Episode 5: Love Fool – Love Fool begins as Belly Conklin (Lola Tung) and her friends find themselves in the empty beach house. Distraughtly, Jeremiah Fisher (Gavin Casalegno) races upstairs. Discovering the top floor vacated as well, he describes in a voiceover that the emptiness makes it feel like Susannah Fisher (Rachel Blanchard) was never there. Back downstairs Jeremiah witness, Aunt Julia (Kyra Sedgwick) Conrad Fisher (Christopher Briney) verbally unloads on Julia. Julia assure him that Susannah’s belongings were carefully stored in a nearby unit. When she reveals that Adam Fisher (Tom Everett Scott) gave her the approval to proceed, Steven Conklin (Sean Kaufman) intervenes to calm Conrad. She points out that Susannah could have better prepared them for this outcome. Before he and the rest of his friends stomp off, Conrad apologizes for his granddad loving Susannah more than her.

 

In the kitchen, Julia asks Skye Fisher (Elsie Fisher) why Conrad would apologize. Skye admits to sharing the Christmas story with the Fisher brothers. Julia tells Skye that was a mistake. Skye agrees what Conrad said was crappy, but cannot defend her decision to sell the home.

 

Unable to reach his father, Conrad demeans him. Jeremiah believes there was nothing he could do. To the audience, Jeremiah says their father wouldn’t be a candidate for Father of the Year, but he was always there when it counted. Conrad aggressively accuses Skye of knowing Julia’s plans. Reminding everyone the house isn’t sold, Jeremiah believes there is a chance. Skye claims Sandy (Brooke Jaye Taylor) said the market is ripe for a beachfront property. Cam Cameron (David Iacono) expresses how he feels like an interloper. Taylor (Rain Spencer) suggests leaving, leading to a short debate about bunking arrangements.

 

Country Club – Jeremiah’s outdated employee access card is denied. After several unsuccessful attempts, Belly suggests another entrance. When Jeremiah proposes the pool entrance, Cam offers his mother’s key code. Cam claims the late-night entry won’t raise any red flags. Taylor and Steven go off in search of sleeping accessories while Cam and Skye head to the kitchen for snacks. As Conrad prepares to join Skye and Cam, Belly tries to cheer him. He contributes the vacant house to his Boardwalk visit.

 

Jeremiah’s Flashback – Jeremiah spies on Belly’s attempts to cheer up Conrad. He tells the audience that it took him far too long to realize the invisible forces that always drew Belly and Conrad together. He contributes being in the dark to greater concerns. He recalls last year’s Halloween when Conrad unexpectedly comes home from college to find him stressing over the family finances. Conrad abruptly asks about his senior year. Jeremiah informs him of his homecoming crowning. Conrad asks who he took. Jeremiah says, Blake. Conrad describes last summer’s love triangle as messy before claiming ignorance of Jeremiah and Belly’s involvement. Conrad explains the physical pain when he thinks of not being with Belly. He claims the feelings are mutual. Frustrated, Jeremiah vows to not interfere. Conrad finally asks for approval to date her.  

 

Country Club – An abandoned leather jacket excites Taylor, so much so, she takes a selfie. Steven asks if the photo is to update her profile. She says it’s for Milo (Will Spenser). Removing the jacket, she questions who wouldn’t come back for their things. He believes it to be rich people who want a reason to buy new things. Holding up a bag of marijuana, she assumes they don’t return for their drugs either.

 

Screening Room – Jeremiah flips on the projector to light the screen. He and Belly make shadow puppets when the classical black and white, “The Apartment” blares to life. She claims it was one of Susannah’s favorite movies. He recalls spending many nights watching movies with her while she was going through chemo. They discuss how Susannah had a fondness for movie snacks. They share a similar experience of drinking soda through Twizzlers. Very near kissing, he has the urge to call Conrad.

 

Country Club Kitchen – Cam tells Skye and Conrad about Liam hiring a lawyer to access his trust fund early to buy a Maserati. Skye is surprised by Cam starting gossip.

 

Dance Hall – Steven continues to ignore Jeremiah’s texts as he and Taylor continue gathering sleeping accessories. The latest text and fancy ballroom setting inspire another romantic attempt. As soon as she hears Frank Ocean’s Moon River key up on his phone, she asks what he’s doing. He tries to get her to imagine the perfect setting with the perfect guy, wearing the perfect suit. Crushing his momentum, she tells him that Milo would never wear a suit. His response is to remind her how wrong Milo is for her and eventually talks her into a shared dance.

 

Screening Room – Cam practices extreme caution as trays of hot, steaming food are passed out. Belly notices and mentions that their group is two members short. Conrad volunteers to search for them and Jeremiah follows pursuit. Conrad approaches the Liam trust fund story during their search and Jeremiah admonishes it as the wrong move. The mention, however, inspires a recent memory.

