Unpopular opinions on The Summer I Turned Pretty
OKAY. So, I didnāt read the book series, but I just got through watching the tv series. I feel like thereās a lot thatās bothered me. Itās meant to be a romance story with drama, and of course theyāre trying to get you to favor couples and one person over another. Do not get me wrong I love TSITP, but I also have so much to rant about that I feel needs to be said lol.
*WARNING: Spoilers
** I realized after writing this, a lot of what I said supports Jeremiah. I think it's because most of the strong opinions in the fandom go against Jeremiah. But, hear me out on everything I have to say.
Jeremiah didn't cheat
I have nonstop heard people saying Jeremiah is a cheater. It's kinda bonkers, honestly. It's a lot of people siding with Belly in this situation. In my opinion, if you think he cheated, go touch some grass and talk to someone in real life who's been cheated on lol. I feel very strongly about this particular situation in the series.
When I watched the scene where it flashes back to Jeremiah and Belly breaking up, it never once popped up in my mind that this was a cheating situation. It was very clearly stated that they were done the relationship. Let me remind you of the conversation:
Jeremiah: So, let's just end it.
Belly: Are you serious?
Jeremiah: Yes, I'm serious.
Belly: Okay, fine. If that's how you feel.
Jeremiah: It is.
Belly: Great. Okay, awesome. Bye.
Jeremiah: Bye.
Even author of the series, Jenny Han, said Jeremiah thought they were broken up and Belly didn't. Even Taylor says when she was telling Steven about the situation, she said, "...well, technically they were broken up."
And, let me be clear, I'm not justifying his behavior. He was so immature. He wanted to pick a fight the moment he saw an opportunity. He knew Belly had spent Christmas with Conrad and was heated about it deep down. She was keeping this secret from him, so, he thought it was okay to keep the Cabo trip a secret. It could've potentially lead to Jere cheating on her if he hadn't broken up with Belly (no one can say for sure), but he did break up with her and used Lacie as a rebound. Belly was the one who somehow didn't think it was a real breakup (and we later find out Conrad feels the same way when he hears about it) and saw it as cheating. But, at the end of the day, these two were just being completely dishonest with each other, which isn't right on either of their parts. I'm tired of so many people pointing fingers at Jere and acting like Belly did nothing wrong. Sure, she didn't do anything with Conrad when she spent Christmas with him, but being secretive about it is so strange. If she didn't still have feelings for Conrad, it wouldn't have been kept secret.
I've even heard people say Belly was "emotionally cheating" on Jere because she still had feelings for Conrad throughout their whole relationship. I personally don't know how I feel about that term, but if you see this as the case and feel Jere cheated, then isn't it even? Aren't they both at fault?
So, to kinda sum up what I think, I feel it was pure dishonesty, not cheating. Jeremiah looked lost and got quiet when Belly said it wasn't a "real breakup," like he disagreed with that. I feel he just went with the cheating narrative because he cares about Belly's feelings and most likely felt he couldn't fight her on this situation.
Conrad isn't mature
I'll be completely honest, I did not like Conrad in the beginning. I like him a bit better now, but I'm still not a big fan of him. I'll explain why.
Conrad never knew how to be very open about his feelings for Belly until the last minute...two nights before she married Jere. Even before and during their relationship, I feel he struggled a lot to be vulnerable with Belly. It bothered me so much. What I preferred about Jere is that he was at least open about his feelings for Belly and was very direct with her about them. It was even obvious before he said something, like when he came and danced with her at the debutante practice. Conrad was never like that. He bottled it all up. I understand when he struggled even more during his relationship with Belly, since he was dealing with Susannah being cancer-ridden. But, again, even prior to, he wasn't good about showing his emotions. Perhaps he's written that way because he's supposed to be the calm, collected older sibling? But, in my personal experience of having an older sibling, they've always been much more vulnerable than I have.
But, anyhow, I feel that was such an immature move, waiting that long to admit his feelings to Belly and trying to crush his brother. And, the way he overall projects his feelings is usually done horribly. I understand Belly and Jere getting engaged was an insane move, and Conrad feeling it was ridiculous is very valid. But, the way he made fun of them in the car nonstop for it was so immature. Don't get me wrong, I found the whole scene absolutely hilarious, but how in the world can you say Conrad is mature after watching this scene?
Conrad also backs the whole idea of throwing a party out of spite and for one last hoorah before the house in Cousins is completely out of the Fishers' hands. Throwing the party was so immature. No question about it.
So, overall, there's plenty of times Conrad isn't mature. He most likely just looks mature because he's seemingly more mature than his younger brother. Be real: Jere doesn't set a high bar...at all. But stop claiming Conrad is mature. He isn't. He's a goofy, immature teen/twenty-year-old just like the rest of the main characters.
Belly and the parents are the show's villains
I get Belly is goofy and immature because she's growing up and figuring her life out. BUT, she ignites a lot of the bad situations and gets away with it, no blame, no accountability on her part. Belly is very much a Mary Sue type character for this, plus being the very average, clumsy, "not like the other girls" type of girl who is drooled over by multiple guys. But, anyhow, the whole fact that she bounced back and forth between two guys who are brothers which hurt their connection so bad and hurt her own feelings...speaks volumes. How does that hardly get spoken about? That was all started by her. If she'd backed away from them after figuring out they both liked her, the conflict would've been avoided. But, to be fair, if Belly had, we wouldn't have the dramatic plot of TSITP lol.
