Season three of Amazon’s hit series “The Summer I Turned Pretty” concludes on Sept. 17 with the 11th and final episode. For long-time fans, this is the culmination of a saga three years in the running.
The first season aired in summer of 2022, setting the stage for a charming coming of age story and receiving an immediate, positive critical response. While season two was less well received, the final season has gone viral on social media, the books have re-entered the Amazon bestseller lists and the catchy pop tunes featured are experiencing increased streaming. Within seven days of its premiere, season three drew over 25 million viewers globally.
The show’s success may seem surprising, especially amid the abundance of modern romcoms flooding streaming services and failing to gain popularity. But in a world facing a plethora of dark news and depressing headlines, “The Summer I Turned Pretty” is a bright spot celebrating the whimsy and innocence of first love and loss in young womanhood.
The show does not try to tackle big world issues. Belly, the main character, is 15 in the first season, and her small world is composed of Cousins Beach and everyday life. As a high schooler, her biggest concerns are the Fisher boys and college admissions. Viewers are allowed to escape reality and live in Belly’s fictional world.
Despite this, Belly is not a flat character. She grapples with the death of a beloved mentor figure, the complicated relationship with her mother and the difficulties of dating. She is complicated and makes mistakes, and the characters around her do the same. Yet the viewers rest easy in the confidence that this is a romcom, and at the end of the day everything will work out.
Viewers have gathered in force, supporting team ‘Bonrad’ or team ‘Jelly,’ depending on which brother they want Belly to be with. Funny moments from the show, such as Jeremiah’s microscopic wedding ring for Belly, went viral on social media.
Conrad’s yearning is likened to Mr. Darcy’s brooding attitude in Jane Austen’s “Pride & Prejudice.” The show plays into tropes that viewers can immediately recognize and understand, and many scenes subtly reference familiar romcoms. Conrad repairs the beach house roof and then shares a flirtatious dinner with Belly, paralleling scenes from “The Notebook.” Similarly, iconic shots from classics such as “Sabrina” and “Titanic” are echoed throughout the series. Belly sends postcards from Paris and Conrad writes her love letters, echoes of old-time love stories lost in the modern dating era.
While the series does not perfectly recreate the essence of early 2000s romantic comedies, it embraces the whimsy and sentimentality that made them so popular. For the younger generations, it captures the struggles of first love and self-discovery. More than just a romcom, “The Summer I Turned Pretty” is infused with nostalgia and the hope that just maybe everything will turn out for the better. In a world defined by chaos and violence, it offers a comforting escape to a simpler time.
