Prime Video Drama The Summer I Turned Pretty Ends in Climax
Climax of The Summer I Turned Pretty
Image Credit: Amazon
The Summer I Turned Pretty, one of the most widely discussed television dramas of the year, concluded its third and final season this week, bringing an emotional close to the long-debated love triangle at the heart of the series. The Prime Video adaptation of Jenny Han’s novels followed Isabel “Belly” Conklin as she faced a choice between brothers Jeremiah and Conrad, a storyline that kept audiences engaged through three seasons and reached its climax in Paris.
The finale opened with Conrad arriving unexpectedly on the eve of Belly’s 22nd birthday, setting in motion the final resolution of the series. After a day marked by uncertainty, Conrad professed his love, only for Belly to question his sincerity. He left, but she followed, running through Paris streets before declaring her feelings aboard his train. The moment was underscored by Taylor Swift’s track Out of the Woods, while Belly’s line—“If there are infinite worlds, every version of me chooses you in every one of them”—provided the definitive answer. Online, fans reacted intensely, with TikTok filled with celebratory posts, some soundtracked by ABBA’s The Winner Takes It All. Comments captured the relief of long-time viewers, with one noting, “She chooses him!!” and another posting simply, “FINALLY FINALLY.”
Back in Cousins, Massachusetts, the finale showed Jeremiah moving forward with a new relationship with Denise and reconciling with his father, offering closure for his character arc. Entertainment outlets such as Deadline described the conclusion as “happily ever after for everyone,” highlighting the decision to give all central characters resolution.
The finale capped a season that drew significant attention from global audiences. According to Prime Video and data reported by the Los Angeles Times, the third season premiere attracted 25 million viewers within its first week, reaching the number one spot on the platform in 120 countries. It also became the service’s most-watched season among women aged 18 to 34, underscoring its broad appeal during the Fall TV season when competition among streaming platforms remains high. Industry analysts noted that such figures demonstrate the continuing strength of Prime Video in the wider streaming service battles, particularly as rival platforms expand their content slates for Q4.
Jenny Han, who authored the original trilogy and co-wrote the final episode, spoke about the communal aspect of the show’s reception, likening its cultural presence to a major sporting event. “It’s been like the Super Bowl,” she told the Los Angeles Times, reflecting on how audiences gathered to follow each weekly episode. She also warned fans to be careful online after hearing tales of cast members being verbally abused. Han stressed that comments about characters too frequently turn into comments against the performers themselves, warning people that this kind of conduct can have actual effects.
The writer also left a personal note in the finale’s end credits, thanking long-time supporters of the series and hinting at the possibility of future projects within the same universe. “Maybe we’ll meet again one summer in Cousins,” she wrote, suggesting that while Belly’s central narrative has concluded, there may be scope for a spin-off or continuation featuring other characters. This kind of messaging fits with what’s been going on in pop culture lately, where big series typically have partner projects to keep people interested.
Some media publications have already guessed what a follow-up like this may be like. Radio Times said that although the ending handled Belly’s love problem, viewers would still want to see more of her connection with Conrad, Jeremiah’s new plot arc, and supporting characters like Steven and Taylor. With awards season excitement and big video game releases taking over the entertainment world, networks and streaming services are both making it a priority to stay in touch with their fans.
The success of The Summer I Turned Pretty also shows how important young adult adaptations are for getting people to sign up for big platforms. Similar titles have become more popular at peak viewing times in recent years, which has led to more competition and raised issues about whether streaming services will have the best content selection in the future. People who watch the industry say that this will probably change projections and arguments over which streaming service has the greatest new material for fall.
As the dust settles on the conclusion, the series leaves behind not just a completed plot but also a clear illustration of how current television resonates across demographics and regions. Its mix of music-driven scenes, characters that people could relate to, and easy-to-follow stories helped it become so popular that it set the standard for future adaptations in the genre.
The end of The Summer I Turned Pretty ends a chapter for both the program and its fans, but it also leaves the door open for new things to happen. The series has already become one of Prime Video’s most important dramas of the year, combining streaming success with cultural relevance in a congested entertainment space. It doesn’t matter if people come back to Cousins in future projects or not.
For more information, visit BBC’s comprehensive article
