Here Are 28 "The Summer I Turned Pretty" Moments Ranked Specifically For Anyone Who Is Team Conrad
🚨 Warning: MAJOR spoilers ahead for Season 1 of The Summer I Turned Pretty. 🚨
If you're like me, you've spent the past two weeks obsessing over The Summer I Turned Pretty.
Well, it's actually been a little more than a decade for me, because that's when I read the books by Jenny Han. So this has been a long time coming, but WOW, am I glad we're all here now.
In Season 1, I absolutely love both Conrad and Jeremiah*. But I am and have always been a card-carrying member of Team Conrad. So I've decided to rank all of the best moments between Conrad and Belly throughout the season.
*Presented without further elaboration, but big side-eye for anyone who has read the books.
This is, obviously, a VERY unscientific ranking that can and will change at any given moment. But it's all in fun and just a way to celebrate the YA show of the summer. So let's reminisce about all these moments before I start another rewatch, shall we?
28.When the boys have their first Belly Flop of the season, and Conrad and Belly have so much electricity underwater that flotsam and jetsam would be jealous:
Which episode was it? Episode 1
Yes, they still look adorable underwater!!!
27.When Belly calls out Conrad for crashing her first date with Cam Cameron at the drive-in:
Which episode was it? Episode 2
Okay, so this isn't exactly a swoonworthy Conrad and Belly moment (in fact, Belly says it's the moment her crush on Conrad finally dies, which is an adorable lie). But it's kind of fun seeing Conrad being the immature one, when he always tells Belly to "grow up." Crashing her date is one thing, but then calling her out for looking in the mirror...that would be nearly unforgivable for anyone not named Conrad Fisher. (Big points to Taylor for calling him out for that later in the season, though.)
26.When Belly and Conrad interact for the first time:
Which episode was it? Episode 1
Big points to Belly for standing up for herself here, which we come to see is something she regularly does throughout the season. I truly love that even though she's head over heels for Conrad, she still calls him out on his shit.
25.When Conrad shouts "Go, Team Belly!" from the sidelines at the volleyball tournament and then promptly loses his mind with jealousy over Jeremiah and Belly:
Which episode was it? Episode 6
A small, yet adorable moment that shows us all how bad he has it for her. This, of course, is not the most important moment from the volleyball tournament, but I promise, we will GET THERE.
24.When Conrad shows Belly how to properly make the bed, and maybe it's just because I'm an ADULT and household chores are far more exciting to me, but wow, what a moment:
Which episode was it? Episode 4
I love that Belly wonders if this would be what it's like to date Conrad when they're older, and as a certified "OLD" MARRIED PERSON, I can say the answer is actually...yes. Love that for them.
23.I will now be interrupting the flow of this ranking with a series of Conrad stares that simply cannot be ranked — they all hold the exact same power. But here's my attempt. First, when they stare at each other at Nicole's party:
Which episode was it? Episode 3
Solid stare game, no notes.
22.When Conrad stares at Belly after Jeremiah and Steven say she looks great, and he simply cannot resist looking:
Which episode was it? Episode 2
It is especially annoying that Conrad later makes Belly feel shitty for looking in the mirror, when he was VERY MUCH looking at her looking in the mirror.
21.When Conrad drunkenly watches as Belly gets her first kiss with Cam Cameron:
Which episode was it? Episode 2
Drunken, angsty kiss stares.
20.When Belly and Conrad lock eyes at the debutante ball for the first time:
Which episode was it? Episode 7
Oh, we WILL be returning to the deb ball in a bit, but this is an underrated moment from it, so I simply needed to include.
19.When Belly first sees Conrad, and Taylor Swift's "Lover" plays both in her head and in the episode:
Which episode was it? Episode 1
Thus starting the trend of Taylor Swift songs playing when IMPORTANT CONRAD AND BELLY MOMENTS ARE HAPPENING.
18.Okay, now let's talk about that dang infinity necklace...shall we?? First, there's when Belly drunkenly confronts Conrad about it in the outdoor shower while holding TWO margaritas:
Which episode was it? Episode 4
Sure, Drunk Belly was chaotic, but she was so much fun. And she makes sure to ask Conrad if the necklace was for her...and he absolutely does not say no.
17.When Belly first finds the infinity necklace in the same episode where we learn in a flashback that Conrad taught her all about infinity by drawing adorable maple syrup glasses on her Mickey Mouse pancakes:
Which episode was it? Episode 3
Every single flashback on this show serves to remind us that Conrad is NOT AN ASSHOLE, he is simply grieving and going through immeasurable pain all on his own. I mean, assholes would never draw infinity glasses out of maple syrup and then, years later, buy an infinity necklace. They simply wouldn't.
