{"id":2032118,"date":"2025-09-18T16:49:31","date_gmt":"2025-09-18T16:49:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2032118"},"modified":"2025-09-18T16:49:31","modified_gmt":"2025-09-18T16:49:31","slug":"i-tried-to-unpack-the-obsession-with-the-summer-i-turned-pretty-and-im-so-confused-but-also-teamconrad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/i-tried-to-unpack-the-obsession-with-the-summer-i-turned-pretty-and-im-so-confused-but-also-teamconrad\/","title":{"rendered":"I tried to unpack the obsession with \u2018The Summer I Turned Pretty\u2019 and I\u2019m so confused (but also #TeamConrad)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div data-editable=\"content\" itemprop=\"articleBody\" data-reorderable=\"content\">\n<div data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/action-bar\/instances\/cmfpl5qzr000r26qngtih7x7h@published\" data-label-id-prefix=\"action-bar-start-of-article\" class=\"action-bar\" 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   <\/button><\/p><\/div>\n<p>    <button class=\"social-share_labelled-list__open\" data-type=\"open\" aria-label=\"open social share\" title=\"Open social share\"><br \/>\n        <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"icon-ui-share-os\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path d=\"M19 12c.394 0 .714.32.714.714v8.572c0 .394-.32.714-.714.714H4.714A.715.715 0 014 21.286v-8.572a.715.715 0 011.429 0v7.857h12.857v-7.857c0-.394.32-.714.714-.714zm-7.664-9.79a.73.73 0 011.024 0l.076.075 4.916 4.854c.183.18.27.449.188.69a.734.734 0 01-1.216.314L12.57 4.5v11.786c0 .357-.357.714-.714.714s-.714-.359-.714-.714V4.5L7.372 8.143a.73.73 0 01-1.102-.091c-.21-.289-.149-.694.106-.946l4.884-4.821z\"\/><\/svg><\/p>\n<p>    <\/button><br \/>\n    <button class=\"social-share_labelled-list__close\" data-type=\"close\" aria-label=\"close social share\" title=\"Close social share\"><br \/>\n        <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"icon-ui-close\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path d=\"M19.787 18.758l-6.792-6.781 6.746-6.735a.728.728 0 00-1.028-1.03l-6.747 6.737-6.711-6.7a.728.728 0 00-1.028 1.03l6.71 6.698-6.723 6.712a.727.727 0 101.027 1.03l6.725-6.714 6.793 6.782a.725.725 0 001.028 0 .727.727 0 000-1.03\"\/><\/svg><\/p>\n<p>    <\/button>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmfpl5qzr000t26qnds3o4l7w@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            There\u2019s a moment, deep into the finale of \u201c<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2025\/07\/16\/entertainment\/the-summer-i-turned-pretty-season-3\">The Summer I Turned Pretty<\/a>,\u201d when Belly is asked to dance by Conrad. Somewhere in Paris on the banks of the Seine, under the light of the full moon, she grasps his hand and the two come together.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmfpl75dw00053b5zjmv1rumq@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            Look closely and you\u2019ll see Belly is leading the way. This, accident or not, is potent symbolism, as she has been leading Conrad on a merry dance for quite some time. But I don\u2019t really have the context, because this is the first and only episode I\u2019ve watched.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmfpl75dw00063b5zcv9k59ku@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            I confess, I know nothing about \u201cThe Summer I Turned Pretty.\u201d But on the day of the finale\u2019s release, I was strongarmed into watching by colleagues, who told me I was uniquely positioned to unpack this pop culture phenomenon. The same colleagues were yet to watch the finale, and for fear of being spoiled, refused to help with my research. So I jumped on this train right as it was pulling into the station, blind, naked and afraid.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmfpl8a42000w3b5zoiqets0j@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            Mea culpa.