The Summer I Turned Pretty Season-Premiere Recap: We Were on a Break!

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Hey there, everyone, Jellyfish and Con-heads! Are you prepared to resolve this long-standing love triangle once and for all? It’s been five years since Belly underwent a transformation in the show, but that doesn’t seem to have improved her ability to handle relationships smoothly.

I eagerly dived into the opening chapters of the climactic third season of “The Summer I Turned Pretty,” released as a double episode, a thoughtful move since the first installment primarily sets the stage. Characters mostly maintain their authentic personalities, yet Jeremiah seems to embody Conrad’s brooding side more than ever. Taylor and Steven, a rollercoaster duo from our last encounter in 2023, have spent their entire college journey as the infamous “that” couple. Now, they find themselves entangled once again, each engaged in a clandestine affair with one another while keeping their current partners in the dark.

In sunny California, Conrad’s trendy, youth-pastor-like therapist hasn’t been successful in helping Conrad overcome his avoidant attachment style or his struggle to show a genuine smile. Similarly, his former girlfriend turned closest friend, Agnes, hasn’t made any progress either. When asked about an ideal situation, Conrad mentions driving quickly on the freeway as his best-case scenario. The most Agnes can get from Conrad is that he’s yet to move past Belly, his one true love, and that’s why he never returns home.

Apart from his overall character, Conrad’s main struggle persists in fulfilling the emotional commitments that his mother, even after her passing, seems to expect from him. Susannah could be likened to Princess Diana among the New England Wasps, and it has been four years since her demise, yet her sons are expected to deliver a joint speech at the inauguration of her new memorial garden. Laurel, who continues to enforce Susannah’s posthumous expectations, reminds Jeremiah that “Half of Cousins” will attend Susannah’s memorial garden opening. Interestingly, Laurel carries out these duties while attending another conference, where she apparently excels in her parental responsibilities.

In simpler terms, no one is more dramatic or romantic in their descriptions of relationships than Belly, who continues to refer to Jeremiah as her soul mate rather than her boyfriend. She sees him as a necessity for all seasons and considers their love to be ancient and profound, almost destined by fate. Therefore, it’s not surprising that if there was ever a girl who would pass up the chance to visit Paris, it would be Belly, who is hesitant to leave Jeremiah for fear he might feel abandoned if she studies abroad for three months. Essentially, prioritizing Jeremiah’s emotional well-being over her own opportunities is something that comes naturally to Belly, even though she may never have the chance to use such a phrase as “raison d’être” among actual French people.

Jeremiah needs to retake a semester due to not completing essential courses when he changed majors, and it seems everyone is reacting as if he’s been caught for a serious financial crime like tax fraud. His father, known for his harsh demeanor, is shouting over the phone about having to pay an additional $20,000 in tuition fees, acting as though universities no longer have financial aid departments. It seems work-study programs are still available, but one wonders why Jeremiah must return to campus to complete just a few remaining credits. Couldn’t Finch University provide online classes during the summer for such circumstances? The person who should be facing Jeremiah’s father’s wrath right now is his academic adviser, who should have ensured that Jeremiah had all the necessary credits to graduate on schedule.

In any event, it doesn’t matter. What truly matters is that Dick Dad is scolding Jeremiah to emulate Conrad, which ironically sets off an instant tantrum, causing Jeremiah to act just like Conrad, but in the most unfavorable manner possible. The once cheerful boy becomes gloomy and withdrawn, cancelling the dinner he and Belly were headed to meet Steven for. Since we know that Belly is hard to upset, everything seems fine by the time they gather for the party later in the evening. However, Belly learns from behind the bathroom door (the most unfortunate way to find out such news) that Jeremiah slept with Lacie in Cabo.

Stomach appears to be in great distress, wailing, sobbing, and vomiting as Jeremiah argues, “But we were taking a break!” Oh dear, does it seem like this individual doesn’t know about Friends? Indeed, her behavior seems reminiscent of a character from that show. However, she vehemently states that everything they shared is now irreparably damaged and she’ll never trust Jeremiah again. They’re over, and then she disappears into the darkness of the night.

