On Wednesday September 17th, the epic finale to the hit television (TV) show The Summer I Turned Pretty aired. Jenny Han, the director and author of the show and books, scared fans before the season even released. Spoilers, but in the books Belly, the protagonist, ends up with the oldest Fisher brother, Conrad. Many fans of the show are team Conrad, but Jenny Han quoted before the season was released, “There are surprises. And there are things that aren’t exactly like the books.” Many fans throughout the season were anticipating for an alternate ending, based off what Han said. To many fans likings, Belly did end up with Conrad, but with many bumps along the road.
Jack L. from on Rotten Tomatoes said, “The central plot is so ridiculous yet compelling that it makes the whole thing fun to watch. Chris Briney and Lola Tung shine, making Conrad and Belly’s story genuinely excellent. That said, the side characters drag the story down and t
he pacing feels questionable, but overall it’s still a fun time.” Highlighting the side characters, especially Jeremiah, many people hated this season. People did not like how Jeremiah cheated on Belly in the beginning of the season, and all together how he treated her. Critics also did not like how much team Jeremiah was shown this season, compared to only a couple episodes for team Conrad.
However, many people have hated Belly the main character, more than any other character in the show this season. Critics argue that Belly’s only significant character arc is tied to her romantic relationships, with little self-reflection or growth in other areas, which is a flaw in a coming-of-age story. Many viewers feel she is inconsiderate of others’ feelings, pointing to her mistreatment of her brother Steven and her actions at Susannah’s funeral as examples of her immaturity.
Even though there was many questionable decisions made by the producers, many fans are happy Belly ended up with Conrad. A more exciting announcement is that Jenny Han said they’re making The Summer I Turned Pretty Movie. Many fans are excited to more of Belly and Conrad, and how their relationship matures over the course of the movie. No release date has been set, but keep on the lookout for the movie.