\n    <\/p>\n<div data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/image\/instances\/cmfploaoq001f3b5zzfv3dapd@published\" class=\"image_large-elevate image_large__hide-placeholder\" data-image-variation=\"image_large\" data-name=\"S3_UT_308_240617_DOSERI_00401R_CropC_3000.jpg\" data-component-name=\"image\" data-observe-resizes=\"\" data-breakpoints=\"{\" image_large--eq-extra-small=\"\" data-original-ratio=\"0.6628876292097365\" data-original-height=\"1988\" data-original-width=\"2999\" data-url=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/s3-ut-308-240617-doseri-00401r-cropc-3000.jpg?c=original\" data-editable=\"settings\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image_large__container \" data-image-variation=\"image_large\" data-breakpoints=\"{\" image_large--eq-extra-small=\"\">\n       <picture class=\"image_large__picture\"><source height=\"undefined\" width=\"679\" media=\"(max-width: 479px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/s3-ut-308-240617-doseri-00401r-cropc-3000.jpg?c=original&amp;q=w_679,c_fill\/f_webp\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source height=\"undefined\" width=\"967\" media=\"(min-width: 480px) and (max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/s3-ut-308-240617-doseri-00401r-cropc-3000.jpg?c=original&amp;q=w_967,c_fill\/f_webp\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source height=\"undefined\" width=\"860\" media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/s3-ut-308-240617-doseri-00401r-cropc-3000.jpg?c=original&amp;q=w_860,c_fill\/f_webp\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source height=\"undefined\" width=\"860\" media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/s3-ut-308-240617-doseri-00401r-cropc-3000.jpg?c=original&amp;q=w_860,c_fill\/f_webp\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source height=\"undefined\" width=\"860\" media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/s3-ut-308-240617-doseri-00401r-cropc-3000.jpg?c=original&amp;q=w_860,c_fill\/f_webp\" type=\"image\/webp\"><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmfpl75dw00073b5znmib4moa@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            First, I needed to watch the show, adapted from Jenny Han\u2019s young adult novels; bestsellers in their own right that have found a far broader audience on TV. Thanks to Prime\u2019s helpful recap, I can say with confidence it\u2019s about a love triangle involving Belly (pretty), Conrad (handsome, winsome, pale of lip) and his brother Jeremiah (a man of Old Testament name and New Kids on the Block locks). Beyond that, I\u2019m hopelessly out of my depth. A smattering of flashbacks and callbacks to the rescue: I can report there\u2019s been an aborted wedding, a dead mother and a deadbeat dad. But vital context is for people who aren\u2019t on deadlines.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmfpl75dx00083b5zkfyt4ur9@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            Belly has been in Paris for quite some time, proudly flouting her visa (an undocumented immigrant leading a popular US TV show? <em>Sacre bleu!<\/em>). Why Bell-y is in Par-ee is not the first question to cross my mind. That would be why is she called Belly? Is it a cruel jibe from the days before she turned pretty? Her penchant for navel-revealing tops? Oh, her real name is Isabel. Figures.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmfpl75dx00093b5z65tcw51x@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            Other early questions: Why is Jeremiah cooking for so many people? What is Denise receiving seed money for? In what part of the US do all these other characters live? All is unclear.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmfpl75dx000a3b5zkxugaxa6@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            Anyway, these are all mere diversions. It\u2019s clear what the show wants us to focus on, and that\u2019s Conrad arriving in Paris to surprise Belly, presumably to profess his undying love.\n    <\/p>\n<div data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/image\/instances\/cmfplpkhz001j3b5zttdazitk@published\" class=\"image_large-elevate image_large__hide-placeholder\" data-image-variation=\"image_large\" data-name=\"photo_2_3000.jpg\" data-component-name=\"image\" data-observe-resizes=\"\" data-breakpoints=\"{\" image_large--eq-extra-small=\"\" data-original-ratio=\"0.668\" data-original-height=\"2004\" data-original-width=\"3000\" data-url=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/photo-2-3000.jpg?c=original\" data-editable=\"settings\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image_large__container \" data-image-variation=\"image_large\" data-breakpoints=\"{\" image_large--eq-extra-small=\"\">\n       <picture class=\"image_large__picture\"><source height=\"undefined\" width=\"679\" media=\"(max-width: 479px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/photo-2-3000.jpg?c=original&amp;q=w_679,c_fill\/f_webp\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source height=\"undefined\" width=\"967\" media=\"(min-width: 480px) and (max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/photo-2-3000.jpg?c=original&amp;q=w_967,c_fill\/f_webp\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source