Between 1994 and 1999, “Hartley, hearts alive” was part of the daily lives of teenagers around the world, marked by the show forever. If you didn’t follow everything well or if your memory challenges you, we tell you the end of the series.
Warning, spoilers. The following article reveals key plot elements of “Hartley, Hearts Alive” as well as its ending.
Emblematic of the 1990s, Hartley, Hearts Alive captivated many teenagers around the world, fascinated by the adventures of Drazic, Anita, Danielle, Katerina, Ryan, Dennis and the others.
The Australian series, created by Michael Jenkins and Ben Gannon, has indeed followed the lives of students and staff at Hartley High School in Sydney for 7 seasons and no less than 210 episodes.
Spin-off of the feature film The Heartbreak Kid (1993), the show first allowed some actors from the film to find their roles on the small screen – such as Alex Dimitriades (Nick Poulos), Nico Lathouris (George Poulos), Doris Younane (Yola Fatoush), Scott Major (Peter Rivers) and Katherine Halliday (Rose Malouf) – then to give a chance to new characters who have succeeded season after season.
Creative and daring, Hartley, Raw Heart has been applauded for tackling everyday teenage issues, from drugs and love to religion, theft and even the issues of being homeless. In 2020, Netflix also announced an 8-episode reboot, created by Hannah Carroll Chapman, scheduled for September 14, 2022.
How did the original series end? VS‘is on November 29, 1999 that its very last episode (7×40) was broadcast, the very one whose story we summarize for you now. But before, thelaunch the cult credits please!
DRAZIC WORRIED, MARCO INTERESTED
After the iconic credits, the final episode begins with Drazic (Callan Mulvey) at the police station. After receiving a stolen car from his garage, the young man is questioned about the fact that the machine has reached him.
Among the inspectors present in the room: Todd Gillespie (Dominic Purcell), the former boyfriend of Anita (Lara Cox). Drazic suspects him of attacking him in particular to recover the young woman and refuses to speak: his sentence could amount to nearly 2000 dollars and 6 months in prison.
Released on bail (paid by Anita), he can leave but will surely be charged. Angry, Anita does not understand why he does not want to confess who provided him with the car.
ABC TV / Gannon Television
In high school, Marco (Danny Raco) discovers that Principal Carson (John Gregg) is practicing a game of bowls on the school roof, bowls. He is intrigued unlike other students – led by Dennis (Putu Winchester) – who have come to mock Carson, calling the discipline a “geriatric” sport.
But Marco, who has already played bocce, shows his interest. Carson then gives him some advice and lets him try his hand at the game.
ABC TV / Gannon Television
TESS’ BELIEFS
During Mrs. Kassis’ (Elena Carapetis) science class, Tess (Katherine Hicks) announces that she believes in the existence of ghosts and then takes offense when Dennis and the others mock her belief, especially Zac (Luke Jacobz).
ABC TV / Gannon Television
After class, Zac tries to talk to her but Tess remains cold: he doesn’t understand why. She is upset.
At the garage, Drazic receives a visit from Louie (Nic Bishop), the one who provided him with the stolen car in question. The latter gives him money for his bail and the inconvenience caused – and especially to buy his silence.
Meanwhile, Marco goes to meet Carson at the boules club: the principal then begins to coach him. But Marco’s aggressive style clashes somewhat with Carson’s more cautious approach…
ABC TV / Gannon Television
ZAC’S PAST
At Zac’s, Dennis comes across a photo of the young man and his mother which he drops: picking up the frame, he reads the few words inscribed on the back of the picture. By questioning Zac about the identity of the woman, he learns that the latter’s mother died about 10 years ago.
In science class, Tess brought something to contact the spirits but Mrs. Kassis tells her that this is not the place. The young girl then decides to hold a seance of spiritualism at her house the same evening and invites all those who would like to experience it.
Back at the police station, Anita confronts Gillespie and ends up asking him to help Drazic for her own good. He accepts.
ABC TV / Gannon Television
Carson, meanwhile, has a proposition for Marco: he needs a student to be his partner in a bowling competition he’s been trying to win for 20 years. He particularly wishes to defeat his lifelong rival and thus needs the help of the young man. Against one day of class and less homework, Marco accepts.
