"The Summer I Turned Pretty" pivots around a romance, primarily a complex love triangle. The first episode, however, kept Jeremiah, one corner of this triad, on the sidelines until the closing scene. In a frantic phone call, Jeremiah reaches out to Belly, seeking his missing brother Conrad, completing the triangle. The three central characters reunite in episode two, titled "Love Scene," resulting in immediate tension.
See Also: The Summer I Turned Pretty - S2, E1 Recap
In the aftermath of the previous episode, Belly and Jeremiah, fueled by urgency, embark on a mission to locate Conrad. Belly deceives her mother. She claims she's consoling Taylor over a breakup. Instead, she embarks on a journey to Brown University to commence the hunt for Conrad. Belly and Jeremiah, former friends, independently arrive at Conrad's dorm. His conspiracy-obsessed roommate reveals that Conrad has been missing since Thursday, but he received a text from him saying he's at the beach house. He further stirs up awkwardness by telling everyone that Conrad sank into a deep depression post breaking up with Belly.
The two friends now embark on a joint expedition to Cousins Beach. It starts off uncomfortable but ends up reconnecting the old buddies. Jeremiah's vehicle hits an object, causing a flat tire, and this incident paves the way for the duo to finally open up about their feelings. Jeremiah confesses his deep affection for Belly and his feeling of abandonment, while Belly admits her negligence towards Jeremiah during Susannah's demise. A hug rekindles their friendship.
Back home, Steven, Belly's brother, is unraveling Belly's lie about Taylor. In the premiere episode, it was evident that Steven still had lingering feelings for Taylor. When Laurel speaks about Taylor and Milo's breakup (a fiction by Belly), Steven's face reveals a subtle smile. Steven encounters Taylor at a mall, and she inadvertently discloses Belly's whereabouts. Taylor pleads with Steven to allow her to rectify her mistake, and he relents, but insists on being informed about the developments. This could hint at a possible reconciliation between Steven and Taylor, despite Steven leaving for college soon.
Unbeknownst to Laurel, her daughter is miles away. Despite her anxiety over being far from her children, Laurel decides to attend a book event in New York City and goes shopping for a dress. The sales assistant recognizes Laurel and asks about her new book, titled "It's Not Summer Without You." The mention of Susannah triggers an emotional breakdown for Laurel in the dressing room. Though minor so far, Laurel's narrative of staying strong for her loved ones is particularly impactful.
The journey to Cousins Beach revives Belly's past memories, especially a Christmas evening when she and Conrad secretly spent the night together at the beach house, marking their first intimate experience. The sight of the house rekindles various emotions within Belly, and she reveals to Jeremiah that she hasn't spoken to Conrad since the funeral.
The arrival at the beach house is as tension-filled as expected. Belly cautiously navigates through the emotionally charged house, while a heated argument ensues between Conrad and Jeremiah. The news of the house being put up for sale and Conrad's attempts to prevent it stops abruptly when he spots Belly. Conrad's emotional vulnerability is evident when he questions his brother about Belly's presence.
The anticipation surrounding the disastrous funeral builds up significantly, promising a substantial narrative turning point. Though this episode is only the second in an eight-episode season, it sets up the critical events that will determine the direction the entire season will take.
The Summer I Turned Pretty is streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