height=\"undefined\" width=\"860\" media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/photo-2-3000.jpg?c=original&amp;q=w_860,c_fill\/f_webp\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source height=\"undefined\" width=\"860\" media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/photo-2-3000.jpg?c=original&amp;q=w_860,c_fill\/f_webp\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source height=\"undefined\" width=\"860\" media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/photo-2-3000.jpg?c=original&amp;q=w_860,c_fill\/f_webp\" type=\"image\/webp\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/photo-2-3000.jpg?c=original&amp;q=w_860,c_fill\" alt=\"Christopher Briney and Lola Tung in 'The Summer I Turned Pretty.'\" class=\"image_large__dam-img image_large__dam-img--loading\" onload=\"this.classList.remove('image_large__dam-img--loading')\" onerror=\"imageLoadError(this)\" height=\"2004\" width=\"3000\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmfpl75dx000b3b5zakkt2asn@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            His yearning is leeching out of the screen. Is this the secret sauce, the narrative catnip, that has held viewers in its grip for so long? I suspect so. Conrad can\u2019t help but look at Belly with an intensity that somehow bisects \u201cI want to marry you\u201d and \u201cI want to eat you,\u201d but not in a creepy way. He\u2019s down bad, and we\u2019re right in the trenches with him.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmfpl75dx000c3b5zswoti04t@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            If you\u2019ve read this far, you probably need absolutely no more episode recap from me. You\u2019re already a fan. And yet, I can\u2019t help it. There\u2019s too much good stuff here.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmfpl75dx000d3b5z2s5kl2ec@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            At one point, Conrad uses the term \u201cSisyphean Task,\u201d to which Belly jokes he sounds like the \u201c10-year-old you.\u201d Only he hopelessly misuses the term. Belly\u2019s response is meant to come off sweet, but instead is both withering and accurate, because no 10-year-old should be that familiar with the myth of Sisyphus or the curse of endless toil.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmfpl75dx000e3b5z4s2d9rao@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            At another, Conrad describes Belly as a \u201cferal alley cat\u201d and insists it\u2019s a compliment. Maybe words aren\u2019t his strong suit. Nevertheless, I\u2019m still backing you, young man.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmfpl75dx000f3b5zkkqyg9hz@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            Ok, I\u2019ll stop for real this time.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmfpl75dx000g3b5zmwhbg91d@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            I watched all 79 \u2013 feature film length \u2013 minutes, right to its satisfyingly predictable conclusion. I didn\u2019t hate the show. More than that, I respected it for the job it was doing.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmfpl75dx000h3b5z2onokz8r@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            The Prime Video series, which ran for three seasons, has made stars of its central trio, Lola Tung, Christopher Briney and Gavin Casalegno, and sparked, then successfully stoked, heated debate.\n    <\/p>\n<div data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/image\/instances\/cmfplq5y7001m3b5zwms8g2su@published\" class=\"image_large-elevate image_large__hide-placeholder\" data-image-variation=\"image_large\" data-name=\"01 The Summer I Turned Pretty amazon\" data-component-name=\"image\" data-observe-resizes=\"\" data-breakpoints=\"{\" image_large--eq-extra-small=\"\" data-original-ratio=\"0.6668\" data-original-height=\"1667\" data-original-width=\"2500\" data-url=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/220805132237-01-the-summer-i-turned-pretty-amazon.jpg?c=original\" data-editable=\"settings\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image_large__container \" data-image-variation=\"image_large\" data-breakpoints=\"{\" image_large--eq-extra-small=\"\">\n       <picture class=\"image_large__picture\"><source height=\"undefined\" width=\"679\" media=\"(max-width: 479px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/220805132237-01-the-summer-i-turned-pretty-amazon.jpg?c=original&amp;q=w_679,c_fill\/f_webp\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source height=\"undefined\" width=\"967\" media=\"(min-width: 480px) and (max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/220805132237-01-the-summer-i-turned-pretty-amazon.jpg?c=original&amp;q=w_967,c_fill\/f_webp\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source height=\"undefined\" width=\"860\" media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/220805132237-01-the-summer-i-turned-pretty-amazon.jpg?c=original&amp;q=w_860,c_fill\/f_webp\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source height=\"undefined\" width=\"860\" media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/220805132237-01-the-summer-i-turned-pretty-amazon.jpg?c=original&amp;q=w_860,c_fill\/f_webp\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source height=\"undefined\" width=\"860\" media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/220805132237-01-the-summer-i-turned-pretty-amazon.jpg?c=original&amp;q=w_860,c_fill\/f_webp\" type=\"image\/webp\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/220805132237-01-the-summer-i-turned-pretty-amazon.jpg?c=original&amp;q=w_860,c_fill\" alt=\"Gavin Casalegno (Jeremiah), Lola Tung (Belly)\" class=\"image_large__dam-img image_large__dam-img--loading\" onload=\"this.classList.remove('image_large__dam-img--loading')\" onerror=\"imageLoadError(this)\" height=\"1667\" width=\"2500\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmfpl75dx000i3b5zzbus06u6@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            Were you #TeamConrad or #TeamJeremiah? This was not a question to be taken lightly \u2013 or constrained to what I\u2019m sure was Amazon\u2019s expected audience demo when this all began in 2022.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmfpl75dx000j3b5zq7v8482w@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            Instagram and TikTok were awash with answers to that question, and they were coming from everywhere. <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@raundsmcdonalds\/video\/7547802795341090070\" target=\"_blank\">McDonalds<\/a>, <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@pizzahutcanada\/video\/7550804348792540434\" target=\"_blank\">Pizza Hut<\/a>, <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DNBNf98M96A\/?img_index=1\" target=\"_blank\">Delta Airlines<\/a> and the <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@empirestatebldg\/video\/7550843388493434143\" target=\"_blank\">Empire State Building<\/a> nailed their colors to the mast. <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DNQtEADI6zy\/?hl=en\" target=\"_blank\">Malala Yousafzai<\/a> weighed in, and Leonardo DiCaprio \u2013 whom, ironically, Briney has been compared to \u2013 was Team Conrad, <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@warnerbros\/video\/7550734741394263327\" target=\"_blank\">according to his co-star<\/a>. Even NFL players gave it a shot. (The Kansas City Chiefs\u2019 Travis Kelce feigned a bemused <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@chiefs\/video\/7540840964940729655\" target=\"_blank\">\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/a> but I see through you \u2013 your fianc\u00e9\u2019s songs featured twice in the finale, there\u2019s no way you weren\u2019t watching.)\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmfpldm8g000y3b5zxlfbgqwz@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            For the record, #TeamConrad prevailed with a reported <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.economist.com\/culture\/2025\/09\/16\/people-are-going-pretty-mad-for-the-summer-i-turned-pretty\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">13.5 billion views on TikTok<\/a> ahead of the series finale.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmfpl75dx000k3b5z3v3rcgse@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            This must have been what it was like to pick Joey or Pacey in \u201cDawson\u2019s Creek,\u201d or between Big and Adian in \u201cSex and the City,\u201d when they were first airing in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Only \u201cSex and the City\u2019s\u201d love triangle never quite reached this crescendo, and in the early aughts corporate America had fewer tools to ingratiate itself into our everyday lives. (By the time the \u201cSex and the City\u201d sequel \u201cAnd Just Like That\u201d came along, <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/cnn.com\/2021\/12\/12\/media\/peloton-mr-big-and-just-like-that-ad\">it was a different story<\/a>.)