The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3, Episode 10: Last Call

Up at 3 am to press play on The Summer I Turned Pretty, Season 3, Episode 10, and I have to admit that I am a little scared. Pressing play is also like letting go. It’s that moment where you know that you’re one step closer to the end.

And I am not sure that I ever want the end.

This episode felt a little slow, but it was also important because seeing everyone’s growth is something that I loved. This show makes me happy – no matter the drama. But all good things have to end at some time.

And that’s okay.

In The Summer I Turned Pretty, Season 3, Episode 10, we’re learning about reconnections. That is something I think we all needed.

THANKSGIVING

Holidays aren’t always easy to get through, and they sometimes feel suffocating. Jeremiah is living his best couch-surfing life at Stevens. He’s talked them into throwing a friendsgiving dinner.

What will always be weird to me is how Steven can be so calm around Jeremiah – knowing that he cheated on his sister. I don’t care if Jeremiah says they were on a break. He should have known better. Moving on from someone so fast – somehow that taints what you feel and people’s perception of it.

The contrast of Belly making stuffing for Thanksgiving and everyone else having Thanksgiving in the USA – I didn’t mind. Yes, she’s avoiding home, and I don’t blame her.

I think that Paris is always a good idea. I also think that Belly can’t run forever, and she seems like that is what she’s doing. But as much as she’s running from the past, I do think that she’s also running to the future and who she can be.

Do I believe Paris is forever? No. But I do believe that she needed something, and she’s finding it there. Life isn’t about racing through or avoiding. It should be about love and the moments that make us who we are. The Fisher brothers will always be a part of her, and I am hoping Conrad and her work it out. They are my ship.

ADAM SHOWS UP

The worst thing that could happen to any holiday is Adam showing up. He’s just not one of those people who bring joy. Instead, the moment one sees him, tension arises, and one feels sick to their stomach because you know his passive-aggressive s*** is coming.

Jeremiah doesn’t feel comfortable around his Dad, and I don’t blame him. I don’t blame him because his Dad rakes him over the coals no matter what he does. Adam wants to control his kids, but that results in pushing them away.

When it comes out that Jeremiah isn’t living at the frat house, the look on Adam’s face was pure annoyance and rage. His talking to Jeremiah in private after that, and really just not listening to his son, had my face projecting the same thing. Adam decides to cut Jeremiah off, and my favorite thing is that at that point, he told his father that he didn’t have to listen anymore and walked out.

As much as this show is about Belly, Conrad, Jeremiah, Steven, and Taylor – it is also about family dynamics and the way that it all fits into their lives. It’s about remembering Susannah – the one who loved them all. So, when we have to deal with Adam, I hate it and I love it.

You see, Jeremiah is Adam Jr, but also when his Dad is around, he becomes this boy who has to prove himself. It’s almost heartbreaking to see Jeremiah retreat with his emotions.

The reason I love Adam around sometimes is because I want to see what Susannah saw. I want to be able to find out how she could be with him. So when he’s on the screen, I become this detective.

I’m just bad at it, because I can’t figure it out.

LAUREL AND…

One thing that I am glad about is that Conrad has Laurel. He needs someone, and she’s there for him – no matter what. That kind of love, that unconditional love from a parent like a fixture, is what he needs. But also, what he needs to do is give up control and allow himself grace. Forgiveness is something that he doesn’t seem to ever give himself.

I wish that Jeremiah and Conrad had their Mom, but I do believe that Laurel is going to step in for the rest of their lives. She is not trying to erase Susannah – she’s trying to honor her.

Her relationship with Conrad is proof of that. He needs someone, and she’s there to take his call and tell him that he needs to try, as she can’t speak for others. While she does convince him to go home for Christmas, I think that he’s scared.

When I was a kid, my Mom used to tell me that facing my fears was essential for growth. I didn’t understand what she meant a lot of the time, but this felt relevant because I would have given Conrad.

There is nothing that he or Jeremiah could do to make any of this less awkward for them. The wedding changed everything for everyone. Was I proud that Conrad showed up? Yes. But showing up isn’t without consequences, too.

PARIS CHRISTMAS

Belly has decided to stay in Paris for Christmas, and I know that can’t be easy. It is the safe bet, because if she had to return to America, I don’t think that she would return. Paris Belly is still figuring out who she is, and as we watch that happen, there is a sigh of relief.

Hear me out.

Belly has never allowed herself to figure out who she is. She’s lived by the standards that others have set for her and lived their dreams. Now, she’s figuring out hers. She’s making a life for herself in Paris, and seeing that sense of freedom and wonder in her eyes is beautiful.

Lola Tung has been able to play Belly with this innocence, but also this sense of wonder and excitement. Belly is growing, but I wonder if she’s also avoiding. I think that there is a safety in Paris – being far away from what hurts you and what you’ve hurt is a lot.

While she plans to spend the holidays alone, Benito shows up, and the two bond. I like him. I feel as though having a Paris fling isn’t that bad. It’s a good thing. It’s always good to explore life.

And to move forward.

NERVOUS?

I have to believe that this series will end the same way it began – being at the beach house. Cousins is its own character, and dare I say that it is a main one! It’s Christmas, and Conrad is home in Cousins. Laurel is cooking. Steven and he are playing video games.

Steven says that he doesn’t know how to be around Conrad, and again, I am confused. How is it that everyone is quick to forgive Jeremiah for the things that he has done, but when it’s Conrad, it is like he did something that may result in World War 3.

