’s Bay, while Chantal’s career is tied to Seattle and a partnership opportunity at her law firm. The practical realities make their situation complicated, which only makes it more interesting.
By the end of Episode 5, Sam and Percy finally arrive at the emotional confession viewers have been waiting for. Yet somehow, Chantal and Jordie remain the pair I’m most eager to watch.
And that says quite a lot about where the show’s strongest chemistry currently lies.
