The much-anticipated third season of “The Summer I Turned Pretty” premiered on July 16. The season was an adaptation of Jenny Han’s book “We’ll Always Have This Summer,” the third and final installment of the trilogy. The first trailer left fans with high expectations due to its clear focus on heartbreak, healing and the complexity of growing up.
Season 3 begins with the same main characters as the previous two seasons, including Lola Tung as Belly, Gavin Casalegno as Jeremiah and Christopher Briney as Conrad. While the series is primarily focused on the complicated love triangle, the supporting cast, including Sean Kaufman as Steven and Rain Spencer as Taylor, adds humor and levity to the story.
The third season was disappointing, as it felt like a departure from the previous seasons. The first season began as a lighthearted coming-of-age story, where Belly reunited with her family friends at the summer house located on Cousins Beach, creating a warm summer atmosphere. Additionally, the series placed less importance on Conrad and Jeremiah and more emphasis on having fun and making friends. However, in Season 3, the plot is primarily focused on Belly and Jeremiah’s tumultuous and toxic relationship, as well as Conrad’s struggle to cope with the heartbreak. Fewer scenes are located in Cousins Beach, and Belly’s focus is primarily on Jeremiah and Conrad, which makes the series feel heavier.
Despite these shortcomings, the series thoroughly shows the reality of growing up. It highlights the sense of grief caused by Susannah’s passing, and her absence is felt throughout most scenes. Belly, in particular, struggles with the feeling of guilt due to her distance from Jeremiah and Conrad during their mother’s passing. Heartbreak is also evident in Conrad’s constant feelings of regret due to his breakup with Belly.
Furthermore, the scenery throughout this season is stunning. Cousins Beach evokes a sense of nostalgia, as evident in the recurring memories of Susannah and the reunion of the main cast. The setting of Paris also brought a more mature view of Belly. The music choices are also a highlight throughout the series. Each song choice matches well with the scene of the season. For example, using “Mystery of Love” by Sufjan Stevens in the scene where Belly and Conrad reconcile during Christmas emphasized their connection and love.
The season portrays the struggles the characters face while growing up in a raw and realistic manner. However, Season 3 of “The Summer I Turned Pretty” ultimately disappoints due to its lack of cohesion with the original storyline and failure to capture the sense of reminiscence and lighthearted fun that made the series so distinct.
