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The Phenomenon of "The Summer I Turned Pretty"

By Abby Thompson


JESSE PERETZ / @jennyhan and @jessepooljesse on Instagram 
JESSE PERETZ / @jennyhan and @jessepooljesse on Instagram 

If you have been anywhere on the internet the last three or so months, you have probably heard about this show called “The Summer I Turned Pretty.” This summer, the show's third and final season aired, and it catapulted the show into new stratospheres, becoming the top streaming show for Gen Z and Millennial women. Now, what makes this show so appealing? 


“The Summer I Turned Pretty” follows the main character, Belly (Isabel Conklin), and her life after she “turned pretty” one summer, focusing on her lo

ve triangle with the two Fisher brothers, Conrad and Jeremiah. The show was initially adapted by Prime Video in 2022 from a trilogy of the same name by author Jenny Han. You may know Jenny Han as the best-selling author of the book series and Netflix Movie trilogy “To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before” and the Netflix teen drama series “Xo Kitty.” 


The main discourse you have probably seen regarding the show is whether you are Team Conrad or Team Jeremiah. This rivalry echoes some of the most iconic fan debates from the past. Think Team Jacob vs. Team Edward in “Twilight,” Team Dean vs. Team Jess in “Gilmore Girls,” or Team Damon vs. Team Stefan in “The Vampire Diaries.” Like these other iconic fan debates, Team Conrad vs. Team Jeremiah has become even bigger than the show, with celebrities and sports teams giving their input on which ship they prefer. Both are valid choices, though if you are not team Conrad after season three, you may be wrong. Conrad is the brooding, emotionally complex older brother whose quiet intensity and hidden vulnerability make him both captivating and frustrating to those around him. Whereas Jeremiah is the charming, outgoing and mildly irritating younger brother.

PRIME VIDEO / @primevideo on Instagram
PRIME VIDEO / @primevideo on Instagram

Another aspect of the show you might have heard of is its superb soundtrack. The show utilizes music from pop artists like Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Rodrigo, Billie Eilish and many others. Many have theorized, based on the music played in this show, that it has one of the biggest music budgets in television history. The biggest factor that has led people to this conclusion is the number of Taylor Swift songs played in this show. From “Red” to “The Way I Loved You,” Taylor Swift's music has become a part of the show's identity. She has even released versions of her songs on the program. For example, “This Love” Taylor's Version was first played and released during the season finale of season one in 2022. Monumental moments in the show are also defined by Taylor Swift's songs, like “Dress” in the iconic season finale. 


Season three, which aired this summer, has been the most popular season of the series so far. One major factor was the show’s switch to a weekly release schedule. Unlike season two, which dropped multiple episodes at once, season three was released one episode per week. While this format initially sparked some negative discourse among fans eager to binge the series, it ultimately played a key role in building a strong and active community. The weekly anticipation gave viewers time to discuss, speculate and bond over each episode, turning the show into a shared experience rather than a quick watch. Another reason for season three’s popularity was its plot, which many, including myself, who have read all the books and done plenty of research, consider the most compelling of the series. Some of the most popular scenes of the series were in

this season, from the peach scene to the surfboard accident and the letter mishap. The final reason season three had so much popularity was its theme of yearning. Yearning is a deep emotional longing or desire for something, often something you can’t have or something that's out of reach. A popular example of yearning is in the “Notebook” when Noah wrote Allie every day for a year, waiting for a response. One specific character this season exemplified yearning and brought the term back into pop culture.


Sadly, the show aired its final episode on September 17, marking the end of an era for fans who had followed the story from the beginning. However, they announced a movie to tie up the loose ends of the series and give the characters and audience the closure they deserve. The movie release date has yet to be announced, but one question remains: Will you be tuning in? 

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