 

Thanksgiving Flashback– Everyone, including Laurel Park (Jackie Chung) and Adam Fisher (Tom Everett Scott), has made an appearance for Susannah’s Thanksgiving bash. Jeremiah is passively aggressively sour when Susannah requests he start the activities by telling everyone what he is most thankful for. Jeremiah chooses to end the evening by telling Conrad that he’d prefer not to see him and Belly together. Next time he request prior notification and a stunned Conrad agrees.  

 

Dance Hall – It doesn’t take the brothers long to find their prey once they overhear the music blaring from the dance hall. Upon learning of their audience, Taylor and Steven jump away from each other like they’ve been caught doing something wrong. Steven goes with an awkward explanation while Taylor’s response is more aggressive. She wants to know exactly what it is they are looking for. Jeremiah says they are looking for them. 

 

Screening Room – With dinner out of the way, Cam’s apprehension over damaging the room grows worse. Steven’s crunching of potato chips and Taylor’s debauchery of converting an apple into a marijuana pipe has him squirming in his seat. Conrad is entirely lost to all this while he sends secreted texts. Jeremiah picks up on his stewing and suggests taking the party outside.

 

Outside The Country Club – Steven and Jeremiah good around on a golf cart. Closely following on foot, Taylor’s frustration with the apple project leads Skye to offer assistance. Taylor denies Belly’s claims that there is still something between her and Steven. Taylor claims to only have feelings for Milo while also admitting that Steven hurt her. When Belly tells her that she is familiar with that type of hurt, the two make a pact to leave first loves in the past.

 

Jeremiah suggests bunking down under the stars when the golf cart’s battery dies. Belly can’t resist admonishing Taylor as she and Skye share the successfully converted apple. Pointing out that volleyball camp is in just 4 weeks, leads to a big discussion about camp and Taylor’s fears that Belly will bail on the team again. Taking control of the situation, Taylor uses Belly’s phone to text the coach and tell her that she is looking forward to seeing her at camp. Steven interrupts with suggestions of truth or dare. The game turns awkward when Skye dares Belly to kiss Jeremiah. Staring into each other’s eyes causes Jeremiah to remember the first time he realized he had feelings for Belly. It would also be the first time he realized he wasn’t her only admirer. Jeremiah makes the moment even weirder for Belly when he says they’re too old for that type of crap. Cam’s choice of truth leads Taylor to ask about his biggest life regret. His honest response of not spending enough time with his deceased sister manages to depress the entire group and essentially end the game.

 

The night wraps up with Taylor and Steven sharing some laughs while Conrad searches for trust fund lawyers. Turning to her mobile as well, Belly receives harsh denials from Coach Shaw (Heather Magee) regarding camp. The coach sympathizes with her but prefers her not to attend camp. Noticing that Jeremiah at the cart, she approaches with an invitation to finish the movie. Belly’s humorous attempts to learn why he is avoiding don’t lighten his mood. He contributes that mood to not being able to control himself around Belly. He recalls the day he learned of Conrad’s forgetting Belly’s corsage. A talk with Susannah after the discovery leads to her discovering that he still has feelings for Belly. She claims to not have seen it until that moment because Jeremiah is so good at burying his feelings..

 

Jeremiah and Belly fall asleep gazing into each other’s eyes. Jeremiah is the first to rise the following day. The others are abruptly jolted when Cam’s very vocal mother, Denise (Yvonne Valadez) demands to know what’s happened. Cam tries to lighten her mood with the depressing news about the Fishers losing their home. His promises to clean their mess are enough to satisfy her. She even manages to depart with a smile on her face while making sure they don’t forget about the cart. 

 

Later leaving the club, Jeremiah confers with Conrad about contacting a trust attorney. Jeremiah is shocked to learn that he reached out last night and demands to be involved. Conrad promises to include him while also reminding him that his presence isn’t necessary. Jeremiah wants to be included.

 

Beach House – Aunt Julia tells Conrad and Jeremiah that they should have gone home as she wraps send Sandy on her way with gratitude. Conrad quickly fires back with the claim they aren’t going to abandon their home. Julia tells him that it isn’t his home and won’t be hers much longer. Despite Jeremiah’s begging and instance of a plan, she’s already accepted an offer.

 

 

The Summer I Turned Pretty Review

 

Despite the majority of the episode being fluff, I still found it had some intriguing concepts. I couldn’t help but enjoy the clubhouse setting and the escapades through each room. The screening room was especially cool. Cam is still a welcome addition for me and as depressing as it is, I would like to learn more about his sister. I would give the episode a solid 5 out of 10. I still can’t help feeling that there is something darker behind the denial of the trust fund and Coach seems excessively harsh with, although I am not entirely sure how that entire thing played out. I have not watched the first season of read the books.

 

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