Cruel Summer Review: A Smashing Good Time (Season 1 Episode 2)

We know two things about Kate’s behavior after Cruel Summer Season 1 Episode 2, “A Smashing Good Time.”

Number one: she admits some element of the story she’s telling about her abduction is not true. And number two: she gives a statement to police in 1994 only after she sees Jeanette and Jamie kissing. 

It’s not a good look for her, but we would be complete amateur TV watchers to believe that we had all of the answers to this mystery based on those two facts and two episodes of a series. 

No one is an amateur here. Besides, there are two sides to every story and then there is the truth. So, Cruel Summer could end and still leave our mouths hanging open with the burning question — “But who is lying?” 

Cruel Summer is going well so far because it’s weaving interesting themes, dynamics, and secondary questions around its main conflict. 

Joy and Kate’s relationship is even more compelling than Cindy and Jeanette’s right now (mostly because we still don’t know where Cindy is in 1995 and it’s going to bother me until we find out). 

Kate struggles with wanting to be accepted by her mom, but there is also something deep inside of her that hates bougie garden parties and wearing the proper earrings all the time. 

By contrast, Jeanette appears to want the same thing her mother does on Cruel Summer Season 1 Episode 1, “Happy Birthday, Jeanette Turner,” — acceptance.

Kate and Joy’s conflict is more compelling to ponder at the moment, probably because there is a secret affair involved. 

It would be a lie to say I’m surprised Joy is cheating on Rod. Joy is white privilege personified. So, of course, she scoffs at the idea that Rod is cheating on her when Kate suggests it.

She’s entitled to cheat on Kate’s stepfather but Rod is lucky to be married to her. How dare Kate suggest that her ex-football player husband would even dream of adultery! 

Joy and Cindy Turner are actually more alike than Joy will ever let herself admit. They both care about appearances and what people say about their families. Joy has just had better luck than Cindy at perpetuating fictional perfection.

So, Joy’s hatred of Cindy makes complete sense on a certain level. Then again, Joy is the one with the status. So, why does said hatred run so deep before Kate’s abduction? 

Since I’m airing out my questions — what is Jeanette’s lawyer referring to when she mentions what “happened” to Ben? 

Also, is there even anyone in the car Kate is dancing in front of in 1995? Why don’t we see much of 1995 Kate at all?

And, why does that dial-up internet sound at the beginning of each episode make my skin crawl like it’s nails on a chalkboard? 

Something that saddens me so far about Cruel Summer is that I can’t shake the feeling that Jeanette and Kate would be good friends in 1993, 1994, and 1995 if they both just dropped the Tonya Harding/Nancy Kerrigan crap. Although, perhaps it’s too late to reconcile by 1995. How fitting. 

Olivia Holt plays about 2.5 characters to Chiara Aurelia’s three because her transformation from 1994 to 1995 is more predictable, but she plays all of them well.

It’s Martin who is baffling me. Yes, of course, because he abducts a teenage girl and locks her in a basement and such an act has never crossed my mind.

But if it were a goal of mine, and I got a job as assistant principal, I’d maybe take my time doing my research and not strike the night I arrive in town. 

Just saying. 

Crime Scene Observations 

• Cruel Summer has stellar imagery at times. The Jimmy Choos on the stairs and Kate taking a bath in a sweatshirt are my favorites of the episode. 

 

What did you think of this episode of Cruel Summer? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Cruel Summer airs Tuesdays at 10/9c on Freeform.

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