It's very toxic that Belly chose Jere as backup because she couldn't work things out with Conrad (like, she was the one who immediately jumped to the conclusion at prom that he was breaking up with her). Then, that codependency developed because she got comfortable with Jere and was most likely hoping her feelings for Conrad would eventually dissolve since she does love Jere too (just not as strongly as she loves Conrad).
Belly also immediately tells Jere he cheated, they agree on, "no more secrets," and then...Belly continues to keep the secret about her and Conrad at Christmas. Girl...what. After Jere breaks off the wedding, she decides to just run from everything. She flies all the way to Paris and doesn't tell anyone. No one talks badly of Belly or gets upset. She just gets away and her life starts over as if nothing happened. Ugh. I'm happy she got a new start but also frustrated that just running away from her problems is made to be the answer.
Additionally, Susannah constantly pushing this idea that Belly was "destined to be with one of her boys" and favoring Conrad is absolutely diabolical. The letter she wrote to Conrad that Jere was forced to read on his wedding day about how Belly is the only girl he's ever loved is just insane. And, obviously, Adam is just the biggest pig. That's made so clear in just about every scene he's in. He cheated and barely takes care of his own kids. It's disgusting.
But, something I feel a lot of people overlook is how poorly Jere is treated by his own parents. I already mentioned Susannah's favoritism of Conrad over Jere, but Adam is in his face about it. He praises Conrad all the time and puts Jere down immediately after. No wonder Jere has self-esteem issues. This is unfortunately a common older child-younger child treatment in certain families, and it's sad. Again, I don't say it to justify Jere's behavior, but it gives it reason and it isn't right of the parents to show such strong favoritism of Conrad over Jere.
Let us also not forget the fact that Laurel was the one who made sure the letter made to Conrad got to Jere on the day of the wedding. Diabolical. There's favoritism on her end too, which is also really sad.
Laurel didn't handle the engagement properly
Yes, Laurel had every right to be upset and terrified by the engagement. BUT, I feel it wasn't approached well at all, and I'm not even talking about the crash out at the restaurant. I'm talking about when Jere tried to have a proper conversation with Laurel about their engagement.
Laurel just kept repeating the same thing over and over, "You're too young!" No other reason, nothing to back up this statement. John was absolutely right about them not being him and Laurel, plus Belly digging her heels further into the mud the more she tries to fight her on it. Laurel should've given more reason than just "you're too young" and additionally explained why she feels so strongly about that point anyhow. But she never did. It really bothered me that she could have a proper discussion with her ex-husband about it, but not her own daughter and one of the boys - who's pretty much her son - about it. That's part of why the situation only got worse.
Not only was there that, but she just immediately jumped to not speaking to her only daughter and stating she's not going to the wedding. It was really sad that Conrad had to be the one to tell her it wasn't right of her to be doing that since Belly loves her and needs her. Belly trying to have a proper conversation about it in the first place was actually a mature thing to do on her part. The fact that Laurel was the one deciding to flat out turn her away is terrible.
There wasn't enough Belly and Conrad time
There was so much build up to Belly and Conrad being together. This is how most romance shows and movies typically are. They make it very clear from the start who's going to be the one the main girl ends up with. There's tension and build up to them getting together. Other love interests are thrown in for plot suspense, keeping people wondering "how will she end up with the guy meant for her in the end?" There are very few romances that end with a different guy.
We all waited three seasons for Conrad and Belly to end up together. We knew it was coming. But, then we get two or three episodes of Belly becoming a Paris girl, just showing her new life. Very little Conrad in the picture. The way it played out and was emphasized made it seem like the intention was that she was moving on after all the craziness; that it was ending with her closing up the chapter of her life with the Fisher boys. That honestly would've been a fantastic ending. She matures to become Isabel and lives out a completely new life for herself.
BUT, of course what happens last minute? Conrad shows up. The fact that this happens in the very last episode upsets me. It was so underwhelming and not super romantic. Then, Belly just forcefully kicks him out after they hook up the night before her birthday, realizes almost too late after he leaves that she still loves him, chases him, they kiss, and then ta-dah. All they do is show a couple scenes of them together as a couple. Such little time, no big jaw-dropping moment or two. Now it's just getting dragged out into a movie. Ugh.
I'm trying my best not to complain, but it really was such an underwhelming ending. Sweet, but so underwhelming.
There should've been more time for Skye and Cameron
#Justice for Skye and Cam Cameron. They were so cute together! They had that little bit of a romance plot that was just so wholesome. It built up so naturally, ending on them getting together. But, after that episode in season 2 (I think it was?), no more of them. Like...excuse me? I need more of Skye and Cam in my life.
All that buildup of them together, they kiss - done? Really? I don't need a shit ton of time for them, but like, in the final few episodes when they show flash forwards, show them, too. That would've been so cute.
If you read this far, thank you. I know it's a lot, but I had to get my opinions out. Debate with me if you wish or let me know if you agree with anything I said.
