We don’t need our favorite characters to be perfect. Why do we long for authenticity and rawness if we dislike characters who broadcast their mistakes? We as real people are never as simple, so why do we expect that from the people reenacting real life? The hit TV show The Summer I Turned Pretty has so many perfect examples of complexity between characters and their relationships. This show easily became one of my favorites after watching due to the realism of the characters, more specifically my hidden gems, Conrad Fisher and Taylor Jewel. On paper, it seemed like Taylor had it out for Conrad and never really wanted him to be with Belly, but I think there’s more to that story and some parallels that you might have missed. So let’s break down the two of them and how their vastly different personalities actually make them similar.
Conrad Was Wildly Misunderstood.
We all know Connie Baby for his moodiness and avoidant attachment style. But what about the factors that led him to be that way? I like to give people grace and understand that people hurt people. Conrad reacted to a very traumatic situation in his family in the only way he knew how. To shut down and shut out. But he still always tended to protect others and love them even when it wasn’t loud. We see a lot of his growth throughout the show, but we also start with a teenage boy who is going through a lot. Arguing with his brother, pushing away the love of his life, smoking, and doing things he shouldn’t. Those, to me, were the most realistic scenes. Because it created room for transformation and growth at the end of the show. So when you find yourself wondering, how is he doing good things but also making so many mistakes? That is a complex character. And also a human. Having characters like Conrad is so important because we get to see what someone who is so closed off is thinking when no one else is around. It helps us understand people we might have never understood without seeing their perspective.
Taylor’s Confidence As A Defense Mechanism.
Outside of being Belly’s best friend, we learned so much about Taylor, which is why I believe she quickly became one of my favorite characters. She is loud and outspoken but also very hurt. She tends to hide her feelings using her confidence or humor, which is another avoidance tactic. When things get scary, some of us run rather than facing it head on. Taylor spoke about how she didn’t feel worthy of love and was scared of commitment. Hearing things like that from a seemingly confident person is always striking but also reveals a new and more human side to them. Taylor being loud and the center of attention may lead you to believe that she and Conrad are polar opposites, which would explain her dislike of his chasing after Belly. But what if I told you the two have a lot more in common than you think?
The Parallels.
In the show, you may have noticed Taylor being far more interested in the idea of Belly and Jeremiah rather than Conrad. She states that he should leave her alone and stop toying with her. We understand Taylor’s perspective but cannot deny the hypocrisy. Both characters are afraid of love because of their own insecurities; they both want to protect the people around them; they both have toxic ways of expressing their love. So why? Why does Taylor despise Conrad for the same avoidant behaviors she possesses? Let’s break it down. My interpretation of this dynamic all leads back to projection. Taylor sees these patterns in Conrad that she has in herself and doesn’t want that for her best friend. She knows how she’s made others feel with her actions, so she’s knowledgeable about the topic. She sees Jeremiah as the safe option because she knows that, as much as Conrad and Belly love each other, it will be difficult.
I think it’s so creative and interactive to display characters who have a lot of room to grow. The more human the character is, the more we can relate and make connections with them. I think it’s always beautiful to see the transformation of characters on TV throughout seasons and to experience their ups and downs. I think we need to normalize complex characters in order to watch the growth of people we may see in ourselves.