Chaos and Clarity in The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3, Episode 10: Jeremiah’s Spiral, Conrad’s Escape, and Belly’s Parisian Path

The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3, Episode 10, titled “Letters from the Heart,” which premiered on Amazon Prime Video on September 10, 2025, delivers a poignant exploration of fractured families and personal reinvention. Following the dramatic events of Episode 8’s canceled wedding and Episode 9’s raw confrontations, this episode shifts gears, placing Isabel “Belly” Conklin (Lola Tung) in Paris, where she begins to find her footing, while back in Cousins Beach, Jeremiah Fisher (Gavin Casalegno) unravels and Conrad Fisher (Christopher Briney) seeks escape from the chaos. This 1000-word analysis delves into the emotional and thematic depth of Episode 10, highlighting how the show uses its characters’ diverging paths to explore themes of heartbreak, independence, and the messy bonds of family.

Belly’s Parisian Awakening

Episode 10 opens with Belly navigating the vibrant streets of Paris, a stark departure from the familiar shores of Cousins Beach. After the fallout of her broken engagement to Jeremiah and her impulsive decision to join a study abroad program (as seen in Episode 9), Belly is thrust into a world that demands independence. The Parisian setting—alive with bustling markets, twinkling lights, and the hum of French conversations—serves as both a literal and symbolic fresh start. The episode’s early scenes show Belly tackling practical challenges: securing a shared apartment, enrolling in a language course, and working part-time at a cozy bookstore. These moments, grounded by Lola Tung’s nuanced performance, depict Belly’s tentative steps toward self-reliance.

A key figure in Belly’s Parisian journey is Gemma, the vivacious local introduced in Episode 9, who helps her recover a stolen bag. In Episode 10, Gemma becomes a catalyst for Belly’s growth, inviting her into a diverse group of international students. Their late-night gatherings, filled with wine-fueled debates and laughter in a Montmartre cafe, push Belly to redefine herself. In a subtle but significant moment, she introduces herself as “Isabel” rather than “Belly,” signaling a shift from her childhood identity tied to Cousins. Yet, her heart remains entangled with the past, as Conrad’s letters—arriving unexpectedly—stir memories of the beach house and the Fisher brothers. The letters, narrated in Christopher Briney’s soulful voice, reference intimate moments like their shared dance at the Cousins Beach Fourth of July party, anchoring Belly to a place she’s trying to leave behind.

Jeremiah’s Downward Spiral

Back in Cousins, Jeremiah’s emotional descent takes center stage, amplifying the family chaos teased in the episode’s premise. The fallout from his canceled engagement to Belly has left him raw and unmoored, and Gavin Casalegno delivers a tour-de-force performance as a young man grappling with rejection and self-doubt. Episode 10 shows Jeremiah spiraling in destructive ways—drinking heavily, skipping college classes, and clashing with those around him. A particularly harrowing scene unfolds at the beach house, where Jeremiah confronts Laurel (Jackie Chung), blaming her for supporting Belly’s decision to leave. His line, “You always loved her more than me,” cuts deep, revealing his sense of abandonment and echoing the loss of his mother, Susannah.

Jeremiah’s spiral also strains his relationship with Conrad. The brothers, already fractured by their love for Belly, reach a breaking point in Episode 10. During a heated argument on the beach, Jeremiah throws a punch, accusing Conrad of sabotaging his happiness. The physicality of the scene underscores the depth of his pain, contrasting sharply with the introspective Jeremiah of earlier seasons. This chaos ripples through the Fisher family, with their father, Adam (Tom Everett Scott), attempting to mediate but struggling to connect with his sons. The episode paints Jeremiah as a tragic figure, lost in his grief but unable to see a path forward, setting up a potential redemption arc in the season’s final episode.

