When it comes to the entertainment industry, there is nothing like a hit tv show to capture the attention of millions. Around the country people stay up all night waiting for new episodes to air. They will host watch parties, make TikTok edits, and rant all over social media about their favorite moments.
The most recent show to cause this widespread obsession is “The Summer I Turned Pretty.” The show, based on Jenny Han’s book trilogy, follows a girl by the name of Isabel “Belly” Conklin (played by Lola Tung) and her chaotic love life as she grows up and tries to find herself. Things become complicated when she gets caught in a love triangle with two brothers Conrad (Chris Briney) and Jeremiah Fisher (Gavin Casalegno). With each season comes another problem, another heartbreak, and another trip to Cousins Beach where the show is set
As the show grew bigger and bigger its impact only widened. Soon celebrities would start to post on social media, and the famous “Team Conrad” or “Team Jeremiah” trend started. After every episode people would rush to social media to declare what team they were on. Large numbers of people would be ready at a moment’s notice to defend their choice. The trend was so large even NFL teams posted videos of their players being asked if they were “Team Conrad” or “Team Jeremiah.” While “Team Conrad” always seemed to have more followers, every episode presented new information and problems that could cause this to change.
As people watched, they would compare certain moments and iconic lines spoken in the show to what was in the books. Since Jenny Han both wrote the books and created the show, they almost matched word-for-word, but there are certain things you can never get 100% right when it comes to adaptations. For example, in season three there is a very iconic beach scene where Conrad Fisher pours his heart out to Belly the day before a very big event. While the scene was very moving and impactful, book readers were quick to point out that certain words were missing or certain phrases were adjusted. While this may not seem like a big deal, it can be the difference in how a character’s feelings and emotions are interpreted by the audience.
This show captured the attention of audiences everywhere. It not only brought people together to root for certain teams but also just gave people a common interest to obsess over. You could go anywhere and find someone that would be willing to talk about the show. This kind of impact has only been seen by a handful of shows like Game Of Thrones or Stranger Things. Shows like this truly are eternal and stay with fans and communities alike forever.
The show officially ended and aired its last episode on Sept. 17. Following the show’s ending, an announcement was made that there is a movie in production to officially end the series. No release date or further information has been given yet, but fans are waiting in anticipation for when they will see their favorite love triangle again.
