Cruel Summer Season 2 Episode 4 Review: Springing a Leak
Personal truths drip out as inevitable and uncomfortable conversations occur on Cruel Summer Season 2 Episode 4, “Springing a Leak.”
Even so, this episode leaves plenty — almost too much — for the characters to confront later in the season, including Luke’s murder.
A slow-burn thriller is a plus in an age of TV where shortened seasons sometimes result in characters and their dynamics coming second to completing the plot because show renewals are also challenging to receive. But, as an anthology series, Cruel Summer stands out.
The show’s methodical storytelling, especially in Season 1, works because of how much ground it covers with the characters and plot on Cruel Summer Season 1 Episode 1, “Happy Birthday Jeanette Turner,” alone.
Season 2 has yet to catch up, which could be intentional to differentiate the seasons’ overall storytelling structures. Nevertheless, it works against these characters, making it feel like Cruel Summer is still getting to know them. Of course, the alternative is that it wants to keep us guessing about how well we think we know them.
For example, while “Springing a Leak” directly expands Steve’s fearful role as the Chambers patriarch, it avoids making any revelations as resounding about Debbie. The disjointed approach to the season’s prominent parental figures begs whether a major turn awaits Debbie in the second half of Cruel Summer‘s season.
Either way, KaDee Strickland’s performance at that family dinner certainly makes a statement. Plus, there is plenty of room to explore more of Megan and Debbie’s complicated dynamic because “Springing a Leak” continues only to scratch the surface.
With its gradual build of characterization and story, this episode challenges an assumption that — even as recently as Cruel Summer Season 2 Episode 3, “Bloody Knuckles” — this season is far less twisty than its debut.
More major players in Season 2’s mystery stretch the plot in multiple directions. Consequently, Summer 2000’s efforts to emphasize Megan and Isabella’s supposed guilt become less believable.
Those scenes where Sheriff Myer questions them also have an undercurrent of unreliability after Cruel Summer Season 2 Episodes 1 and 2, “Welcome to Chatham / Ride or Die,” demonstrate Steve’s influence over everyone — even Chatham’s Sheriff.
Furthermore, Steve’s belief that Debbie having two children outside of marriage is an equal or worse moral conflict than Brent’s illegal tapes makes the twist that Megan was pregnant hit even harder. It muddies the waters for Steve in any presumed innocence in his son’s murder.
Though it doesn’t overtly make a case for Jeff one way or the other, “Springing a Leak” expands Jeff and Megan’s dynamic in Summer 1999 where “Bloody Knuckles” doesn’t.
Jeff and Megan’s discussion about their futures against the backdrop of manufacturing fake IDs works on multiple accounts. It allows the characters to communicate in a way they haven’t before and teases the off-screen person involved in Megan’s coding by Summer 2000.
The sequences of Isabella, Megan, Luke, and Jeff trying (and failing for the boys) to sneak into the bar and speeding away are the types of experiences that ground the teen drama subgenre.
It’s refreshing to see Megan and Isabella grow closer after episodes of contention between them.
Isabella and Megan’s bonding works far better than Luke’s jealousy because Cruel Summer has yet to show why Luke has different feelings for Isabella and Megan.
This season includes more scenes that inform Luke and Megan’s dynamic than Luke and Isabella’s. Oddly, the latter’s friendship post-breakup is more defined than their relationship.
That disconnect undercuts Isabella’s comfort with Luke and familiarity with the Chambers house by Winter 1999. Spending more time with Isabella and Luke while Megan and Jeff grow closer could have bridged that gap better.
Cruel Summer Season 2 wants to play with the love triangle trope, but nearly halfway through the season, “Springing a Leak” is still sharpening its corners. That move is strange, considering the show utilizes Megan and Luke’s history and builds a romantic story between Isabella and Luke from the premiere.
The slower pacing should give the episodes more time to unpack both relationships equally. Instead, “Springing a Leak” leans into the drama between Megan, Isabella, and Luke without providing a genuine reason for its existence.
If Cruel Summer wants anyone to believe that the love gained and lost between the trio could cause Luke’s murder, there are many critical gaps to fill. So, rather than gaining it, the mystery loses some momentum before the season’s halfway point.
Even when Cruel Summer smash cuts to Smash Mouth’s “All Star” and uses direction and lighting to tell a story, the season’s loose ends are knotting up instead of falling into place.
Season 2 still has time to unravel this mystery in a way that is both thrilling and serves the characters, but hopefully, it doesn’t happen too late.
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Cruel Summer airs Mondays at 10/9c on Freeform.
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Shelby Elpers
Shelby is a TV enthusiast and pop culture writer. She's an avid podcast listener, green tea drinker, and soccer fan. Her brand can be summarized in rom-coms, superheroes, teen dramas, and workplace comedies.