\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmfpl75dx000l3b5z4tcy41ko@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            However, beyond the brand pile-in, \u201cThe Summer I Turned Pretty\u201d was, first and foremost, a word-of-mouth hit. Nothing has born testament to that more than the viewing parties that sprang up across continents &#8211; from <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.eventbrite.com\/e\/the-summer-i-turned-pretty-season-finale-watch-party-tickets-1671048293429\" target=\"_blank\">Sydney<\/a> to <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.eventbrite.co.uk\/e\/london-social-society-the-summer-i-turned-pretty-watch-party-tickets-1661072435369\" target=\"_blank\">London<\/a> to <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.eventbrite.com\/e\/the-summer-i-turned-pretty-s3-finale-replay-watch-party-230-fifth-rooftop-tickets-1645444923059\" target=\"_blank\">New York<\/a> by its finale.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmfpl75dx000m3b5z4mjg0ihc@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            Viewing parties are nothing new \u2013 \u201cThe Sopranos\u201d comes to mind \u2013 but 2025 is a different media landscape. Prime was smart to drip feed episodes weekly, making it appointment viewing \u2013 one more example of the reversal of streamers\u2019 \u201cdump and binge-watch\u201d playbook. Viewers were yearning for the yearning, week after tremulous week.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmfpl75dx000n3b5ztior7poz@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            They were also yearning for the world it projected. Even with my scant exposure to \u201cThe Summer I Turned Pretty,\u201d its uncanny, weightless atmosphere contained an obvious appeal. This was a safe space: staunchly apolitical, relatively low stakes, high in melodrama, totally unplugged from the issues of today. One suspects if a character picked up a newspaper, it\u2019d be populated with lorem ipsum.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmfpl75dx000o3b5znqunp7yj@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            \u201cEmily in Paris\u201d is another example of this tone and low-stakes worldbuilding, as well as a prime example of what\u2019s been called \u201c<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.newyorker.com\/culture\/cultural-comment\/emily-in-paris-and-the-rise-of-ambient-tv\" target=\"_blank\">ambient TV<\/a>\u201d \u2013 shows easy to consume without one\u2019s full attention. Both are comfort watches, following in the footsteps of the likes of \u201cGilmore Girls\u201d and \u201cOne Tree Hill\u201d (themselves experiencing a revival among nostalgic millennials). Moreover, the popularity of this relatively chaste type of storytelling offers a counterpoint to the edginess of teen shows like \u201cEuphoria\u201d and \u201cSex Education\u201d out there.\n    <\/p>\n<div data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/image\/instances\/cmfplrgkl001o3b5zdbx71pc2@published\" class=\"image_large-elevate image_large__hide-placeholder\" data-image-variation=\"image_large\" data-name=\"04 The Summer I Turned Pretty amazon\" data-component-name=\"image\" data-observe-resizes=\"\" data-breakpoints=\"{\" image_large--eq-extra-small=\"\" data-original-ratio=\"0.6668\" data-original-height=\"1667\" data-original-width=\"2500\" data-url=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/220805132251-04-the-summer-i-turned-pretty-amazon.jpg?c=original\" data-editable=\"settings\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image_large__container \" data-image-variation=\"image_large\" data-breakpoints=\"{\" image_large--eq-extra-small=\"\">\n       <picture class=\"image_large__picture\"><source height=\"undefined\" width=\"679\" media=\"(max-width: 479px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/220805132251-04-the-summer-i-turned-pretty-amazon.jpg?c=original&amp;q=w_679,c_fill\/f_webp\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source height=\"undefined\" width=\"967\" media=\"(min-width: 480px) and (max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/220805132251-04-the-summer-i-turned-pretty-amazon.jpg?c=original&amp;q=w_967,c_fill\/f_webp\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source height=\"undefined\" width=\"860\" media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/220805132251-04-the-summer-i-turned-pretty-amazon.jpg?c=original&amp;q=w_860,c_fill\/f_webp\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source height=\"undefined\" width=\"860\" media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/220805132251-04-the-summer-i-turned-pretty-amazon.jpg?c=original&amp;q=w_860,c_fill\/f_webp\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source height=\"undefined\" width=\"860\" media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/220805132251-04-the-summer-i-turned-pretty-amazon.jpg?c=original&amp;q=w_860,c_fill\/f_webp\" type=\"image\/webp\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/220805132251-04-the-summer-i-turned-pretty-amazon.jpg?c=original&amp;q=w_860,c_fill\" alt=\"Lola Tung and Christopher Briney.