The Summer I Turned Pretty
The Summer I Turned Pretty is a popular romantic dramedy series based on Jenny Han's best-selling novels, primarily targeting a young adult audience. The show centers on Isabel "Belly" Conklin's coming-of-age experiences, particularly her involvement in a love triangle with brothers Conrad and Jeremiah Fisher during their annual summer vacations at Cousins Beach. Beyond the central romance, the series delves into themes of first love, heartbreak, evolving friendships, and complex family dynamics, including navigating grief and parental relationships. While offering an engaging storyline and a popular soundtrack, the show is notable for its mature themes, including significant romance, sexual content, frequent profanity, and substance use, which escalate across its seasons. It aims to capture the magic and messiness of late adolescence but often portrays adult content and language without explicit consequences.
Concerns
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
HighThe series prominently features LGBTQ+ and gender identity themes, including multiple queer characters. Jeremiah Fisher, a main character, is explicitly bisexual, and the show introduces Skye, a nonbinary character, in Season 2. Other characters, such as Marisa Pelzner and a friend of Belly's, are identified as lesbian. The show also introduces a queer frat brother, Redbird, in Season 3. These representations are integral to the character development and modern adaptation of the series.
Jeremiah Fisher is depicted as bisexual, a departure from the books, and discusses having kissed both girls and boys. In Season 3, Jeremiah's ex-boyfriend, Blake, is explicitly mentioned. Skye, a nonbinary character and cousin to Conrad and Jeremiah, is introduced in Season 2 and is shown correcting others on their pronouns, increasing LGBTQ+ and gender diversity representation. Marisa Pelzner is explicitly a lesbian character who attends the debutante ball with her girlfriend.
Romance and Sexual Content
HighRomance is a central and pervasive theme, featuring numerous kissing and making out scenes, implied sexual activity, and suggestive dialogue. Content escalates across seasons, with implied sex scenes becoming more prominent. Belly loses her virginity to Conrad in a Season 2 flashback, and other characters engage in intimate acts, often with implied sexual encounters, though graphic nudity is largely avoided.
Belly and Benito are shown in bed together, with Belly's bare shoulders visible and kissing/making out implying further intimacy. In a Season 2 flashback, Belly loses her virginity to Conrad by a fireplace, explicitly stating, 'I want it to be with you'. There are also two scenes of girls skinny-dipping as a dare (without explicit nudity) and a brief instance of an elderly man's rear nudity in a locker room.
Profanity
HighThe show features frequent and escalating use of strong profanity throughout its seasons. This includes a high number of 'f-bombs' and 's-words,' along with other expletives. The frequency of strong language significantly exceeds typical averages for TV-14 rated shows, with usage becoming more common as the series progresses.
Season 1 alone contains 40 'f-bombs' and a total of 179 profanities. By Season 3, the number of 'f-bombs' escalates to 60, with 276 total profanities. The series regularly includes words such as 'f**k,' 'sh*t,' 'a**hole,' and 'b*tch,' and also features the misuse of God's name, with up to 15 instances in Season 2.
Substance Use
HighSubstance use is pervasive and frequently depicted, particularly underage drinking at parties among teen characters as young as 16. Marijuana use by both teenagers and adults (sometimes citing 'medical conditions') is also shown. Characters are seen attempting to use fake IDs to purchase alcohol and experiencing intoxication and hangovers, with Belly getting 'seriously drunk.'
Underage characters, including Belly, are frequently shown drinking alcohol at parties, with Belly becoming 'seriously drunk' in one instance. The mothers, Laurel and Susannah, are depicted smoking marijuana, and Jeremiah smokes marijuana as well, with Belly expressing concern about his use. Steven and Jeremiah reminisce about using fake IDs to get alcohol.
Scary & Intense Content
MediumThe show does not contain traditional scary or horror elements. However, it features emotionally intense and potentially upsetting content related to illness, grief, and anxiety. A significant plotline revolves around a mother's terminal cancer diagnosis and subsequent death, leading to profound emotional distress among the main characters. Instances of panic attacks are also depicted.
Susannah's terminal cancer diagnosis and eventual off-screen death are central to the plot, causing significant grief and anxiety for Conrad, Jeremiah, Belly, and their families. A male character is shown suffering from an anxiety attack, highlighting mental health struggles within the narrative.
Disrespect & Rebellion
MediumThe series frequently portrays adolescent disrespect and rebellious behavior, including arguments with parents, ignoring rules, and engaging in acts of defiance such as underage drinking. Characters sometimes display selfish attitudes, and there is an overarching theme of problematic drama driven by teenage choices and attitudes.
Belly is criticized by her friend Taylor and by fan communities for being 'selfish' in her romantic indecision and actions, particularly in vacillating between Conrad and Jeremiah. Teenagers consistently engage in rebellious acts like underage drinking and attempting to use fake IDs to purchase alcohol, often without immediate or significant negative consequences highlighted by the narrative.
Anti-Christian Themes
MediumWhile not explicitly anti-Christian in its main narrative, the show normalizes behaviors (sexual activity, heavy substance use, pervasive profanity) that are contrary to Christian values. There are instances of misusing divine names and cynical commentary on religious holidays, suggesting a secular worldview that may be at odds with Christian teachings.
The series includes multiple instances of misusing God's name (e.g., 'God's name is misused five times, and Jesus' name is abused once' in Season 1; 'God's name is misused 15 times' in Season 2). A character makes a dismissive remark about Thanksgiving being a 'genocidal holiday'. The normalization of sex, heavy drinking, and drug use is noted to not align with Christian values.
Violence
LowThe series contains minimal physical violence, with no graphic or severe instances. Any acts of physical aggression are generally brief and not central to the plot, serving more to underscore emotional conflict rather than physical harm. The primary 'intensity' in the show stems from emotional drama and not from violent confrontations.
Laurel, Belly's mother, slaps Belly out of anger, though she later apologizes for her action. Steven, Belly's brother, and Taylor's boyfriend Milo engage in a brief tussle at a party.
Witchcraft & Occult
LowNo elements of witchcraft, sorcery, occult practices, magic rituals, demons, spells, or other supernatural themes are present in 'The Summer I Turned Pretty.' The series focuses entirely on realistic, contemporary human relationships and experiences.
No specific examples of witchcraft or occult content were found in any season of the series. The narrative is grounded in a realistic setting without supernatural elements.
Other Notes
Target Demographic
16+ (Mature Teens) - This recommendation is due to the consistent presence and escalation of mature themes across seasons, including significant sexual content (implied sex scenes, discussion of losing virginity), pervasive strong profanity, extensive underage alcohol and marijuana use, and complex LGBTQ+ themes. While individual episodes may vary, the overall series content is best suited for mature teenagers and older audiences capable of discerning and processing these themes. Official ratings range from TV-14 to 16+, with a self-rated 16 by Prime Video for stronger episodes in later seasons, and Common Sense Media recommending 15+.
Additional Notes
The content in 'The Summer I Turned Pretty' generally intensifies with each successive season, particularly regarding profanity, sexual content, and substance use. The show's portrayal of teenage life often depicts mature situations without overtly highlighting negative consequences, which parents may find concerning. While it explores themes of love, friendship, and family, these are often intertwined with morally ambiguous choices and a secular perspective.
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