Character Relationship Map: When We First Met

Characters

• Noah Ashby (played by Adam Devine) — protagonist

  Protagonist who uses a time-traveling photo booth to revisit 2014 and win over Avery Martin. After multiple failed attempts and realizing she loves Ethan, he learns to value Carrie Grey and ultimately...

• Avery Martin (played by Alexandra Daddario) — protagonist

  Noah's initial love interest who is engaged to Ethan. She becomes the target of Noah's time-traveling efforts to change their meeting, but he eventually realizes she does not love him and is truly mea...

• Carrie Grey (played by Shelley Hennig) — supporting

  Avery's roommate who initially suspects Noah of stalking. She helps him understand Avery's preferences and bonds with him during his time travel adventures. She becomes Noah's true match, though he mu...

• Max (played by Andrew Bachelor) — supporting

  Noah's friend and colleague who advises him on his time travel attempts and runs a company where Noah works. Their friendship suffers when Noah takes Max's desired senior VP promotion but is later ful...

• Ethan (played by Robbie Amell) — supporting

  Avery's fiancé and the man she is truly meant to be with. He experiences distress when Noah's timeline changes alter their relationship, but his engagement to Avery is ultimately restored to its origi...

• Phil (played by Dean J. West) — supporting

  Carrie's ex-boyfriend. In one altered timeline, Carrie resumes dating Phil until Noah resets the timeline to meet her correctly and restore the original events.

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Carrie Grey → Phil (Romantic Former Partners) — Phil represents Carrie's prior romantic relationship in an altered version of the present.

  In one altered timeline, Carrie resumes dating her ex-boyfriend, Phil.

• Noah Ashby → Carrie Grey (Romantic Partners) — Their relationship develops after Noah recognizes their compatibility and pursues her in the restored timeline.

  Noah realizes he is meant to be with Carrie, and after restoring the timeline he initiates a conversation with her at the engagement party.

• Avery Martin → Ethan (Romantic Fiancés) — Avery and Ethan remain emotionally meant for each other across the altered timelines.

  Avery meets Ethan the day after meeting Noah, and the original timeline shows them engaged.

• Noah Ashby → Avery Martin (Romantic Unrequited Love) — Noah repeatedly alters the past to make Avery return his feelings.

  Noah falls in love with Avery after meeting her at the 2014 Halloween party, but Avery regards him as a friend.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Noah Ashby → Phil (Conflict Indirect Romantic Rival) — Phil blocks Noah's attempted relationship with Carrie in that temporary timeline.

  When Noah pursues Carrie in one altered timeline, he learns that Carrie has resumed dating her ex-boyfriend, Phil.

• Noah Ashby → Max (Social Friends) — Max is Noah's main source of practical advice, though their friendship temporarily deteriorates.

  Max is Noah's friend, advises him on his time-travel attempts, and later has his friendship with Noah restored.

• Avery Martin → Carrie Grey (Social Roommates) — Their living arrangement gives Carrie direct insight into Avery's preferences and relationships.

  Carrie is identified as Avery's roommate and is present when they suspect Noah of stalking Avery.

• Noah Ashby → Ethan (Conflict Romantic Rival) — Ethan is the person Noah must stop competing against before accepting Avery's true choice.

  Noah tries to win Avery away from the relationship that leads to her engagement with Ethan, while later recognizing that Avery and Ethan are still att...

Story Analysis

A man repeatedly changes the past to win an unavailable woman before learning that acceptance, friendship, and genuine compatibility lead to his true relationship.

Plot Progression

1. The Unchosen Friend — Noah falls in love with Avery, but she regards him as a friend and becomes engaged to Ethan. Three years later, Noah's grief leads him into the photo booth at their engagement party.
2. Rewriting the First Night — The photo booth sends Noah back to the day he met Avery. His first attempts use prior knowledge and Max's advice, but they produce suspicion, unfamiliarity, or a purely sexual relationship.
3. The Perfect Wrong Life — Noah follows Carrie's insight and reinvents himself as stable and dependable. He gains an engagement with Avery, but the new life damages his friendship with Max and leaves both Noah and Ethan unhappy...
4. Accepting the Right Love — A conversation with Carrie helps Noah accept that Avery loves Ethan. Noah also understands that his growing bond with Carrie is more meaningful than his pursuit of Avery.
5. Restoring the Beginning — Noah arranges for Avery and Ethan to meet, but an altered timeline still places Carrie with Phil. He finally understands the importance of the original friendship and restores the first meeting.