Season 3 Episode 4 of The Summer I Turned Pretty unpacks a heavy emotional load, placing Belly right in the middle of a storm she’s trying so hard to steer through. The episode opens by setting the tone with a flashback to her whirlwind engagement to Jeremiah, young love, big decisions, and the uphill battle to make everyone accept it.
Belly is glowing with anticipation and anxiety. She’s saving every dime, juggling wedding dreams with real-life pressures, and trying to get her mother, Laurel, on board. But Laurel is dead-set against the wedding. Her refusal to even join Belly for wedding dress shopping cuts deep, forcing Belly to swallow her hurt while keeping the wedding train moving; her joy is dimmed by her mother’s absence, and that tension lingers like a shadow over her entire journey.
Meanwhile, Jeremiah is also trying to prove his readiness not just to Belly, but to his father. As an intern in his dad’s office, he’s stuck doing meaningless tasks and getting mocked by coworkers. Even his father doesn’t see him as husband material yet. It’s a quiet war for validation that Jeremiah is fighting, trying to balance his youthful passion with grown-up expectations.
With Taylor and Lucinda at her side, Belly went into what should be a magical wedding dress moment. But as she tries on gown after gown, the hole left by Laurel’s absence only grows wider. Even when she finally finds a dress she likes, the moment doesn’t feel complete. She calls Jeremiah to share the news, her voice laced with both excitement and sadness. She wanted her mother there and that raw honesty makes this episode hit home—these are not just pretty montages of love, but slices of absolute emotional chaos.
Laurel, on her end, is a tornado of her own past mistakes and maternal fear. She confides in Belly’s dad, Jon, revisiting her own youthful choices and heartbreak. It’s a vulnerable moment that reveals why she’s so firm she doesn’t want Belly repeating her missteps. Jon, calm and rational, reminds her that letting go is part of parenting. But Laurel isn’t ready for that just yet.
The tension builds until it boils over, Belly finally confronts her mom, begging her to at least try and be part of her life-changing moment. The exchange is fierce and raw. Laurel stands her ground, warning Belly that if she goes through with the wedding, she won’t attend. That ultimatum breaks Belly. She storms out with Jeremiah, determined to move forward with or without her mother’s blessing.
Then comes the return fans were waiting for Conrad steps back into the frame his appearance isn’t triumphant. It’s heavy, hesitant, and tinged with unresolved emotions. He learns about the engagement and tries to act supportive, but he can’t hide what he feels. When Jeremiah asks him to be his best man, Conrad pauses. He doesn’t sugarcoat his feelings he thinks they’re rushing into marriage. That honesty hurts. Jeremiah, tired of doubt from every angle, tells Conrad he doesn’t want him there if he can’t be genuinely happy.
Belly and Jeremiah retreat to Cousins Beach, their sacred place they hope the familiarity will ease their stress and help them focus on their future. They talk about their fears, their hopes, and the hard choices they’re making. But even in their sweet moments, Belly’s heart aches from her mother’s rejection. Jeremiah tries to be her anchor, and they share tender scenes that remind us why they fell in love in the first place.
Outside the central storyline, Taylor faces her family blow. She discovers her mom, Lucinda, is drowning in debt due to poor decisions made by her ex. Taylor steps up offering her savings to help her mom stay afloat. It’s a quiet but powerful subplot that reminds us these teens are growing up faster than they should, pushed into adult problems before their time.
Back in Laurel’s world, she and Jon share another intimate conversation she finally admits her fear of losing Belly completely. She’s scared of the wedding and the distance growing between them. Jon, always the voice of reason, urges her to let Belly go and trust her daughter’s choices even if she disagrees. This conversation becomes the turning point. Laurel softens. She still doesn’t fully accept the wedding, but she promises to stand by her daughter no matter what.
As the episode winds down, we see Belly standing alone on the beach. Jeremiah has returned to work, leaving her in a reflective silence. A flashback shows a younger Belly feeling invisible and excluded. Now, she’s stepping into womanhood: scared, uncertain, but determined and when we think the episode will close on that quiet note, there’s a knock at the door.
It’s Conrad.
Holding a birthday cake.
It’s a simple gesture, but it hits like a thunderclap, he remembers her birthday. He always has. The two share a slow, emotionally-charged silence. Eyes meet. Words hang in the air. There’s so much unresolved between them. And just like that, the episode leaves us hanging in the best kind of agony.
From the viewer's perspective, one camp sees Belly’s journey as a bold and brave exploration of independence and love. They admire her willingness to fight for what she believes in, even when it means losing the support of people she loves. The other camp questions her choices; they see the cracks in her relationship with Jeremiah, the lingering spark with Conrad, and they wonder if this wedding is more about proving something than actual readiness.
Both sides agree that this episode is a masterstroke in storytelling. The emotional part run deep, and each character is given the space to breathe and unravel. The show doesn't offer easy answers, and that’s what makes it so relatable.
The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3 Episode 4 is more than just another chapter in Belly’s story, it’s a mirror held up to the awkward, painful, beautiful mess of growing up. With love triangles, family drama, and personal growth colliding, the show continues to balance sweet nostalgia and the rawness of real life and with that final scene, it sets the stage for what might be the most emotionally explosive episodes yet.
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