Adam knew about Steven and Denise’s company and then quit. How did Adam know? Are they going to be in trouble? I need to know. But what took courage was Steven quitting his job with Adam. Do I know what is going to happen with him? No. But I am hoping that they wrap up this storyline and make Adam a decent person.

What also got me was that the Fisher brothers each have a different way of dealing with things, and I do believe that each one of them is dealing with it in the best way they can. I do not particularly love Jeremiah’s character, but in some strange way, I get his anger.

I also get Conrad missing Belly and sitting in her room. I understand him looking around and seeing Junior Mint and a somewhat of an ache in his heart. But out of everyone, it feels like he loves Belly in a way that is not selfish. He wants her to have her dreams and support them.

But he also wants her.

HE CAN’T COME IN

Jeremiah Fisher did the impossible – he made me feel something for him that wasn’t negative.

When he shows up at the house, he can’t bring himself to get out of the car. He stares at the house, but can’t walk in. The house contains too many memories.

Laurel goes to talk to him, which, hey, she’s the bigger person, cause I wouldn’t have after how rude he was. Yet, this is Laurel, and she’s going to be there for them. As they speak, you can’t help but feel bad for him. He is hurting, and he is trying to work through it.

Jeremiah, feeling lost, is understandable. When you’ve been with someone for so long, how do you let go? Belly could fix everything for him, and now he doesn’t have her. Yes, Belly wants to hear from him, but I do believe that he needs to do it on his own time.

The best thing is that he apologizes to Laurel for how rude he was at the wedding. He needed to apologize. That’s growth. Conrad is disappointed that he won’t come in, but I think he gets it.

He needs time. The house in Cousins Beach is filled with memories, and sometimes that is the hardest thing to face. But what Jeremiah doesn’t understand is that in that house or on the street, he’ll always have those memories.

DENISE – WE LOVE HER

Denise and Jeremiah get along, which is something that I never thought would happen. But his staying at Denise’s is a good thing. Denise needs to loosen up a bit.

What is important is that Denise is going to help Jeremiah heal.

On Christmas, she sits to talk to him, and he lays it all out there. He says that in a way, losing Belly is more painful than losing his mom. That is a bold statement, but one that I can get when he explains it. He says that Susannah is dead, and so he gets it, and he won’t see her. But Belly is still out there.

Denise is blunt and tells him that he has to grieve and forgive. Only in forgiveness can you let go. That hit like a ton of bricks – because she is not wrong.

TAYLOR IN PARIS

While I love that Taylor went to Paris for Belly, what confuses me is why these two in Paris should have more screen time together. I really would have loved that.

Taylor is excited to be in Paris and see everything. Belly is happy to have her there, especially as a box from Conrad comes and Jeremiah calls. Taylor is the person who knows Belly and can help her through.

When Jeremiah calls, I think we are all in a state of shock that he did that. He needed it, though, and so does Belly. Gavin Casalegno brings Jeremiah to life in all of these moments in a way I didn’t expect. You can see the genuine feelings in his eyes – the ones that make Jeremiah who he is. He may not want to talk about the past, but how are you supposed to move forward if you can’t face what is holding you back?

It’s very eerie when both Belly and Jeremiah end the call by saying that it is time to let go. But even though that means they are hanging up, I feel like that means it was just an end to their relationship that they were talking about.

Belly has to face the fact that she needs to move forward. But it is not easy. The Fisher brothers have been her life. Taylor asks if she’s afraid of getting hurt, but Belly says no. Belly is afraid of hurting someone.

And I do believe that hurt is a part of life, but when your first loves both hurt you, moving forward is traumatic. The Fisher brothers’ chapter should be closed, and Belly is allowed to move forward.

In a bold move, Belly walks up to Benito, grabs him, and kisses him. I about fell out of my chair. Kudos to Belly, though, for rebound sex.

I like seeing Belly happy. I hated that we didn’t see more of Taylor in Paris or even her departure. Even talks between the two would have been amazing. Taylor gives the best advice.

SUSANNAH’S GRAVE

It’s been 5 years since Susannah has been gone. I think we all miss her. She would know what to do. She would make everything okay. Belly’s flashbacks of what she remembers of Susannah were sweet.

But it’s Jeremiah and Conrad ending up at her grave at the same time, that I thought was writing gold. The two have to make up eventually, and I have to admit that I am impressed that there wasn’t a fight in the cemetery.

Honesty between these two is what is important. While Conrad takes responsibility for all of his actions, Jeremiah doesn’t. Instead, the two discuss their promises that they made to their Mom.

Jeremiah made one too, so that no one would ever come between them. They also face having to be honest with each other.

Belly has a new apartment in France. As Jeremiah and Conrad talk about their issues, I wonder when one of them will end up going to get her. Jeremiah is so passive-aggressive that it’s kind of annoying, but I’m giving a free pass because of the wedding stuff.

When you let go, it’s amazing. Emotions and feelings stay at bay. These two hug it out, and I love that. I just want them to be okay.

REBOOK

It takes courage to face what is broken and fix it. You have to live the things that you’d rather forget.

Now, Belly is moving forward with Benito – it’s Conrad that needs to set things right. At the cemetery, Jeremiah told him not to waste time and go get her. He may not like them together, but he will accept them together (that’s me paraphrasing).

He’s supposed to go to Brussels, but Conrad changes his ticket to Paris. Please, begging here – go get your girl.