If you’re not a fan of The Summer I Turned Pretty, you might be missing out on what has become a weekly source of emotional misery for its committed fans. The third and last season is coming out with new episodes every week, and the sixth episode, called “Last Name,” which aired on Wednesday, has made the drama even more intense.
The last 10 minutes of the most recent episode of a show that is sometimes called “trash TV” have had a big effect. They have pushed the limits of teen drama and entered what many fans are calling the “smut” category. There has always been a strong chemistry between Belly (Lola Tung) and Conrad (Christopher Briney), but this episode turned up the heat even further.
There was no kiss and very little touching in a moment that took place in a restroom, but the emotional intensity was clear. After Conrad hurts himself while surfing, Belly rushes to help him. The camera stays on the minute, personal details as she helps him clean his wound: the water pouring from Conrad’s hair, the way they look at each other, and the slight actions that show how much they want to be together. Taylor Swift’s “False God” comes back in the background at just the right moment. This song played during a very important near-kiss between the two in the first season. The sound of Belly’s heartbeat, which is an important part of the moment, makes the tension and the emotional weight of their relationship stronger.
Fans have flocked to social media to share their shock and joy, and the comment sections are full of happy and occasionally hysterical responses. “JEREMIAH FISHER, YOUR TIME IS UP, YOU’RE DONE!” “WELCOME HOME BELLYCONRAD CHEATERS!” and “the SLUTTIEST thing a man can do” are two phrases that people say a lot. Other comments, like “the heartbeats, the tension, belly almost kissing conrad, belly then clutching her chest… oh i am UNWELL” and “I just fell to my knees,” precisely describe how the fans were feeling. A lot of people are saying that this scene is an instant classic, and they compare it to the famous “peach stand” scene from the last episode.
There are only five episodes left in the season, and the series finale is set for Wednesday, September 17. The show’s creators are doing a great job of generating excitement. This new moment with Conrad has made the love triangle’s result more uncertain and exciting than ever as Belly and Jeremiah’s wedding approaches. The “Team Conrad” vs. “Team Jeremiah” debate is getting more heated, and it’s evident that fans will need a full week to recover after the finale.