Spoiler Warning: “The Summer I Turned Pretty”
Three summers later of heartbreak and endless debate, “The Summer I Turned Pretty” final season gave fans the closure we were waiting for. And if you’ve been on Team Conrad from the start, the finale feels like a reward.
The show has played with the idea that Jeremiah might be Belly’s love. He’s sweet and dependable, ultimately the safe choice. But “safe” isn’t the same as soulmates. This season finally reminded us why Conrad was never just an option; he was the inevitable.
We see a lot of Conrad’s growth this season. In Paris, he comes out of the corner he’s been hiding in since his mother’s passing. His letter to Belly is raw and honest; he shows vulnerability we’ve never seen from him before. For once, he isn’t running away from his feelings; he’s running to them. That willingness and maturity to finally fight for what he wants is exactly what Belly was waiting for.
On the other hand, Jeremiah’s storyline feels nostalgic: all smiles and easy affection. Yes, he’s conventionally attractive. But let’s be honest — Jeremiah has always been the rebound. Belly goes to him when Conrad shuts her out. Season 3 proves that without Belly’s attention, Jeremiah’s depth starts and ends with being the nice guy.
That explains Belly’s choice. She doesn’t pick Conrad because it’s easy; she picks him because she likes the journey. Jeremiah might have been a bandage for Belly’s heart, but Conrad is the cure. Their connection isn’t about butterflies at the beach – it’s about combating grief, heartbreak and mistakes. It’s about still choosing each other in the end.
This season was definitely not perfect. Some episodes dragged Belly’s indecision into circles that felt repetitive, almost as though the writers were determined to wring every last drop out of the iconic love triangle. At times, the melodrama was overwhelming and overshadowed the genuine emotion that the show is capable of. But the finale made it worth the wait. Watching Conrad and Belly finally stop running from each other was the conclusion this story demanded.
Jeremiah fans may call the ending unfair. But Jeremiah was too childish and dressed like an overgrown frat brother. No girl wants that. But he did teach her what she didn’t want, so she knows her standards. And Belly, like the audience, grew up enough to realize that love isn’t just about who makes you smile in the moment; it’s about someone who stands beside you when it’s hardest to do so.
Season 3 cemented that answer. Jeremiah was the long-term summer fling, but Conrad was the summer love. After years of waiting, Team Conrad finally gets the last word: we told you so.