On the school benches, Zac makes a point of apologizing to Tess and confides in her: if he is so reluctant in the face of his belief, it is because he has lost his mother and since death frightens him. .
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Drazic receives a visit from Gillespie who offers to help him – as he promised Anita – but Drazic, true to himself, refuses and‘inspector confesses that he wants Anita back by his side before leaving.
The hour of the session has come: at Tess’s, Dennis, Thania, Zac and the others gather around a table, each placing a finger on an upturned glass. Tess asks questions of a possible spirit that might be around…and the glass begins to move.
ABC TV / Gannon Television
For her part, Anita is still trying to convince Drazic, who is too stubborn to claim his innocence in the face of his girlfriend’s ex. She begs him to talk so their future together won’t be damaged.
DOUBTS AND DISAPPOINTMENTS
Back at Tess’s, the “spirit” continues to answer the questions asked by the young woman and ends up naming the one it is talking to: a certain Pookie… Disturbed, Zac leaves the place.
In the garage, Louie is back, just to threaten Drazic a little more: he hands him a business card with the number of a lawyer who could help him reduce his sentence by a few months less in prison.
ABC TV / Gannon Television
Arriving at the tournament, Carson and Marco prepare to compete and meet their opponents.
Later, in high school, Zac criticizes Tess for having manipulated him and confesses to her that he is Pookie: that was the nickname his mother had given him. Tess is convinced that the spirit was there but Zac doesn’t believe it. He also tells her that he thinks she is hiding behind her goth appearance. Tess will learn later, from Dennis, that he was the one who moved the glass and that he read Zac’s nickname on the photograph he picked up.
ABC TV / Gannon Television
After a quick glimpse of Drazic in doubt about his future, we find Carson and Marco at the tournament. The score is tight and Marco wants to try a risky maneuver that his teammate disapproves of and forbids. Marco listens reluctantly.
STEPS COMPLETED
Because his options are limited and Anita’s words resonate with him, Drazic ultimately decides to cooperate with the police to ensure Louie is charged with the crime and to spare himself jail time in the process.
So, he goes to meet Gillespie at the police station and points Louie in a line of suspects. He threatens him with reprisals.
ABC TV / Gannon Television
At the same time, at the tournament, it’s Carson’s turn to play: he finally decides to listen to Marco and takes a risk… which pays off! He finally wins the trophy.
With a brighter future ahead of him and after taking this big step showing him capable of changing and growing as a person, Drazic finally realizes what Anita means to him and has a question for her… On the steps leading out of the police station, he asks her to move in with him and marry him! The young woman, surprised, replies that she will think about it. The couple leaves the scene, leaving Gillespie behind them, alone.
Tess’s convictions are shaken now that she knows the truth: at home, she gets rid of her goth look and then finds Zac, completely changed. She no longer wears her make-up and her dark clothes and admits to Zac that she is having a good time with him: it’s mutual and they hug.
ABC TV / Gannon Television
AND THEY LIVE HAPPY UNTIL THE END OF TIMES?
In the last scene of the series, Drazic arrives with a bang in front of the school, the siren of his car at full blast, which attracts all the students who gather to see what is going on. Carson, annoyed, asks him to cut the siren. Drazic pretends not to hear him before stopping the device.
There, he speaks to Anita, perched on the balcony of the building: he wants to know her answer to his marriage proposal. The young woman says nothing and turns to take the stairs and join him. She approaches him and says “yes” before jumping into his arms in front of a cheering crowd when Drazic announces that they are therefore getting married. Carson asks the students to return to class.
ABC TV / Gannon Television
Drazic clarifies that the whole school is invited, even Carson who announces that he will have to consult his calendar. As the students begin to scatter, Drazic thanks Anita for accepting and kisses her. Carson addresses the couple one last time, wishing them good luck: he sincerely hopes that their union will be a success.
And the credits music plays as Drazic and Anita kiss again. The last shot shows Drazic’s car driving back to where it came from, being greeted by a few students who stayed behind to celebrate and leaving behind Hartley High School where life without us will continue. End of Hartley, hearts alive.
ABC TV / Gannon Television
Check out the reboot trailer: