‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ Returns, Stirring Up Big Emotions

‍The Summer I Turned Pretty has returned with a new season, promising more heartfelt moments, emotional twists, and romantic drama. Fans can expect intense feelings as the story dives deeper into the lives and relationships of its beloved characters. With its signature mix of nostalgia, young love, and coming-of-age struggles, the series continues to captivate audiences. The return of the show is sure to spark strong emotional reactions and renewed excitement among its viewers.

There’s a lot to digest when it comes to the third and concluding season of The Summer I Turned Pretty  and we’re not just talking about Belly’s (Lola Tung) packed college duffle.

On Wednesday, Prime TV dropped the first two episodes of the sun-soaked series, known for its central love triangle. The story resumes four years later, with Belly now a junior at the fictional Finch College, currently in a relationship with Jeremiah Fisher (played by Gavin Casalegno). Meanwhile, his older brother and Belly’s former flame, Conrad (Christopher Briney) is attending Stanford to study medicine.

Although Belly and Jeremiah appear to be in a solid relationship, it’s quickly made clear that the romantic tension between the three characters hasn’t disappeared, even if it’s not the primary focus of these opening episodes.

The main source of drama in this early part of the season, which mostly takes place away from the familiar setting of Cousins Beach aside from a few flashbacks, arises when Belly learns that Jeremiah was unfaithful during a spring break trip to Cabo. The situation is reminiscent of the infamous "we were on a break" plotline from Friends.

Jeremiah believed they had split up before the trip, but Belly didn’t see it that way.

Given how emotionally invested the fanbase is, it was expected that certain developments would divide opinion, so much so that the show’s official X page issued a message ahead of the premiere urging fans to “keep the conversation kind.”

The statement included community standards, warning that those who engage in harassment, hate speech, doxxing, or personal attacks on the cast or crew could face bans, though it didn’t specify how enforcement would be handled.

Speaking to Teen Vogue last week, Lola Tung acknowledged how fans tend to root passionately for a certain romantic outcome, especially when they feel strongly connected to the characters. She also admitted that while she’s thankful for the enthusiasm, some of the fan behavior can get a bit intense.

That emotional energy is bound to remain throughout the season, particularly after the second episode’s cliffhanger, where Jeremiah unexpectedly proposes to Belly. As expected, the moment came with all the drama the show is known for.

Following their breakup due to his betrayal, the couple reconnects when Belly’s brother, Steven (Sean Kaufman), ends up hospitalized after a car crash. Encouraged by her friend Taylor (Rain Spencer), Belly decides to forgive Jeremiah, who had been supporting her at the hospital.

As they walk outside the hospital, after Belly tells Jeremiah she never wants to be hurt like that again and he agrees, he then proposes to her. He didn’t have a ring… It came right after her brother regained consciousness from a coma…And she accepted.

Book fans knew the proposal was coming, but even so, the on-screen execution felt just as awkward as it did in the novel. It’s not that Jeremiah’s mistake is unforgivable, it’s that some viewers feel Belly deserves someone who won’t make that mistake in the first place. (Cue support from #TeamConrad.)

Even Jenny Han, the author of the original books, told People in a recent interview that it’s still open for debate whether Jeremiah’s actions really counted as cheating. That we’re all so invested is a testament to the performances of the show’s cast. Major plot turns are bound to stir strong emotional reactions and that’s perfectly okay, as long as viewers approach those discussions with respect.

New episodes of The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3 drop every Wednesday, with the finale set for September 17.

For questions or comments write to contactus@bostonbrandmedia.com

Source: CNN‍