The Summer I Turned Pretty is airing its Season 3/series finale on Wednesday, September 17, and though fans have their fingers crossed for Belly (Lola Tung) and Conrad’s (Christopher Briney) happy ending, I fear we’re not getting there without a life-altering medical emergency…
Before TSITP Season 3, Episode 10, I was sure that the final episode of the hit Prime Video show — based on Jenny Han’s beloved book series — would be almost exclusively positive! I was expecting a romantic Belly and Conrad Parisian reunion, their endgame secured, and hopeful closure for other characters’ storylines after an emotionally taxing season! But after a seeing a specific scene in Season 3, Episode 10, “Last Call,” I’m convinced one character will be having some sort of medical emergency before Belly gets her happy ending. And it’s not one of the characters viewers were worried about already this season…
After the Season 3 trailer dropped in June, fans feared that Belly’s brother Steven (Sean Kaufman) might die in the series, only to learn that he got in a car accident and survived. In Episode 6, when the Fisher boys were eating at a steak house, Conrad reminded his dad that “heart disease still runs in the family,” which led fan to wonder if Adam (Tom Everett Scott) would have a medical event. And throughout Season 3, a number of fans wondered if Conrad himself could die at the end of TSITP for several reasons, none of which I’ve allowed myself to seriously entertain! After Season 3, Episode 10 premiered, however, I think that Belly’s dad, John Conklin (Colin Ferguson), is the one headed for a medical scare.
Right now, this theory is purely speculation, but hear me out: Season 3, Episode 10, “Last Year,” shows several time jumps, season changes, and holidays pass as Belly builds her new life in Paris while Conrad, Jere, and their loved ones pick up the pieces and heal back home post-BellyJere breakup. On the first Thanksgiving since Belly’s wedding was called off, we check in with Laurel and John celebrating together. And in their brief 45-ish second scene, we see John grab the left side of his chest and say, “Oh! I’ve had heartburn all day.” HMM!!!!!
As an acid reflux girlie myself, I’m well aware that people get heartburn ALL the damn time. But do they dramatically clutch their chest, search for the Pepcid, and make a point of taking that Pepcid on-screen in the penultimate episode of a series if they’re not about to have a medical emergency in the finale? I don’t think so! With mere minutes left in the series and so much still to accomplish, we have no time to waste! There’s always a chance that the scene was casual small talk designed show how comfortable Laurel and John’s relationship is now, but I’m choosing to believe that John’s seemingly random heartburn wouldn’t be included in TSITP‘s second to last episode unless Jenny Han had a larger plan in store. (If not, I’m gonna be MAD about that writing.)
In our TSITP Season 3, Episode 10 Easter egg breakdown, we noted how Season 3’s premiere featured another scene with a potential throwaway line that gained a greater significance as the series progressed. Jeremiah told Belly never to cut her hair, which foreshadowed Belly’s eventual post-breakup, new era haircut in Episode 10. So I think John’s Episode 10 heartburn line will foreshadow a more serious finale medical emergency — one that gives Belly reason to return home from Paris. When asked why she wasn’t going home for the holidays in Episode 310, Belly told her Paris pals, “I haven’t seen, or changed, or learned enough yet. And I’m afraid if I go home, I won’t be able to make myself come back.” If a family emergency takes place, however, that would easily prompt Belly’s return and remind her that — as she said after Steven’s accident — “Life’s too short not to spend it with the person that you love.” AKA Bonrad endgame back home!?
Considering the finale picks up in June, around Belly’s birthday, I think Han intentionally showed John experiencing early symptoms in fall to lay the groundwork for a finale medical emergency. (Full disclosure: I just watched Season 2 of the other brother love triangle show, My Life with the Walter Boys, where a similar chest-holding, heartburn foreshadowing sitch played out, so I definitely do have PTSD from that. But still, TSITP theory tracks!) As we saw after Steven’s accident, Dr. Conrad would undoubtedly be of great comfort and help to Belly and her family should anything happen to John. And though a finale medical event would certainly be show-altering and life changing, it likely wouldn’t be deadly.
When speaking with Elite Daily, Han said, “I was going into this story feeling like I wanted to make it even better and try new things.” The creator also teased a “hopeful” ending to People, saying, “I don’t like too neat of an ending, personally … But I really must insist on hope, because if something ends in such a bleak way … That’s what I insist on. And I do think that that is, for me, the only real difference between writing stories for a young audience and for adults — is a hopeful ending.” So, I hope — and truly don’t think — anyone would die in this final episode, because that would be bleak as hell! That said, I still don’t think John Conklin is out of the woods.
Belly’s dad and his budding romance with Laurel have been two continual bright spots in The Summer I Turned Pretty‘s final season. So whatever happens, we DEMAND he be okay when the finale’s end credits roll. We’re here for Laurel/John endgame, too!
New episodes of The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3 premiere Wednesdays on Prime Video.