The peach scene in The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3, episode 5 was a thirst trap for more reasons than one! Yes, I love peaches as much as the next person, but seeing Conrad admire Belly with such a pure longing to be with her and appreciate everything about her is more than Team Conrad can handle right now, without the promise of a happy ending.
It wasn't a sexual moment, or even a sad moment, but another reminder that Conrad's feelings for Belly have somehow seemed to grow stronger with time rather than fade away.
The viral peach scene in The Summer I Turned Pretty screams soulmates for Belly and Conrad
Bonrad fans are still holding out for Belly and Conrad to rekindle the deep romantic connection they had in season 1. Could The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3, episode 5 be a turning point?
The viral “peach scene” is quite the teaser, because it allows viewers to forget about other characters for a moment and see that Belly and Conrad still have unparalleled chemistry all these years later—much more genuine than her connection with Jeremiah, if you ask me!
According to Entertainment Weekly, Jenny Han, author and director of The Summer I Turned Pretty released some exclusive script notes about the scene that left fans wondering if Han is rooting for Bonrad as much as their supporters are.
Han confesses, “it’s all in the eyes”, when directing the peach scene
In the Instagram post, fans get a sneak peak of Han’s director notes for a scene where Belly delicately devours two perfectly ripe peaches, while Conrad soaks in the moment, paralyzed by her beauty and fond of her every expression. This scene comes right after Belly and Conrad were haphazardly forced to spend a day together alone, since Jeremiah was working late to impress his father. Han states, “What makes this moment so intimate is their connection. It’s all in the eyes”.
Han doesn't deny the connection between them, and neither can we! Conrad’s eyes show longing and desperation, while Belly’s show comfort and pleasure. The peach scene reminds us that Conrad and Belly are each other’s safe place, with its raw exposure of an unspoken connection between the two characters that never really faded, even when their relationship did. Distance and time may have separated Belly and Conrad, but it certainly didn’t kill their spark!
Should Team Conrad fans prepare to have their hearts broken again?
If you’ve read the book series, don’t think you have the show figured out, as Han has previously mentioned that readers can expect some surprises on the screen. Anything can change until the finale on Wednesday, Sept. 17. Will the drama work out in Conrad’s favor, or is that even a possibility?
Conrad’s monologue in episode 5 reminded us that he made a promise to his mother, as her dying wish was for him to take care of Jeremiah. If he ends up with Belly, would that break his promise to his mom?
The phrase, “this is what your mom would have wanted”, keeps coming up in the past few episodes regarding Belly and Jeremiah’s decision to get married. I think, more than anything, that Susannah did not want a girl to come between her sons, even if it was her best friend's daughter. Since it seems unavoidable at this point, it’s hard to imagine Conrad being able to keep his promise in the way he imagined. It’s also hard to get an idea of whether Susannah would have supported the engagement. She would want both sons to be happy, and Belly is going to have to hurt one of them to marry the other.
Many viewers just can’t seem to shake the fact that Conrad had Belly’s heart first. Our hearts broke with his when he lost his mom and first love all at once. While there could still be hope for the Bonrad wedding, we also have to prepare our hearts for the other outcome—that Conrad has to let go of Belly forever. Conrad doesn’t seem capable of seeing Belly as a sister-in-law, so he’d likely continue to create distance between himself, his brother, and Belly—that would be a hard pill for Team Conrad fans to swallow!
Conrad’s hero-complex brings a new perspective to fans
During Conrad and Belly’s outing in episode 5, Conrad admits to having a hero-complex, and he goes through a serious internal struggle trying to cope with doing or saying things that could possibly disappoint Belly. In episode 4, Conrad overhears Belly sobbing in her bed about the lack of support from her and Jeremiah’s family, and it really struck a chord with him. After that incident, Conrad made the selfless decision to be his brother’s best man, but how many more of these selfless decisions can he take before he destroys himself emotionally?
Conrad seems to be in a complete trance over Belly so far in season 3. Is it love, infatuation, or a little of both? Belly has openly mocked him, laughed in his face, and ignored sensible boundaries for marrying your ex-boyfriend’s brother. Yet, she also spoke truth and encouragement to him in episode 5 when he was feeling like a failure as a med student. Belly’s words seemed to be exactly what Conrad needed to hear in the moment. When Belly let down her walls of frustration and stress, she was able to connect with Conrad on a level that took us right back to the Bonrad we knew from season 1.
If Conrad does have a hero-complex, maybe therapy will help him realize that he’s ready to leave his feelings for Belly in the past (this would still break Team Conrad hearts!). We’re just ready for Conrad to get the love and happiness he deserves, whatever that looks like. Of course, we want the same for Jeremiah and Belly, too, just not at Conrad’s expense.
The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3 airs Wednesdays on Prime Video.
Stay tuned for the latest romance news with Claire and Jamie.