\" class=\"image_large__dam-img image_large__dam-img--loading\" onload=\"this.classList.remove('image_large__dam-img--loading')\" onerror=\"imageLoadError(this)\" height=\"1667\" width=\"2500\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmfpl75dx000p3b5zpjxpkfei@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            Aiding \u201cThe Summer I Turned Pretty\u201d and \u201cEmily in Paris\u2019s\u201d illusion is the privilege of its characters, echoing the likes of \u201c90210\u201d and \u201cThe O.C\u201d in generations past. Wealth is an amazing insulator against reality, and yet, in an increasingly unequal world, viewers of all demographics have flocked to shows told from that point of view.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmfpl75dx000q3b5zdijjae23@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            This isn\u2019t isolated to youth-centric shows. Stories from the perspective of privilege are everywhere: \u201cSuccession\u201d and \u201cThe White Lotus;\u201d \u201cBig Little Lies,\u201d \u201cExpats,\u201d \u201cThe Perfect Couple,\u201d and other shows that don\u2019t star Nicole Kidman. Some, like \u201cThe White Lotus,\u201d dabble in upstairs-downstairs class commentary, leaving some grit in the proverbial oyster. Many do not. Complicating characters \u2013 and shows \u2013 with self-awareness would break the spell. For viewers, letting reality creep into the frame would take away from the escapism.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmfpl75dx000r3b5zj6jm2ewq@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            And escapism is what so many are craving. Of course everyone got their happily-ever-afters in \u201cThe Summer I Turned Pretty\u201d (or at least, I think they did). In the afterglow of the finale, outlets hit publish on SEO-bait around who did what, and clumsy think pieces like this one followed. Given time, a loyal fanbase might have slowly drifted toward new shows and obsessions. Except, at the Paris finale premiere, while I was deep in the world of Cousins Beach writing this article, <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/press.amazonmgmstudios.com\/us\/en\/press-release\/well-see-you-back-in-cousins-beach-prime-video-ann\" target=\"_blank\">Amazon announced it has greenlit a movie sequel<\/a>.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmfpl75dx000s3b5z2srmhzl1@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            I thought I was out, but they pulled me back in.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph\" data-uri=\"cms.cnn.com\/_components\/paragraph\/instances\/cmfpl75dx000t3b5zlqrwuhm6@published\" data-editable=\"text\" data-component-name=\"paragraph\" data-article-gutter=\"true\">\n            No release date has been set, and I have no idea what dramatic tension is left to be wrung out of this show, but we should probably all prepare for further yearning. More importantly, I have some time to catch up.\n    <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"\/\/www.tiktok.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.celebrity.land.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Facebook Tweet Email Link There\u2019s a moment, deep into the finale of \u201cThe Summer I Turned Pretty,\u201d when Belly is asked to dance by Conrad. Somewhere in Paris on the banks of the Seine, under the light of the full moon, she grasps his hand and the two come together. Look closely and you\u2019ll see [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2032119,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25172],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2032118","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entertainment"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/I-tried-to-unpack-the-obsession-with-\u2018The-Summer-I.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2032118","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2032118"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2032118\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2032119"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2032118"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2032118"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2032118"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}