Belly Conklin and the Fisher brothers sit on a beach, forming the shape of a (love) triangle. Photo courtesy of Prime Video.
ANA DOLLARD | ASSISTANT CULTURE EDITOR | adollard@butler.edu
Dating in an era when most people’s romance is facilitated through an app is a scary thought. However, watching Belly Conklin as she navigates adolescence and the messy dynamic between two brothers — who also serve as her love interests — is somehow a relief from that modern noise. “The Summer I Turned Pretty” is a teen drama that follows the love triangle between Belly and her childhood best friends — Conrad and Jeremiah — played respectively by Lola Tung, Christopher Briney and Gavin Casalegno.
For a coming-of-age romance, the show has amassed an impressive number of fans. Why is it that the series exploded in popularity, garnering 25 million worldwide viewers in its release week alone?
The breezy summery setting may be one of the reasons viewers are so entranced. Set in the fictional town of Cousins Beach, Massachusetts, “The Summer I Turned Pretty” is — to put it plainly — pretty. Beachy vibes mixed with the magic of summer greenery make it all the more romantic, and music is a constant aid for the show’s heated drama. Featuring pop icons like Taylor Swift and classics from Fleetwood Mac, each moment is perfectly instrumentalized.
Sydney Louis, a junior organizational communication and leadership major, theorized how the setting and vibe of the show influence its popularity.
“At the end of the day, it’s a feel-good escape story with summery themes and romance,” Louis said. “I think a lot of Gen Z resonates with romance and summer [nostalgia].”
For others, however, the show represents the struggles of the modern dating scene. Belly’s insecurities at the beginning of the series, her tendency to fall for unavailable men and her attachment to familiar relationships are all elements of Gen Z’s dating patterns.
Sophomore English major Grace Nuñez explained how “The Summer I Turned Pretty” mirrors Gen Z’s culture in dating and beyond.
“We see so many commitment issues and ghosting,” Nuñez said. “All of these things feel super relatable for us young adults living in the modern world.”
In addition to the romance of the show, Nuñez also found other aspects to be relatable to Gen Z.
“The characters are modern,” Nuñez said. “The fashion that they wear is modern. Even the humor is super relatable to [the present].”
“The Summer I Turned Pretty” not only follows Belly as she grows up, but also as the world grows up. Watching Belly’s style evolve can be just as entertaining as watching her character progress. Season one features the jean shorts and Americana look of 2022. Season two is more mature and less girl-next-door, with brighter colors and pleated tops. Season three features Belly’s minimalist, floor-length wedding dress — perhaps a symbol of how she is not ready for a more complex relationship.
Besides the fun elements of setting and fashion, the show’s drama itself is easy to connect with others over. Walk up to anyone and ask whether they are team Jeremiah or Conrad — it is like the Twilight era of love-triangle pop culture all over again. For many, “The Summer I Turned Pretty” is more than just a show; it is a bonding opportunity.
Mia Tedesco, a sophomore political science and Spanish double major, shared her experience with how the show has helped her form stronger bonds.
“Watching [the show] with friends this past month [to reconnect] with everybody on campus was a big thing,” Tedesco said. “We built up our relationships, so that was something special.”
In a world where watching shows and movies can happen on a phone in a room, alone, it can be increasingly difficult to find pop culture common ground. If one thing can be said about “The Summer I Turned Pretty”, it is that it has allowed for the younger generation to have a pop culture staple and conversation starter that might have been absent before.
“The Summer I Turned Pretty” is available for streaming on Prime Video. New episodes are released each Wednesday at 3 a.m. EST.
