Imagine choosing between the two greatest loves of your life. Hard right? Well, this isn’t something Belly (Isabel) Conklin has to imagine; it’s her reality. The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny
Han is a brilliant novel that soon became a TV show that Han directs.
The story unfolds through the eyes of a young girl, Belly (Lola Tung), as she navigates love, grief, and betrayal. It all begins in Cousins Beach, where Belly, along with her mom and older brother, visit her family friends’ beach house every summer. Belly ends up caught in a web of love and lies with two brothers there, Conrad Fisher (Christopher Briney) and Jeremiah Fisher (Gavin Casalegno).
Season three, which released on July 15, focuses specifically on the highs and lows of being a young adult in college and navigating through complicated feelings. The Summer I
Turned Pretty paints this feeling of yearning and young love perfectly. Han takes a new perspective on the glorified beauty of being young and in love, revealing how reckless yet exhilarating it can
be.
Belly and Jeremiah convey these feelings of wanting to rush, as if you’re running out of time and options. Both want something more, yet are too scared to go out and risk losing what they
already have. Now Han also exemplifies the beauty and intimacy of love, showing the positives of just how powerful it can be. She uses Belly and Conrad to portray these feelings of being hopelessly in love to the point that it physically hurts.
I think this paints the beauty and delicacy of the show because it is a rare love you see in movies or shows. Han captures these stolen looks and unspoken words in a creative new way by focusing on the coloring, lighting, and body language in a scene. These wonderful actors portray the feeling of yearning and desire through just a glance, and actions speak louder than words. So much can be told in the story just by the eyes of a character.
These actors are what truly make the show so great. The chemistry between them is radiating off the screen, making it seem as if they are not acting and that the love within the characters is real.
What is so beautiful about this show is how it is able to pull off this love story unlike any other. Countless shows follow similar storylines, yet this one stands out because it not only focuses on the love triangle but the characters and problems around it.
It captures your attention in all sorts of ways. Out of all seasons, this one stands out. It goes in-depth on the characters’ stories and jumps four years into the future. It shows how each of them settle into life. This season expand- ed on so many topics that were not touched as much in earlier
seasons such as infidelity, betrayal, and family dynamics.
I enjoyed it because it created a mature aspect. Han explores the ups and downs of growing up in a way that the audience can relate to without getting rid of the summer loving appeal. The Summer I Turned Pretty is a great watch for anyone who enjoys a summery love story.
