12 Shocking Twists: How Younger Season 5 Changed Liza, Charles, And Empirical Forever

The fifth season of *Younger*, which premiered on June 5, 2018, remains one of the most pivotal and dramatic arcs in the entire series, a true game-changer that permanently altered the landscape of Empirical Publishing and the core relationships. For fans revisiting the series today, December 10, 2025, or those seeking a deep-dive analysis, Season 5 is the moment when Liza Miller’s professional and personal lies finally caught up to her, leading to explosive consequences for everyone around her. This season didn't just deal with the love triangle; it tackled serious, real-world issues like the #MeToo movement, corporate power dynamics, and the true cost of chasing a second chance.

This deep-dive retrospective will break down the 12 most critical moments, from the career-ending scandal that rocked Charles Brooks to the shifting alliances that defined the Millennial imprint, ensuring you have the freshest, most comprehensive understanding of this unforgettable chapter.

The Core Cast and Characters: Season 5's Power Players

Season 5 saw the established ensemble cast fully embrace their roles, with several characters stepping into new, high-stakes professional and romantic territory. The dynamic between the characters, particularly the shifting power structure at the publishing house, was central to the season’s narrative drive.

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• Liza Miller (Sutton Foster): Now fully committed to her relationship with Charles, Liza struggles to balance her love life with her professional integrity, especially when Charles's decisions clash with the Millennial imprint's vision. Her past age lie is a constant shadow.
• Charles Brooks (Peter Hermann): The CEO of Empirical, Charles is navigating the fallout of his relationship with Liza while attempting to save the company from financial ruin. His decision to overrule Kelsey's professional judgment creates a deep rift.
• Kelsey Peters (Hilary Duff): The ambitious editor is now fully in charge of the Millennial imprint. Kelsey's confidence grows, but she faces intense professional rivalry, particularly from Zane Anders, and struggles with Charles's paternalistic oversight of her work.
• Josh (Nico Tortorella): Returning from Ireland after his wife, Clare, decides not to move to the U.S., Josh is back in New York. He seeks comfort in a newly platonic friendship with Liza, though the old romantic chemistry is always present.
• Diana Trout (Miriam Shor): Diana continues her role as the head of marketing, providing much-needed comedic relief and a surprising amount of emotional depth, particularly in her relationship with Enzo.
• Maggie Amato (Debi Mazar): Liza’s best friend and roommate, Maggie provides Liza with a much-needed grounding force outside of the publishing world, offering cynical and supportive advice.
• Lauren Heller (Molly Bernard): The ultimate millennial publicist and social media guru, Lauren’s career continues to skyrocket as she proves her worth in the high-stakes world of book promotion.
• Zane Anders (Charles Michael Davis): Kelsey's former rival and current romantic interest, Zane's competitive nature and ambition add significant tension to the Empirical/Millennial workspace.

The 12 Most Explosive Moments That Defined Younger Season 5

The fifth season, consisting of 12 episodes, was a rapid-fire series of escalating conflicts and revelations. It was the season where the show's creator, Darren Star, pushed the characters to their breaking points, particularly in the professional sphere.

1. The "#LizaToo" Scandal and the Rise of Quinn Tyler

The season kicks off with the episode titled "#LizaToo", immediately signaling the show's intention to tackle current events. The plot centers on a controversial book proposal from a self-made billionaire, Quinn Tyler, about female power. The controversy is compounded when Charles overrules Kelsey's decision to reject the book, choosing instead to publish it under the Empirical brand, not Millennial. This move, driven by Empirical's financial desperation, creates the first major professional rift between Liza, Kelsey, and Charles.

2. Charles’s Betrayal of Kelsey and the Millennial Imprint

The conflict over Quinn Tyler's book, coupled with Charles's decision to try and steal Kelsey's major success, the novel Marriage Vacation, for the Empirical imprint, was a significant turning point. This action confirmed Kelsey’s fears that Charles viewed Millennial as a subsidiary, not a true partner, and that his personal feelings for Liza were clouding his professional judgment. This power struggle fueled Kelsey's ambition to break free and establish Millennial as an independent entity.

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3. The Josh and Clare Complication (A Titanic Problem)

The episode "A Titanic Problem" brings Josh back into Liza’s orbit. His wife, Clare, who was supposed to move to the US, decides to stay in Ireland, effectively ending their relationship. Josh, now single and vulnerable, seeks comfort from Liza. Crucially, the show frames this relationship as "platonic comfort," but the undeniable chemistry and lingering feelings between the former lovers are a constant source of tension.

