A movie like Five Blind Dates suits a storybook ending. Following Lia, a young Asian woman living in Sydney whose life is going nowhere fast, she embarks on five dates to find the perfect man of her dreams after a prophecy talks of a soulmate who can save her business – but of course, not all goes to plan, threatening both her happiness and her tea shop.
Roughly twenty minutes before the end, Lia has revelations on how she’s going to save her tea shop and turn the business around. A little revamp, shake-up, and re-stock later, the shop is back in full swing.
However, the business comes from a viral video, rather than traditional, organic traffic. Either way, this shows how our protagonist is going to have to change her ways for her life to get better.
Richard shows up at the tea shop when it’s busy and they catch each other’s glance, and he then subtly leaves. It’s a strange choice as Lia then embarks on the wedding — that day. They could have gone together maybe?
At the wedding, Lia makes friends with her family, watches her sister get married, and is approached by the fortune teller who states she has one date left. We all know this is Richard, the ex, we’re just waiting to see how it unfolds.
How does Five Blind Dates end?
The final wedding scene is my favorite in the film, it’s heartfelt, bright, colorful, and hopeful, and ties the family traditions together.
As Lia gives her sister a speech about soul mates, she looks at Richard, who again meets her stare and then walks away. Richard, where do you keep going?
Lia runs to find Richard, who is standing outside, alone, by the water. Before they kiss, Lia asks if she can take him out on a date first. Then they kiss and fireworks begin to explode behind them.
The fireworks then blend into a takeaway bubble tea, where the tea shop is modernizing and thriving. Richard and Lia kiss, take a picnic out of the shop, and walk away happily ever after, as the storybook closes.
Does Lia have to close the tea shop?
Thankfully, Lia doesn’t have to close the tea shop. However, the closure of the shop to re-open would have been far more emotional and dramatic for the protagonist and storyline and would have given the film more depth.
In the beginning, we see a dark, gloomy teashop that isn’t doing well as Lia shoves out her one customer. Throughout the film, there are a few shots of the tea shop being empty and constant remarks about how the shop is failing and how Lia has wasted her grandmother’s inheritance.
Towards the end, Lia has a revelation and completely reinvents the tea shop, creating a more inviting space. The customers flock in.
Even though it’s a video that makes the shop go viral, Lia takes it in her stride and has more customers than ever. Now the shop is a success Lia feels like she is succeeding and finds the confidence to go to her sister’s wedding — even if she isn’t the maid of honor.
So the tea shop survives. The final shots of the film show the teashop heaving, and Lia’s grandmother’s money and legacy did not go to waste.
Who does Lia end up with?
Lia ends up with Richard.
Lia does go on five dates, some arranged by her friends, some by her father, all of which end in some disaster. On one date Lia goes foraging with Ezra, which is one of the sweetest moments in the film, until he has an allergic reaction and says her mother’s name whilst kissing her. (Ezra and Lia’s mother are later caught having sex so it’s a good thing she didn’t fall for his cute face).
Richard is Lia’s ex, they have known each other since they were children and have a damaged relationship. Richard was supposed to open and run the teashop with Lia but pulled out last minute.
With Richard being the best man at her sister’s wedding the two spend time together and there are still feelings and emotions rumbling between them.
Even though Richard is bringing a date to the wedding, and Lia kisses one of her dates in front of him, they both realize they’re meant to be together.
Lia makes a grand gesture at the wedding, confessing her feelings, and the two never look back. It’s a sweet, wholesome but predictable ending, that could have had a little more comedic value.
What did you think of the ending of Five Blind Dates? Comment below.
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