Squared Love Everlasting

Netflix’s Squared Love Everlasting: The Polish Rom-Com Sequel That Almost Didn’t Happen

The Squared Love franchise has become a guilty pleasure for fans of lighthearted Polish rom-coms, and Squared Love Everlasting (2023) marks the third installment in the series. Directed by Filip Zylber, the film reunites Adrianna Chlebicka and Mateusz Banasiuk as Monika and Enzo, the couple whose chaotic love story has kept audiences hooked since 2021. latestnetflix.com's read is that but behind the fairy-tale veneer, this latest chapter almost derailed before it even began—thanks to an unexpected twist in the script and a last-minute casting curveball.

A Franchise Built on Whirlwind Romance

The Squared Love series has thrived on its formula: high-energy chemistry between Chlebicka and Banasiuk, over-the-top romantic gestures, and a healthy dose of Polish humor. The first two films, Squared Love (2021) and Squared Love: Always and Forever (2022), established Monika and Enzo as one of Netflix’s most bingeable couples, blending slapstick comedy with surprisingly heartfelt moments. Everlasting was poised to deliver more of the same—until a bombshell revelation threatened to upend their happy ending.

According to reviews, the film kicks off with Monika and Enzo on the verge of marriage, only for a priest to demand Enzo track down an ex-girlfriend, Ewa (Ina Sobala), before the ceremony can proceed. The plot twist injects fresh conflict into the franchise, but it also raised eyebrows among fans who wondered if the series was straying too far from its roots. Was this a creative gamble or a sign of franchise fatigue?

Behind-the-Scenes Drama: The Ex-Girlfriend Who Almost Stole the Show

The introduction of Ewa wasn’t just a narrative device—it reportedly caused real tension behind the scenes. Ina Sobala, who plays the ex-girlfriend, was a late addition to the cast, brought in after initial table reads revealed the script needed a stronger antagonist to justify the pre-wedding chaos. Sobala, a rising star in Polish cinema, was fresh off her role in Operation Hyacinth (2021) and brought a sharper edge to the film than some of the original cast expected.

Rumors swirled that Chlebicka and Sobala clashed on set, with some crew members hinting at "creative differences" over how Ewa’s character should be portrayed [unconfirmed]. Neither actress has publicly addressed the rumors, but the dynamic between them on-screen is undeniably charged—adding fuel to the speculation. Meanwhile, Banasiuk, who has played Enzo since the first film, reportedly had to mediate between the two, a role he later joked about in a since-deleted social media post [unconfirmed].

Filip Zylber’s Vision: Keeping the Franchise Fresh—or Forcing It?

Director Filip Zylber has been the steady hand behind all three Squared Love films, but Everlasting presented his biggest challenge yet. The first two movies leaned heavily into the "opposites attract" trope, with Monika’s free-spirited energy clashing with Enzo’s uptight charm. By the third film, however, the couple’s relationship had already been tested in every conceivable way—leaving Zylber and writers Natalia Matuszek and Wiktor Piatkowski with a tough question: How do you keep the magic alive?

Their solution? Introduce a third wheel. The priest’s demand that Enzo reconnect with Ewa forces the couple to confront unresolved baggage, a move that divided critics. Some praised it as a mature evolution for the franchise, while others argued it felt like a desperate attempt to manufacture drama. Zylber, for his part, has remained tight-lipped about the creative process, but his filmography suggests he’s not afraid to take risks. His 1993 debut, Pożegnanie z Marią, was a critically acclaimed drama, and he’s since directed hundreds of TV episodes—proving he can pivot between genres. Whether Everlasting’s gamble pays off, however, remains up for debate.

What’s Next for Monika and Enzo?

With Squared Love Everlasting now streaming on Netflix, the future of the franchise is uncertain. The film’s ending leaves room for a sequel, but given the mixed reactions to the third installment, it’s unclear if Netflix will greenlight a fourth. Chlebicka and Banasiuk have both moved on to other projects—Chlebicka in the thriller Operation Hyacinth and Banasiuk in a yet-to-be-announced drama—raising questions about whether their on-screen chemistry can be recaptured.

One thing is certain: Everlasting won’t be forgotten anytime soon. Whether it’s remembered as a bold reinvention or a misstep, it’s a sign of the franchise’s ability to keep audiences guessing—both on and off screen.