We are on the cusp of experiencing a Young Adult Renaissance.
The genre has been gaining momentum again and thriving via streamers like Netflix and Prime Video, from The Summer I Turned Pretty to Outer Banks.
But while those two series are signing off soon, there’s a spark of relief in learning that the underrated gem that is Cruel Summer is rising from the ashes two years after cancellation.
Salvaging this series, which was the most watched show on Freeform in its first year, is a delightful surprise and serves as a reminder that maybe the summer isn’t so cruel after all.
However, it’s the decisions that accompany the show’s revival that have me intrigued and excited.
The series intends to revisit its decision to be an anthology, or at the very least, it hopes to properly continue the story of Kate Wallis, bringing back the laudable Olivia Holt.
It’s the best decision they could make if they hope to recapture the same magic and quality of its buzzworthy first season.
Cruel Summer Season 1 was the type of series that had fans buzzing and glued to the screens every week. It benefited from the weekly drop on a cable network at the time, leading a broad demographic of viewers to Freeform as it neared the end of its prime.
Each week, we tuned in to unravel this convoluted but gripping mystery surrounding Kate Wallis’ kidnapping, Jeanette’s complicity, and Martin’s possible sadism.
The show took us on quite a journey with jaw-dropping twists and turns that were deliciously messy, layered, and completely unpredictable.
And it had one of the best cliffhangers in recent memory, delivering something so entirely unexpected that it had viewers dissecting and discussing the effects of it for weeks on end.
It also had people waiting with bated breath for what would happen when the series returned. But it pulled a cruel switcheroo on us that proved to be a death knell: it took on an anthological approach and started an entirely new story for its sophomore season.
And don’t get me wrong, anthologies are incredibly underrated and a fascinating approach to take with telling stories. In today’s era of constant cost-cutting and budgetary concerns, this approach could provide a pathway to deliver the same high-quality content fans love while managing costs.
But Cruel Summer Season 2 was widely considered weak by the masses, with a mystery that dragged on and didn’t have nearly the same dynamic appeal as the first season.
Unfortunately, with an entirely new cast, different writers, and a new showrunner in the second season, the series could not recapture the same magic.
And there’s very little room for strikeouts in this industry, so it was unsurprising that the series landed a cancellation rather than another season.
However, if any series can bounce back with the right focus, it’s Cruel Summer, so this revival is exciting.
And they’re clearly learning how to rectify the error of their ways from before.
Kate Wallis’ story wasn’t finished, it was only beginning, and they gave us such a fascinating and complex person who was begging for deeper exploration after the events of the finale.
There was so much more we didn’t know and wanted to see, especially considering how drastically she evolved in the three years that the first season covered.
She was a young woman who still harbored many secrets, and one had to wonder if they ever got out. There’s also a matter of the new relationship she was starting with Mallory.
Olivia Holt is such a dynamic actress that she left us wanting to spend more time with her, and no one afterward was able to hook viewers the same way.
On the flip side, I’d like to see how they’ll play this out.
Will we be following Kate directly after the events of the finale, or is there another period in her life that we’ll drop in on and a new mystery or more entangled one that we’ll have to unfold?
It was evident that Kate’s story wasn’t exactly over, but it also doesn’t mean that she has to save the same story either.
The third season in development will bring Olivia Holt back to the forefront to star in the series as well as executive produce it. And Jessica Biel and Michelle Purple will also executive produce the series again.
We also have new showrunners with Cori Uchida and Adam Lash onboarding the series; their previous works, including Roswell, New Mexico, Parish, The Thing About Pam, and Altered Carbon, are a vote of confidence in some respects or another.
The third season aims to build on what worked best in the first one.
As a result, we may have another strong season that will spark fan theories, conversations, and an eager and devoted audience who are willing to follow the story through.
Everything could fall into place perfectly, as long as the actual story arc is gripping enough — having Olivia reprise her role as Kate is one thing, but the storyline has to rise to the occasion, too.
If you’re still here, it must mean you’re as excited about this news as we are! We’d love to know what your thoughts are on this series returning.
Drop a word in the comments or share this with a fellow fan — it’s the best way to support indie TV coverage that actually cares about the shows.
Watch Cruel Summer Online
Cruel Summer Is Back and Ready to Right Its Biggest Wrong
From cancellation to comeback, Cruel Summer just pulled the ultimate plot twist. And Kate Wallis isn’t done with us yet!
Finding Faith Review: Same Sermon, Same Song — A Retreaded Path of Predictability
Finding Faith concludes Lifetime’s faith-based slate, and despite a strong cast, it was more of the same. Our review!
All Burden, No Beauty — How The Summer I Turned Pretty Tackles Duty, Obligation & Brotherhood
The Summer I Turned Pretty’s love triangle may thrive, but the one thing that’s complicated is its depiction of brotherhood. We discuss!
The Summer I Turned Pretty’s Conrad-Centric Is Riveting — But Not for the Reasons You Think
While The Summer I turned Pretty’s Conrad POV episode was highly-anticipated, it stood out for a totally different reason. We discuss.
FOX’s Special Forces Season 4 Will Either Be Epic or a Trainwreck — But Fine, I’ll Watch
Between a controversial cast and odd pairings, Special Forces World’s Toughest Test season may be must-see trainwreck.
TV Fanatic is searching for passionate contributors to share their voices across various article types. Think you have what it takes to be a TV Fanatic? Click here for more information and next steps
The post Cruel Summer Is Back and Ready to Right Its Biggest Wrong appeared first on TV Fanatic.