Maybe things can be like they were before, even just for a night.
Yes, things are different now, and they always will be, there’s no denying that. The idyllic summer our parents create for us when we’re kids begins to slowly, but surely, drift away with each year as we get older. But those moments and memories are still there, serving as our happy place, so when things get tough, we seek out that comfort and try like hell to get it back, even for a brief moment.
Spoiler Alert – this review contains spoilers, proceed at your own risk!
And that’s exactly what the young adults did on The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 2 Episode 4.
They needed an escape to let go of the heaviness that’s been hanging over them and just feel like a carefree kid again for a few hours; where reality melted and nothing truly mattered.
They were reminded of their close friendship that has brought them so much joy over the years—removed from Susannah’s death, the love triangle, school and their futures, and all the other problems.
They were just living in the bliss and enjoying every minute of it. However, reality was always lurking in the background, waiting to pounce, and we’ll undoubtedly deal with the fallout in the coming episodes, but it was just as important for fans to see this side of the group’s friendship as it was for the characters to relive it. We always hear about how magical their childhood was, yet we’ve never really seen it in action until now.
It was a reset that provided a lot of fun and laughter, but it also allowed viewers to see that Belly has truly grown into her own; a confident young woman, one that is no longer afraid to take up space and do what she wants. She’s no longer the timid girl she was last year, trying to minimize herself or be the girl that she thinks Conrad wants.
Conrad also needs to realize that if he doesn’t get it together soon, he’s going to lose Belly for good. Others will see how great of a catch she is, and they won’t hesitate, plus, she isn’t going to wait around forever putting up with his BS.
While there was definitely a vibe between Belly and Conrad during the carnival scenes, especially as they got competitive and went head-to-head, he mostly seemed oblivious to it, or he didn’t want to let it in because he was afraid that he’d have to face with the consequences of how he treated her.
Conrad chose to live in that childhood space for a bit, while Jeremiah took his chance and faced the Tower of Terror with her. This would’ve been the perfect opportunity for Conrad to make his move, but he didn’t take it, and Jeremiah didn’t let the chance go by, swooping in and showing Belly that he’s always been there for her and always taken care of her and her needs. And it was so effortless to him that it kind of made me reconsider which brother I’m actually shipping.
There was a moment between Belly and Jeremiah, and it cannot be denied. Even Taylor saw it, though we know she’s rooting for Jer.
Steven seemingly gave Conrad permission to rekindle his romance with Belly as he mentioned witnessing the sparks, and while I know he means well, his suggestion completely dismisses Conrad’s past behavior and the heartache she endured. A better conversation would’ve been for Steven to tell Conrad that if he’s going to turn up the heat on the flirting, he cannot hurt his sister again the way he previously did.
And it makes me wonder if Conrad can ever change his ways. He’s well aware of the damage he’s done, and yet he remains blocked off and emotionally unavailable. What’s the point of going in circles? Why would Belly even want to do that to herself? He’s got a good heart, but he has plenty of growing up to do if he wants to prove to Belly that he won’t hurt her again.
As for Steven and Taylor, well, those two just need to tell each other how they feel and get it over with because they could not stop cheesing and flirting with each other. It was cute, especially considering last summer’s fiasco.
And finally—who took the furniture? Their brief summer reprieve was just extended as there’s no way the teens will part ways and leave Cousins behind now that someone is taking the extra step to swiftly get rid of Susannah’s beach house.
They’ve proven that they will do anything to save that home, and when backed into a corner, my guess is that they will call reinforcements like Belly and Steven’s mom, Laurel, who was seemingly rekindling her romance with Cleveland. She deserves a shred of happiness after losing her best friend, so I’m all here for it. Plus, Cleveland understands the importance of Cousins, and he had a relationship with Conrad, so I’d imagine he’d want to save it as well. Bring in the big guns.
The teens mean well, but they are naive when it comes to understanding Aunt Julia’s side of things. I don’t think she’s the villain that they are making her out to be. They are seeing it from a topline perspective as a place that was important to them and keeps the memory of their mother alive, however, they aren’t taking into account the financial burden like how much money is required for upkeep. In the real world, memories aren’t enough to go on.
However, a lot of it is Susannah’s fault as she never let them see things for what they really were—never let them see the flaws—simply wanting to push away all the pain and discomfort to make things perfect. She did that with her husband’s cheating, her cancer last summer, and now, the boys are finding out that she also did that with her fractured relationship with Aunt Julia, who doesn’t have fond memories of Cousins or her sister, which likely plays into her decision to want to sell the place that only harbors pain and resentment for her.
Susannah wasn’t a bad person, by any means, but she may have shielded the boys, so now it’s harder for them to make sense of a crippling reality when they are so used to everything going their way and panning out for them.
Though, I appreciate their enthusiasm and dedication to saving a place that they know meant so much to their mom and became a place where everyone felt safe, loved, and happy, and truly hope there’s a way to reunite them as a family as its clear Sky wouldn’t mind having a relationship with their cousins.
What did you think of the episode? Will the teens find a way to save the Cousins house? Will Aunt Julia cave once she sees the magic? Will Sky play an integral part in saving the beach house and helping their estranged family? It is called cousins after all! Plus, they definitely seem to enjoy their outing and the company of their cousins and their friends.
Share your thoughts below on the fourth episode of The Summer I Turned Pretty! Did you enjoy everyone letting loose for a bit?