The Summer I Turned Pretty Review: An Elegant Exploration of Grief (Season 2 Episodes 1-3)

Warning: This review contains spoilers for The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 2 Episodes 1-3.

The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 2 is determined to resurrect the angsty teen drama for a new generation with its punchy soundtrack and cringe dialogue.

I, for one, am grateful for its service and in awe of its triumphs throughout these first three episodes.

The second book will not make this adaptation an easy sell. But despite some inevitable pitfalls, this sophomore season’s delicate excavation of Cousins’ ugly underbelly is admirable thus far. Amongst these attractive teens is an awareness that grief is never pretty, and neither is a love triangle involving two brothers.

Love and Loss

Season 2 establishes quickly that, for better or for worse, it will honor the source material. It’s a choice that could prove the range of this cast or leave the breezy teen romance at the mercy of a book that struggled to transcend its somber tones.

Thankfully the first three episodes fend off the storm clouds gathering around Cousins Beach with an elegant exploration of grief.

The choice to reveal Susannah’s fate seconds into the story still comes off as incredibly anti-climactic. Even by Belly standards, it is an awkward icebreaker and leaves this new season stumbling into its introduction.

But the first episode doesn’t stay down for long. It finds a way to hold onto the innocent of last summer with the visible maturity of a teen show that is ready for deeper avenues this time around.

That is clear in Lola Tung’s elevated portrayal of Belly as the hopeful romantic becomes a driving force behind the emotional journey of others with her poignant inner monologues.

Instead of conveying loss with over-the-top displays of emotion, The Summer I Turned Pretty attacks with a subdued sadness that allows the fragments of last summer to shimmer in beautiful contrast to the bleak present day.

I love the choice to use flashbacks from fall and winter to develop that swooning contemporary rom-com. But the show ultimately decides to return to summer for the heavier drama, and that feels right.

Belly and Conrad are standouts of the first two episodes.

They have no trouble proving their chemistry carries over to an endgame-worthy relationship. Removing the two from their beach setting accelerates the swelling emotions surrounding their bond with intimate phone montages that will have you giggling like a teenage girl.

It’s tough to be anything but Team Conrad by the time you hit play on Episode 3, but Jeremiah has a swift and swoon-worthy rebuttal.

A Killer Mixtape

Season 1 wowed us with a soundtrack that had no limitations creatively or financially. So it is no surprise that the crowning jewel of Season 2 is the music.

Summer I Turned Pretty treats its teenage mixtape like the soundtrack to Belly’s life; it is every bit an element of the story being told. This series encourages viewers to engage with the lyrics as the songs escalate the romantic tension.

A Taylor Swift song ambush is coming in the first three episodes, and you have to appreciate how effectively this pop icon is weaponized in a series that exemplifies her work. It’s a lovely song choice that conveys the connection between Belly and Conrad, and this teen romp’s technical brilliance.

It is hard to top musical moments like “Brutal” and “False God” from last season. Still, the diabolical use of one non-Taylor Swift song this season might be my favorite scene transition yet. It’s unexpected and captures Belly’s teenage experience in that moment beautifully.

Plus, this season is having fun toying with our heartstrings as it throws in a few red herrings to keep us guessing.

A Group Effort

An overlooked detail in teen dramas is always the ensemble work, and Season 1 of Summer I Turned Pretty struggled to get those group dynamics right. But Season 2’s desire to keep its core group tight is clear.

This adaptation acknowledges a need to flesh out perspectives beyond Belly, but with Suzannah and Laurel’s friendship taking a hit, that is no easy feat.

However, the show pivots, utilizing Steven to pull Laurel and Taylor into the story.

With Shayla written out of the story, Belly’s brother could have easily been a weak link this season. Instead, he is a compelling linchpin, bridging the gap between Laurel and the teens, while offering a fun chemistry for Taylor to banter off.

This group of young actors meshes well; they have distinct personalities and are basking in the benefits of established ensemble chemistry. The final scene of Episode 3 has me excited to see what this cast can do as a cohesive unit.

A New Chapter

The pacing of these first three episodes lends itself well to a weekly release format with lots of compelling conflicts, thrilling cliffhangers, and few missteps in the show’s mission to explore a non-linear timeline.

It’s unclear how these new cast additions will fit into the group. I fear Skye, a non-book addition to this series, will feel like a diversity afterthought, but it is far too early to tell.

What’s clear is the tension Susannah’s sister lends to the series as she delivers a devastating blow to this family. Leave it to Kyra Sedgwick (a.k.a Madeline Wuntch) to be the antagonist that gets our blood boiling.

All in all, the start of Season 2 sells its ugliest plot point with refined storytelling and the right amount of teenage theatrics.

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What did you think of the first three episodes of The Summer I Turned Pretty? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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New episodes of The Summer I Turned Pretty stream Fridays on Prime Video.

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Christopher Briney, Gavin Casalegno, and Sean Kaufman Introduce the Boys of ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ [Interview]