By Haleigh Keil
Rating: 4/5
For lovers of the hit show The Summer I Turned Pretty, this past July saw the much anticipated season two release.
This season was flirty, emotional, and intense. But, if you’re anything like me, the newest episodes might have had you screaming at the TV wondering, “What on earth is Belly doing?”
Season two is told through a series of flashbacks intertwined with the present day, highlighting the alarming amount of changes since season one. At the end of the first season, many fans assumed that lifelong family friends Belly (played by Lola Tung) and Conrad (played by Christopher Briney) would end up together. But they aren’t even talking, and season two delves into the downfall of their relationship following the death of Conrad and Jeremiah’s mom, Susannah.
The Cousins Beach crew (Belly, Conrad, Jeremiah, and Steven) are devastated as they individually navigate a world without Susannah. However, the group is forced to reunite when
Conrad and Jeremiah find out their Aunt Julia (played by Kyra Sedgwick), who inherited the Cousins Beach house in Susannah’s will, has put the beloved beach home up for sale. As someone who hasn’t read the books, this was something I didn't see coming whatsoever.
Things get complicated in Cousins Beach when Belly realises she has feelings for both Conrad and Jeremiah. And who doesn’t love a complicated love triangle? Not to mention the other love triangle between Belly’s brother, Steven (played by Sean Kaufman), her best friend Taylor (played by Rain Spencer) and Taylor’s boyfriend, Milo (played by Will Spencer). Writer, Jenny Han, loves to bring the drama, and season two is no different. In fact, to me, it had even more drama than the first. It seems as though one of the recurring themes in the show is the doomed love triangle. There were times I was screaming at the TV, especially as Belly leads on both Conrad and Jeremiah throughout the entire season. I mean, both guys are great (although there is the ever-ongoing debate of Team Conrad or Team Jeremiah… is this the new Team Edward vs. Team Jacob?), but no one seems prepared to acknowledge how awkward it is watching the three of them. Particularly that one car scene (no spoilers, but if you know, you know). To Belly, I say: pick one already!
This season brought more angst than season one, but in some ways, the pacing might have annoyed some. I found that the series of flashback scenes were sometimes hard to follow, and this season the characters were often in different locations, making it feel a bit disjointed. But since we’re all here for the drama, The Summer I Turned Pretty definitely delivered. This season featured the most dramatic episodes yet, though it was almost stressful to watch at times. But if you’re into drama, this is definitely the show for you. If you’re wanting to watch, you can catch it on Amazon Prime Video, and stay tuned for season three!
