Three seasons and a movie. The Summer I Turned Pretty Fanatics should be rejoicing, right?
Many people who have been glued to this series, especially in this final season, are more than willing to embrace a continuation because it’s hard to let go of things when we love them.
Unfortunately, the more details emerge about the possible premise of this film, the more it validates my wariness about what this could even entail.
Belly & Conrad’s Next Chapter is Better in Theory Than Practice
Yes, from the perspective of a Belly and Conrad shipper who is eager to see their big wedding come to fruition on screen, a film that centers on them after a season in which Jeremiah stole most of the spotlight sounds like a great idea.
The problem is that Belly and Conrad’s love story alone could never carry a full plot for this series. It’s why we had coming-of-age arcs, tragedy, trauma, and love triangles sprinkled throughout.
And it’s why we had so much of one thing in particular — the only thing that has been consistently front-and-center during this story: conflict.
Every story requires conflict; otherwise, there’s not much to tell, now, is there?
The problem with a movie, and why many fans of the show, regardless of who they ship and how much they love the series, are reluctant to fully embrace the idea of a film is because to deliver a movie that centers on Bonrad as a pairing, it will have to challenge them in some way to cultivate drama and generate buzz.
Truthfully, a significant contributing factor to why TSITP became such a cultural phenomenon was the love triangle and the ensuing conflict.
TSITP Worked Because of Conflict, Namely the Love Triangle
If people weren’t passionately arguing about what “Team” they were on, would the series have sparked this much discourse, excitement, and reach? Probably not.
As much as people love to argue that this has always been Belly and Conrad’s love story, a significant factor in that was Amazon marketing the series as a love triangle.
Now that Belly has made her choice, or rather, her options have disappeared, the only thing of marketable value is what happens now that Belly and Conrad are finally together.
The problem is that fans of that couple would want to tune into a film that further caters to the fantasy aspect of their love story (white dresses and Taylor Swift songs), but a film can only work if it introduces the reality of their dynamic.
Bonrad The Movie requires conflict, and that would have to at least touch upon the fallout of the two of them dating, getting engaged, or whatever else, not even a year after she was practically walking down the aisle with his brother.
The season finale concluded with these two at the Cousins summer house alone, but we can guess that they were waiting for the others to arrive so they could maybe make their official debut as a pairing.
Unfortunately, this film would still require them to revisit the same, overused conflict with Jeremiah.
According to Jenny Han in the EW interview: I can say that it’s sort of what happens next,” Han continues. “It’s like, ‘What happens when you are dating your ex’s brother? And you have to see them, and you have to be in their life still. What does that look like?”
Let Jeremiah Fisher REST — Retreading Water Is Boring
Han herself also acknowledges that the film will have conflict, but at this point, it genuinely feels like beating a dead horse.
The primary conflict practically requires Jeremiah, who we’ve seen progress and move forward after grieving his relationship with Belly, to have feelings about the Bonrad reunion happening so soon.
It’s a Catch-22, as well, because it wouldn’t feel realistic in the least if he’s just perfectly fine with everything so quickly. Still, it also feels ridiculous to rehash the series’ most significant conflict to fulfill an actual plot for the film.
Given how everything else transpired, it probably should have ended as it did, leaving the rest up to everyone’s imagination, since the books tell us what we need to know, right?
Unfortunately, the film already feels more like a cash grab than an essential addition to the series. And that’s precisely because there’s no real, meaty plot that justifies its existence beyond a wedding ceremony.
And, sadly, the final season already suffered because it was apparent early on that the primary goal was to reunite Belly and Conrad romantically, and all the other plots surrounding that were just rushed through to get to that moment.
I fear a film, which would only be designed to deliver maybe ten minutes’ worth of the content many want to see, would do the same. It risks compromising the integrity of what the final season and its ending already did.
No One Wants a Film With No or Redundant Plot
And as someone who often complains about how the Business of TV has completely overtaken the art of it, I’m not interested in seeing how a follow-up film could disrupt what the final season has already achieved.
There’s no getting better at this point; it can only get worse. Why risk it?
My only thought process is that Belly would struggle to reintegrate into her old life at Cousins after fleeing the country because of her relationship with Jeremiah crumbling.
Since then, Steven, Taylor, Jeremiah, and Denise have not only become a tight-knit unit that has evolved, pursued their own dreams, and seem to be thriving in adulthood, but they’re all coupled as well.
The film could consist of Belly feeling as though she doesn’t have enough closure when she finally sees Jeremiah face-to-face. However, that would simply retread the same plot of the full series, with her constantly flip-flopping between brothers.
If we already watched her choose Conrad, why would we need to see it again?
The Supporting Cast Would Likely Steal the Film
Of course, they could have made Jeremiah feel jealous about this ordeal or struggle, but that, too, would completely undermine his entire arc this season.
There may be some amusement in Denise having zero interest or respect for either Conrad or Belly, but they can’t carry a movie either.
At best, the brothers would clash again if they both had life-altering news at the same time (such as dual proposals and pending weddings), but the competitive brothers angle is old news and tired, too.
Outside of finding out that Adam is recycling the champagne for Bonrad’s engagement announcement and wedding for pure comedic effect, or maybe learning that he and Laurel are secretly hooking up because Laurel likes nostalgic relationships with hot Fishers, too, I don’t know what will fill out a full film.
Cameos from Skye, Aunt Julia, and Cam Cameron? Anika finally having screentime? Benito being Bonrad’s wedding photographer?
Agnes serving as Conrad’s Best Woman because he doesn’t have any friends? Jeremiah having to cater the wedding for his ex-fiancée and his brother?
These are the type of shenanigans that would be better off in fanfiction. And I mean that with the utmost respect to fanfic writers. In fact, if any of you have already gotten started on this type of carrying on, let me know below.
An Unnecesary Film Just Dilutes the Final Season AND Comes Too Late
However, in addition to this film, which risks disrupting the substantial plot of the final season, it has not even been officially written yet.
The film is something that wouldn’t even be coming out within the next year or two. With a craze like this, you have to be able to strike while the iron’s hot, and I don’t foresee a film that far down the line having the anticipated effect anymore.
It’s especially difficult when we can likely anticipate Prime Video and many other streamers trying to capitalize on this particular phenomenon in some way. Who is to say the next greatest hit isn’t coming to blow up our worlds in a few months or a year?
But who knows? With time and distance, much like the two halves of Bonrad fleeing their lives for a year, we could feel a renewed sense of fervor. Anything can happen.
But this movie? It probably shouldn’t. I’m just saying. Let’s just close the chapter and move on, shall we?
Still here? Yeah. Me too. But at least we were in it together. So, thank you. It was a ride. 💙
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If you enjoyed our TSITP coverage and want to see more discussions about love triangles, yours truly covers Doc. We also have My Life with the Walter Boys, TVD coverage and more. Interested in more analytical and passioane pieces? Check out our editorials and op-eds.
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The post From Phenomenon to Cash Grab: Why a Bonrad Wedding Alone Can’t Sustain a TSITP Movie appeared first on TV Fanatic.