"The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 1" Team Conrad

 

    I'll be honest, I really didn't see it with this show at first. I thought it was embarrassing, cringy, and just slop that I should have no interest in. Honestly though, it's grown on me significantly, and even if I think pitting two brothers against each other is a little odd I honestly don't mind. It itches that thrill inside of me for cheap drama, to just root for one side over the other like an animal, sort like Bridgerton, but if it was more modern, and with a soundtrack that didn't involve some bizarre string covers of modern pop songs. So let's talk about it.

    I'll admit, the first episode had me nearly throw up. I thought Steven and Jeremiah were gay as hell together, and frankly for the first couple of episodes I thought Conrad was creepy as hell, and still do. It's like they purposely did it. He was brooding, but not in a hot and mysterious way, just in like a pervert uncle kind of way. Which brings me to the first point, for better or for worse this show is really in your face with the music. I don't mean it's really loud or something, but like they match up the lyrics so obviously with what the characters are feeling at the moment. I wouldn't even call it subtext it's just that explicit. I mean even if it's really obvious, I thought the music choice was pretty good.

    In terms of characters, I'd say honestly, I'm not that crazy about too many of them. I do think that Shayla and Steven are pretty cute though, and other than that nonsensical gambling plotline I'm honestly rooting for them. I also think they're storyline is pretty decent, especially with the whole feeling inadequate because of wealth disparity thing. I don't know though I just feel like with them, and a lot of the relationships it feels like the writers just stirring shit for the sake of stirring shit. 

    Which brings me to the parents of the show. Honestly, when the husband said it always felt like there was a third in their relationship I got what he was saying. I don't know if some lesbian storyline is being planned for them, but surely there has to be some payoff soon. Right now it mostly just feels like filler to let the other scenes breathe. Especially the scene where they smoked weed and the mother made out with that random 30 year old at a bar. Like was it just fan service for older fans? I'm not sure. The same is basically how I feel about the whole dads and Cleveland thing. I just don't particularly care about it at the moment. I think Susannah having cancer was by far the most interesting thing the show did with the adult characters, but even then it's not like they really said anything new. I just think how it affects the teenage characters is more interesting.

    Which of course brings me to the question of who do I like Belly more with. Honestly, at first it was Jeremiah, but after finding out his actor is a conservative, and like the weird switch up of making him the creepy sibling, I just can't see it anymore. Once the showrunners stopped trying to make Conrad creepy he finally made sense to me. It was just that they try really hard with him in the first couple of episodes. Also the male manipulation that never lead anywhere with Jeremiah is certainly a choice. I just don't know who the showrunners are trying to sway viewers to support. On a side note I don't like Taylor at all, partially because she's team Jeremiah, partially because I don't like her right now.

Final Score: 65/100

    Honestly, I could go on my phone watching this show and I wouldn't miss out much. It is nice having a show to watch with my sister again though, a show where we can talk during it, and I can make predictions. It's fun, it's not like I care about the sanctity of this show or anything, I know I'm here for the drama, and I'm enjoying it accordingly. What's wrong with that? If you're wondering why I don't talk about Belly that much. She kind of flip flops too much. I'm not too hot on that girl next door bit so far, and well we all know Cameron was not long for this world.