4. The Leaked Affair and Charles's Forced Resignation

This is arguably the most shocking event of the season. The head of a rival publishing house, Cheryl, whose nickname is "Chick(y)," leaks the news of Charles's affair with Liza to the press. This move was a direct retaliation for Liza turning down a lucrative gig at Chick(y). The scandal, combined with Charles's compromised position, forces him to step down as CEO of Empirical. This single moment changes the entire power structure of the show, removing Charles from his position of ultimate authority.

5. Liza and Charles Go Public (The End of the Tour)

With Charles no longer CEO and the affair public knowledge, the couple finally decides to pursue their relationship without the professional secrecy that had plagued them for years. While this was a victory for "Team Charles," it came at the expense of his career and created a new set of challenges as they navigated their relationship in the open, particularly with the scrutiny of the publishing world.

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6. Kelsey and Zane’s Professional and Romantic Rivalry

Zane Anders is a key entity in Season 5, serving as both Kelsey's competitive co-worker and her on-again, off-again romantic partner. Their professional rivalry, which often involves fighting over authors and book deals, adds a layer of complexity to their relationship. Their dynamic highlights the intense, cutthroat nature of the New York publishing scene.

7. The Frankfurt Book Fair

In the episode "A Christmas Miracle," the Empirical and Millennial staff travel to the Frankfurt Book Fair. This setting provides a backdrop for international business deals and personal drama. It is a classic *Younger* tradition that uses a high-pressure industry event to push the characters into new, often compromising, situations.

8. Diana Trout and Enzo’s Relationship Development

Diana Trout, the beloved and often narcissistic boss, finds a stable relationship with Enzo, the plumber. Their storyline provides a heartwarming contrast to the intense drama of Liza’s love triangle, showing that love can be found at any age and in unexpected places. Diana’s character arc continues to show her slow, but meaningful, emotional growth.

9. Quinn Tyler’s Manipulation

Quinn Tyler, the self-made billionaire, is not just an author; she becomes a major entity and a manipulative force at Empirical. Her power book and her attempts to control the narrative around it create significant ethical dilemmas for Liza and Kelsey. Quinn’s presence forces the Millennial team to confront the compromises they are willing to make for financial success.

10. The Millennial Imprint's Growing Independence

Throughout the season, Kelsey and Liza work tirelessly to establish Millennial as a respected and successful imprint. Their success with books like Marriage Vacation gives them the leverage they need to push for more autonomy. The season’s events, particularly Charles’s departure, pave the way for Millennial to potentially break away and become its own publishing house, a major development for the series' final seasons.

11. The Season Finale Cliffhanger: "The End of the Pier"

The finale, "The End of the Pier," leaves several major storylines unresolved, perfectly setting up the next season. Charles has resigned, and the company is in flux. Liza and Charles are together, but their professional lives are in chaos. The ending leaves a strong sense of doubt about the future of Empirical and the stability of Liza and Charles's relationship, which had become "hard to watch" for some critics due to Charles's reaction to Liza's lie.

12. The Re-emergence of the Josh-Liza Connection

Despite being in a relationship with Charles, the season ends with a subtle but significant re-emergence of the connection between Liza and Josh. While their interactions were mostly platonic, the final moments of the season reminded viewers that the "Team Josh" versus "Team Charles" debate was far from over. This ongoing tension is a signature element of the *Younger* narrative.

The Lasting Impact of Season 5 on the Younger Universe

Season 5 is crucial because it dismantled the professional status quo. For the first four seasons, Liza’s secret was the central conflict; by the end of Season 5, the secret was largely irrelevant compared to the corporate and romantic fallout it caused. The season successfully transitioned the show from a comedy about a lie to a drama about the consequences of ambition and love in the modern workplace.

The introduction of the #LizaToo theme and the character of Quinn Tyler allowed the series to engage with contemporary social issues, adding a layer of depth that elevated the show beyond its initial premise. Furthermore, the promotion of Kelsey Peters and the eventual downfall of Charles Brooks as CEO created a new, exciting power vacuum at Empirical, setting the stage for the dramatic conclusion of the series. The season's focus on the Millennial imprint's growth, the relationships of Diana and Maggie, and the constant presence of the ever-competitive Zane Anders solidified the show's ensemble strength, ensuring that even with the main conflict resolved, the world of New York publishing remained ripe for drama.