Wake up babes cuz a new Jenny Han adaption just droppedd! Get ready to dive into the world of “The Summer I Turned Pretty”, where sun-soaked days, sandy beaches, and teenage drama take center stage. The plot is the same old teenage rom com, but the real positives are the debutants, who have done an impressive job sadly backed by an otherwise bland script.
‘TSITP’ is a coming of age story that focuses on Belly, an Asian American, navigating the complexities of love, friendship, and self-discovery during a pivotal summer. However, the show fails to capitalize on the relationships aspect as most of the bonds look unconvincing and miss the teenage love wala chemistry.
The younger cast members of the show do a decent job with whatever their characters get. They seem to have better chemistry when they are friends as opposed to when the show pairs them up for a love angle. Seedhi baat ye hai ki pyaar-vyaar mein kuch nahi rakha. Found the sub-plots with the adults more engaging than with the teenagers ngl.
The show does a decent job with its cinematography, as it transports viewers to idyllic beachside locations– something that is ideally everyone’s glorified version of their summertime Bachpan Ka Pyaar. With a total of seven hourlong episodes, the show struggles with pacing issues. Kuch episodes bohot tez, while others bohot slow make you wish for a more consistent and balanced flow (that was rhymed on purpose). Sadly, a predictable narrative that occasionally loses its rhythm, is never a good sign.
Poor storytelling ruins the experience
The makers have delved into the emotional turbulence of adolescence with heartwarming sincerity, but overdo things in the process. The show captures the intensity of first love, the complexities of family dynamics, and the challenges of personal growth. But the very base of the story– finding your identity with 4 relationships in a matter of a month or two– doesn’t really sit right. Right from the main characaters Belly, Conrad, Jeremiah and Steven to the supporting ones like Shayla, Cam and Nicole, all they do is fall for others the whole summer. Thoda sa baith ke Kesar Pista ice-cream hi khaa lo yaar summers mein.
This is also why show fails to fully develop the supporting characters and their relationships. Belly’s friendships with Taylor and Cam, which play significant roles in the book trilogy, lack depth and exploration. It’s like spotting distant seagulls on the horizon, with a yearning for more substantial connections and character arcs.
“The Summer I Turned Pretty” tries to invite viewers into a world of sun-soaked bliss, teenage emotions, and captivating relationships, but doesn’t really fare well. Occasional choppy waves of pacing, underdeveloped supporting characters, and a predictable storyline that does not deliver the element of surprise, really dents the show bad. The only good thing about it is the music. Par haan if you’re craving a really cheesy rom-com and wanna simp on the actors, “TSITP” can be a decent one time watch at max.
