By Ashlyn Kinley, Staff Writer
The Summer I Turned Pretty has been nothing short of a fan-favorite at Ouachita. Talks about the “Fisher boys” buzz around campus between girls, from freshmen to seniors. The plotline centers around two families who visit their beach house every summer.
Isabelle (more commonly known as Belly), her brother and their mom spend a lot of time with the Fisher family – Conrad, Jeremiah and Susanna – during the summer months. As Belly grows up, she begins to find herself falling for Conrad, the man of her childhood dreams. However, as life goes on and experiences overtake their new-found love for each other, Belly is drawn near to Jeremiah, the other brother. This clearly causes drama for girls to debate which brother Belly should pick, but ultimately, the show brings girls on campus together and provides unity and community here at Ouachita. Bailey Mashburn, a sophomore student, has found several good aspects in the show that are relatable and easy to connect with.
“I think the show has become so popular because of the aspect of relatability,” Mashburn said. “While their decisions might frustrate you, it’s real, and how real people make mistakes and interpret things incorrectly and are not perfect all the time.” Mashburn enjoys seeing people relate to her online and in person, and admires the “love triangle” between Belly and the boys. She has also really enjoyed the community that the show has brought her. “For me, it made the watch more enjoyable to know I had people to discuss it with. Since being back at college, me and my roommates have designated times to watch it each Wednesday.” The show has played a role in many lives as it has brought her friends both online and on campus.
Maddie Stacey also expressed her love for the story and the community it has brought her. “Coming together with my friends every week to watch this show has become a highlight of my week,” Stacy said. She gives credit to the show for bringing her closer to her friends. She finds the show relatable, saying that each viewer of the show can match one of the characters in some way. Stacy added, “I do think that the fact that there are two different teams has sparked a lot of conversation surrounding the show.” The aspect of a romantic drama will continually pull in girls from all over the United States, and the show has become a passion that women get to share. Both Maddie and Bailey are “Team Conrad” – this is the common answer when people are asked what team they are on.
Something as silly as a romantic-comedy television show can foster a sense of community here on campus. It brings people together in the dorms, in classes and even in small talk when talking about the latest episode. The Summer I Turned Pretty has certainly become a favorite TV show of Ouachita students, bringing connection and community to campus!
