Warning: Spoilers for The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3 (but not the book) ahead!
As someone who grew up with The Summer I Turned Pretty trilogy, seeing Belly’s endgame finally come to life on screen has been a long-awaited moment. However, as much as I’ve been invested in Belly’s story, it’s the secondary love story between Steven and Taylor that has unexpectedly caught my attention.
At this point, I hesitate to even call it a secondary storyline because their relationship feels crucial to the series.
From Dislike to Undeniable Chemistry
In the books, Taylor’s childhood crush on Steven is portrayed as annoying, especially after their secret kiss ruins Belly’s birthday. But in the show, their relationship slowly evolved, and after a series of ups and downs, I found myself rooting for them.
In season 1, I was all for Steven and Shayla (played by Minnie Mills), but as TSITP progressed, Steven and Taylor’s connection grew stronger, especially in season 2.
In season 2, the slow-burn romance between Steven (played by Sean Kaufman) and Taylor (played by Rain Spencer) became more prominent as they road-tripped to Cousins Beach to help Belly, Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno), and Conrad (Christopher Briney) save the beach house.
A kiss, bickering, a fist fight, and an emotional breakup later, it felt like this pairing might never come together.
Season 3: The Tension Builds
In season 3, we pick up with Taylor and Steven grappling with their feelings, four years after season 2. They are both in relationships with other people but can’t escape each other.
The tension reaches a boiling point when Steven gets into a car accident after confessing his true feelings for Taylor. In the hospital, Taylor confesses her love for him while he’s in a medically-induced coma, but Steven wakes up with a different realization: He’s done with Taylor, as he feels they’ll never be on the same page.
This heart-wrenching moment left me wondering if they would ever reconcile. But then, episode 3, which aired on July 23, delivered a memorable moment.
The Steven-Taylor Chemistry Moment
In a brief 9-second scene, Steven and Taylor share a longing gaze that is packed with so much chemistry that it completely overshadowed the rest of the season’s romance—especially Belly and Jeremiah’s.
In that split second, you could feel Steven’s desire to give in to Taylor and Taylor’s fear of rejection. The moment was so intense and electric that it outshone any romantic scene involving Belly and Jeremiah so far.
Belly and Jeremiah: Where’s the Chemistry?
In comparison, Belly and Jeremiah’s romantic scenes feel somewhat flat. While we’re supposed to be rooting for this couple to stay together, there’s a lack of the passion and intensity you usually get from a couple that the audience can get behind (think Damon and Elena from The Vampire Diaries).
Belly and Jeremiah’s moments have failed to match the charged energy of Steven and Taylor’s interaction. Even in the first three episodes of season 3, the only moments that came close to that level of emotion were when Conrad learned about Belly and Jeremiah’s engagement and when Conrad shared a sweet moment with Belly after she tripped down the stairs.
These fleeting moments are nothing compared to the simmering tension between Steven and Taylor.
The Missing Element in Belly and Jeremiah’s Story
What’s ironic is that Belly and Jeremiah are the ones heading toward marriage, but their relationship still lacks the chemistry we expect from a couple meant to be the heart of the show. The only time Belly has palpable chemistry with someone else is when she’s with Jeremiah’s brother, Conrad.
The love triangle dynamic works best when the audience is torn between two characters. In season 2, it felt natural to root for Conrad, feel angered by his actions, and then eventually come around to the idea of Jeremiah as a second chance.
But in season 3, the pull towards Jeremiah feels lacking, especially since Belly is already committed to spending her life with him.
What’s Next for Steven and Taylor?
As the season progresses, I hope to see more of the undeniable chemistry between Steven and Taylor unfold. It’s hard not to root for them when their connection feels so strong, while Belly and Jeremiah still have a lot of work to do to make their relationship feel as compelling as it should be.
New episodes of The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3 drop every Wednesday at 12 a.m. PT/3 a.m. ET on Prime Video.