Conrad’s Escape from Home

While Jeremiah drowns in his emotions, Conrad chooses escape, both physically and emotionally. Episode 10 reveals that Conrad has left Cousins Beach for Stanford, hoping distance will help him process his role in the wedding’s collapse. Christopher Briney portrays Conrad as a man wrestling with guilt and longing, his quiet demeanor masking a storm of emotions. His decision to write letters to Belly—rather than call or text—reflects his introspective nature and his desire to give her space while still expressing his love. The first letter, which Belly reads in her Parisian apartment, is a heartrending mix of nostalgia and hope: “Cousins feels empty without you, but I’m trying to let you go, even if my heart won’t.”

Conrad’s escape is not just from Cousins but from the weight of his family’s expectations. A flashback scene shows him clashing with Adam, who urges him to “fix things” with Jeremiah. Conrad’s refusal—“I can’t keep carrying everyone’s pain”—marks a pivotal moment of growth, as he prioritizes his own healing. Yet, his letters to Belly suggest he’s not ready to fully let go, creating a tension that keeps the love triangle alive. The show’s use of Bon Iver’s “Holocene” during Conrad’s scenes amplifies this melancholic yearning, tying his arc to the broader theme of navigating love and loss.

Family Chaos and Supporting Players

The episode’s focus on family chaos extends beyond the Fisher brothers. Laurel, grappling with her own guilt over Belly’s departure, tries to hold the fractured group together. Her scenes with Jeremiah are particularly affecting, as she navigates her role as a surrogate mother while mourning Susannah’s absence. Jackie Chung’s performance adds depth to Laurel’s quiet strength, though the episode hints at her own unresolved grief, which may play a larger role in the finale.

Taylor (Rain Spencer) and Steven (Sean Kaufman) provide a lighter counterbalance, their rekindled romance offering moments of humor and warmth. In Episode 10, they attempt to support Jeremiah, with Taylor’s blunt honesty—“You’re being a mess, Jere”—cutting through his defenses. Their subplot, while secondary, reinforces the theme of family, as they rally around their friends despite their own uncertainties. The introduction of Leo, a charming Parisian student who shares a flirty moment with Belly at a cafe, hints at new possibilities but remains understated, keeping the focus on her self-discovery rather than a new romance.

Themes of Heartbreak and Healing

Episode 10 masterfully weaves together its disparate threads—Belly’s growth, Jeremiah’s spiral, and Conrad’s escape—through the lens of heartbreak and healing. Belly’s Parisian journey represents a reclaiming of agency, as she learns to navigate life without the Fisher brothers defining her choices. Jeremiah’s chaos reflects the raw pain of rejection, while Conrad’s letters and departure highlight his struggle to balance love with self-preservation. The family dynamics, strained by loss and miscommunication, underscore the show’s core question: Can love endure the chaos of growing up?

The episode’s pacing is deliberate, balancing quiet moments—like Belly reading Conrad’s letter under Parisian streetlights—with intense confrontations, such as Jeremiah’s fight with Conrad. The cinematography, contrasting Paris’s warm glow with Cousins’ stormy skies, mirrors the characters’ emotional states. Taylor Swift’s “August” plays during a montage of Belly’s Parisian life, tying her journey to the nostalgia of summer while signaling her move toward a new season.

Setting the Stage for the Finale

With the series finale looming on September 17, 2025, Episode 10 leaves viewers on edge. Will Belly respond to Conrad’s letters, or will she fully embrace her new life? Can Jeremiah find a path out of his spiral, and will the brothers reconcile? The episode ends with Belly standing on a Parisian bridge, clutching Conrad’s latest letter, as she whispers, “I’m trying to be someone new, but you’re still in my heart.” This cliffhanger, paired with Jeremiah’s drunken stumble on the beach and Conrad’s solitary walk through Stanford, sets up a finale that promises resolution—or further heartbreak.

The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3, Episode 10 is a compelling study of characters at a crossroads, with Belly’s clarity in Paris contrasting the chaos in Cousins. As families fracture and hearts mend, the episode captures the bittersweet beauty of growing up, leaving fans eager to see how the story concludes.