Continuity Snarl / Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again

• Donna’s diary said that Sam took her over to the island of Kalokairi, but this film shows Bill being the one to do it.
  • However, this could be seen as consistent within internal character continuity because Bill does drive boats.
  • Still, the first film says Bill rented a motorboat that Donna drove, so this could be a retcon.
• In a bit of Artistic License – History, Donna probably had Sophie in 1980, one year after the past story began, so the first one takes place in 2000 (due to Sophie saying she’s 20), so this one takes place in 2005. iPhone 8’s are being used, even though the first iPhone didn’t come out until 2007.
  • Also, Donna graduates from New College in 1979. Women were first admitted to New College in October 1979, so she couldn't have been graduating and Donna wears a mortar board to graduate. Women at Oxford did not wear the mortar board until much later. In 1979 they wore soft caps. Additionally, Oxford doesn't do valedictories.
• Rosie and Tanya were surprised to hear that Donna hooked up with three men in the first movie, but in this one, they clearly met Bill not long after finding out Donna split up with Sam. However, it's possible that they didn't know about Harry, or didn't connect this to Sophie's conception.
• Ruby, according to Donna, was dead. Here, she's not. Donna may have been so distant and angry with her, she convinced herself that her mother was dead. Maybe this is a retcon.
  • Alternately, Donna just wishes her mother is dead and hopes she actually has, or due to the neglect and emotional abuse, Donna considers Ruby dead to her.
• Dialogue from the first film strongly implied Ruby was originally conceived as a Holier Than Thou Catholic who kicked her daughter out for getting pregnant rather than the vain Rich Bitch she is here:
  Donna: And I have brought this all on myself because I was a stupid, reckless little slut!
  Rosie and Tanya: Whoa!
  Tanya: Don't you sound like your mother?
  Donna: I do not!
  Rosie and Tanya: Yes, you so do!
  Donna: Oh, my God, I do not.
  Rosie: You do, it's Catholic guilt!

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