In the second episode, there’s a question about whether it was truly a breakup. The story opens with a flashback to an argument that seemed like a breakup, but it might not have been clear due to its unusual course. The dispute began when Jeremiah didn’t tell Belly he was going on spring break to Cabo, and then veered off topic, mentioning Jeremiah’s father, discussing Conrad, and finally diving into the subject of Jeremiah’s inferiority complex. In the heat of the argument, Jeremiah shouted, “Let’s just end it” and stormed out, thinking he had ended their relationship. However, Belly was oblivious to the fact that she had been broken up with. For weeks afterward, she didn’t even suspect it when Jeremiah posted gloomy pictures from Cabo without contacting her once. It also didn’t cross her mind when they both returned to school and Jeremiah asked if they could “get back together” and gave her a puka-shell bracelet. To be fair, that part was really Belly’s oversight.

It’s not Belly’s responsibility that Jeremiah’s emotional reaction during their breakup wasn’t believed, which means his subsequent drunken encounter with Lacie was acceptable. In fact, choosing not to disclose it was also alright. If I’m pointing out any flaws here, it’s Jeremiah’s actions of transferring his brotherly insecurities onto Belly initially. It’s unfair for Jeremiah to expect Belly to bear the weight of his personal issues indefinitely, which might be referred to as Jeremiah’s Conrad problems.

In essence, situations like these are exactly what Belly seems to crave, foster, develop, and even provoke without any prior cause. You might recall the events that unfolded on the holiday named “Last Christmas”? Well, Belly and Conrad just happened to drop by Cousins unexpectedly, but nothing of significance transpired. However, Belly dwells so deeply and for such a prolonged period on this seemingly innocuous encounter that she starts questioning her own faithfulness towards Jeremiah, as if she too had been untrue, when in reality, no one was betrayed or wronged at all.

Belly must attend Paris during that semester, and it seems my older self is influencing this thought due to the release of Justin Timberlake’s “Summer Love.” What I envision for Belly is sipping affordable rosé wine by Canal Saint-Martin, dating a man named Etienne who smokes Lucky Strikes and idolizes Serge Gainsbourg. By week three, Etienne should profess his love for Belly, only to be discovered cheating with an ex-girlfriend named Manon by week five. This experience in early 20s Paris will offer the necessary dose of romantic drama—intense at the moment but cherished in future years—that Belly currently requires. Instead, she should avoid becoming Jeremiah’s young bride.

Meanwhile, as our primary figures engage in their actions, secondary characters Taylor and Steven find themselves engaged in secret infidelity. Despite their repeated failures to maintain this deceit, they continue to be drawn to each other, even when coupled with others. Taylor claims she desires a casual relationship, but Steven still ends things with his girlfriend. Eventually, Taylor admits that she pushes Steven away due to her fear of the depth of her feelings for him. However, Steven remains unconscious in a coma following a car crash during one of their arguments, thus unable to comprehend her words.

This level of emotional upheaval makes the on-again, off-again relationship between Jeremiah and Belly similar to that of Ross and Rachel. Once Steven recovers from his coma and presumably ends things with Taylor permanently, Belly chooses to reconcile with Jeremiah. However, Jeremiah reacts impulsively by proposing, and Belly agrees. Oh boy, the antics of today’s generation!

Good Luck, Babe

Conrad’s deeply suppressed emotions led to him being dismissed on his very first day as a hospital intern.

Following his split with Belly, Jeremiah confides in his closest companion, “I feel drained of life’s energy!” However, let’s make it clear that Jeremiah isn’t necessarily superior to Belly in this regard.

In college, Belly has made an astute acquaintance called Anika, who has a bit of a friendly competition going on with Taylor. Doesn’t it seem like everyone is captivated by Belly? (or, In college, Belly has gained a shrewd friend named Anika, who has a bit of a friendly rivalry with Taylor. It seems as if everyone finds Belly fascinating.)

• Much as I love Taylor, I’m kinda shipping Steven with his hot, mean banking co-worker.

Once more, Laurel is adding excitement to her monotonous work conference by rekindling a relationship – this time with her former spouse, who happens to be the father of Belly and Steven.

The music supervisor did an outstanding job once again, and I particularly enjoyed the Justin Timberlake and Nelly songs, given my millennial background. However, it’s important to acknowledge the inclusion of Jack Harlow’s “Lovin’ on Me,” which seems like a fitting theme song for Jeremiah, and Olivia Rodrigo’s “Lacy” as well, due to obvious reasons.

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2025-07-16 22:54