The Summer I Turned Pretty Series Finale Recap: Infinity

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When you consider the power of true love, do ordinary rules like time, distance, and even logic really matter? If there are countless universes, then in every single one, Belly ends up with Conrad. Even if they were meeting for the very first time tonight, Conrad would still fall for her. For over five years, we’ve watched Belly blossom, and throughout it all, she’s carried a torch for Conrad Fisher – even during the three years she also had feelings for his brother, Jeremiah.

Honestly, the plot of the final episode of *The Summer I Turned Pretty* doesn’t really need to make sense. It quickly jumps to Jeremiah becoming a successful chef in Boston after only seven months, complete with a pop-up event he’s running. Before you can even wonder how any of this is funded, the event is magically moved to the Cousins’ beach house – just to give us one last look at the property. The important thing is that Jeremiah is doing well, both personally and professionally. We see him happily kissing Denise, and even his usually critical father shows up to express his pride. Meanwhile, Denise and Steven manage to secure funding for their business, setting them up for a move to Silicon Valley, and Taylor joins them to handle PR. Everyone’s problems are neatly wrapped up, and the show can move on to more interesting things.

When Conrad finally arrives at Belly’s place, he’s surprised to find she’s been living in Paris for a while – it’s been either ten months or several years, judging by how she seems. He’s especially taken aback by her stylish appearance, arriving on the back of Benito’s Vespa in a cute sweater and shorts. This Belly is a far cry from the carefree girl he remembers – the one who always wore jeans and stuck her head out the car window – and now seems more sophisticated, like Sabrina after finishing culinary school.

Okay, as a fan, let me tell you, we all *know* Belly is just as excited to see Conrad! You can tell because she’s frantically reapplying her lipstick and questioning her life choices. Poor Conrad doesn’t get that insider view, though. All he gets is Belly casually mentioning she’s busy with birthday plans, but offering to show him around if he’s interested. Honestly, time doesn’t really *work* in this show – they manage a huge bus tour, hitting the Louvre, Versailles, *and* the Eiffel Tower, even squeezing in Jim Morrison’s grave, all before her birthday dinner! She belatedly invites Conrad, and it’s so obvious she wanted to all along – just look at the dress she picked! It seems like she was worried inviting him would mess up her attempt to move on, but let’s be real, she wasn’t *really* trying to move on. That’s not what this show is about at all, is it?

As the season ends, this episode is filled with apologies, many of which happen during a romantic nighttime scene by the Seine River. Conrad confesses he mistakenly believed Belly was punishing herself by staying in Paris, which is a particularly strange statement for him. He also apologizes for prom night. Belly explains she ignored his letters because she was trying to get over him, but it’s clear she wasn’t successful.

Things are heating up quickly, with a passionate energy reminiscent of Taylor Swift’s song “Dress.” We’re caught up in a whirlwind of kissing – on the street, in a cab, even in a stairwell! It’s getting very intimate, very fast. Soon we’re back at Belly’s spacious apartment, and the two of us are shedding our clothes. After a long wait, this sex scene is exactly what we’ve been hoping for, and it definitely delivers.

The most vulnerable moments happen late at night, after intimacy, and that’s when Conrad reveals his true feelings. He’s prepared to cancel a work trip just to stay in bed with Belly, but she’s hesitant, wondering if their connection is genuine or simply fulfilling a wish their mother, Susannah, had for them. It’s a question that’s been hanging over the show for seasons. Conrad dismisses the idea that he only loves Belly to please his mother, but Belly isn’t convinced and asks him to leave. Is this the end of their relationship? Of course not. As soon as Conrad sadly walks away, Belly realizes she’s done enough self-discovery for now. In a voiceover, she declares her love for Conrad, and the scene explodes with a familiar Taylor Swift soundtrack. They chase each other through streets and train stations, finally reuniting with declarations of love, tears, and kisses. Belly has made her choice – Conrad – and he’s chosen her too, fulfilling the wish made at the beginning of *The Summer I Turned Pretty*.

Most shows don’t take this kind of teenage fantasy seriously – the idea that the older boys you’ve always liked suddenly fall for you. Usually, if an ex-boyfriend reappears after you’ve moved on, the heroine would confidently reject him. But *The Summer I Turned Pretty* lets that initial, dreamy fantasy play out exactly as you’d imagine: passionate reunions and declarations of love, without worrying about practical concerns. Honestly, while everyone else is caught up in the romance, I’m the only one thinking about how awkward family gatherings will be!

I probably shouldn’t worry, though. After watching this show for three years, I’ve learned that things usually end up happening the way they’re meant to-at least within the world of the show.

Good Luck, Babe

A new movie about Belly’s life is coming out, focusing on a significant event we haven’t seen yet. Given how dramatic things have been with Belly and Conrad, it’s likely this event will be something more everyday – like her starting a new job – and not another romantic crisis, or even something as big as having a baby.

Benito gifting Belly a large, provocative photo of herself was a clear sign of their issues, and ultimately led to their breakup.

Denise and Jeremiah shared a kiss, but since she’s still moving to California, it feels pointless. Was it just a moment for her to jokingly think, ‘I can’t believe someone with famous parents is kissing me’?

You know, as a movie lover, I always find it fascinating when different characters experience the same period of time in such drastically different ways. In the show ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty,’ Belly remembers that summer as when she really started to come into her own, but for Conrad, it’s the summer his mother first got sick. It’s a powerful contrast and really highlights how personal and subjective memory can be.

• The less said about the goofy “Christmas in Paris” photo montage, the better.

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2025-09-18 01:55