16.When Conrad tries to give Belly the necklace in one more attempt with her, but she says he's too late:
Which episode was it? Episode 6
Okay, this one is sad, but it's important. Belly makes it clear she's not going to just wait around for Conrad (even though she definitely will, but, like, don't worry, I won't tell anyone). And we get to see sad, broody, heartbroken Connie, which hurts but just makes the ending so much sweeter.
15.When Conrad apologizes for pretending he forgot about their almost kiss on July 4 (believe me, we will get there!) and then asks Belly to the ball:
Which episode was it? Episode 6
In this scene, Conrad has an important rite of passage on the path to the elite YA broody love interests Hall of Fame. He says, "I remember everything," like his venerable forefathers Pacey Witter and Nathan Scott before him (IYKYK). It's classic, it's simple, it's elegant, and it's hot: 10/10.
14.When Conrad then has to apologize because Belly finds out that Susannah asked him to ask her to the ball:
Which episode was it? Episode 6
Ugh, of course that last moment had to be tainted when Susannah lets on that she's the one who told Conrad to invite Belly to the ball. Of course, what's PAINFULLY OBVIOUS to everyone is that Conrad wanted to anyway. He sends Belly a text apologizing, and it comes through at the least convenient time possible — causing Nicole and the deb crew to abandon Belly and Taylor in a lake without their clothing.
What I love about the moment when Belly hears Taylor read the text message is that they are literally in a horrible situation, but Belly cannot help grinning like a big, dumb idiot anyway. Which is 100% relatable.
13.When Conrad goes to see Belly the day after they almost kiss and adorably waves at her:
Which episode was it? Episode 5
They were SO HAPPY for like five seconds. It was a great five seconds.
12.When Conrad boops Junior Mint on the nose while looking for Belly:
Which episode was it? Episode 5
The girls that get it, get it, and the girls that don't, don't. Okay, but seriously, please read the books to get the full impact of what Junior Mint means. So to see Conrad boop him on the nose? My heart.
11.When Belly was being cute and relatable, trying to figure out what to text Conrad after their almost kiss:
Which episode was it? Episode 5
From Belly adorably texting Conrad, to seeing how his entire dang face lit up as soon as he got her texts. Right before this scene, Conrad tells Belly she doesn't know the effect she has on people (aka him...but obviously, more on this later), and then we LITERALLY get to see the effect she has on him.
10.When Conrad gave Belly the muffin that the other boys were trying to keep away from her in a flashback scene:
Which episode was it? Episode 1
We're in the top 10, people! From here on out it gets really hard, and honestly, my ranking has probably changed 55 times already and will only continue to change.
But first up, we gotta talk about the good muffins. It is well established in the series that when it comes to the baked goods of Cousins Beach, there are GOOD MUFFINS. The good muffins play an essential role in Season 1, but here is their first appearance. This scene shows us that Conrad has always had a soft spot for Belly, and it truly is just precious. So much is said with just a quick interaction.
9.When Conrad PICKS UP THE GOOD MUFFINS FOR BELLY AND SHE SAYS SHE DOESN'T WANT ONE:
Which episode was it? Episode 7
Okay, as I was saying. THE! GOOD! MUFFINS! He woke up early and got her the good muffins, just after he was rejected by her the night before. And listen, Belly, I get it. You had no idea what was going on with him, and he was acting hot and cold all summer. AND YET, the moment she rejected the muffins and he reacted with a cute little "Okay" shattered my heart into a million tiny little pieces.
8.When Belly and Conrad talk on the beach and he grins at her:
Which episode was it? Episode 1
What I love about this scene is that we get to see them having a little bit of fun together (and how Belly really makes Conrad smile), and we also see just how much history there is here — and how much is about to change between them.
7.When Conrad plays with Belly's hair in the car after the bonfire:
Which episode was it? Episode 1
Ummmm...he drunkenly played with her hair! HE PLAYED WITH HER HAIR! I haven't stopped swooning. And then the next day, when she asked if he remembered, he said he never forgets anything when he's drunk. Because, if you recall, CONRAD REMEMBERS EVERYTHING.
6.When Conrad teaches Belly how to dance during a flashback:
Which episode was it? Episode 5
I'm sorry, but is there anything more wholesome than this scene? I love the foreshadowing to the big dance scene later on, and just how sweet and patient and tender he is with her. It really shows you exactly why she had a crush on him forever — and why the Conrad of this summer isn't an asshole, he's just deeply, deeply hurting.
5.When Conrad asks Belly what she would give him if he quit smoking:
Which episode was it? Episode 1
OMG!!!!! Like, OMG! This SCENE. I love everything about it, but especially that Belly comes back with the perfect retort. You can feel something shift between them, and yet she stands her ground. This is the first moment when Conrad explicitly flirts with her, and it sets up so many more moments to come.
4.When Conrad subs in for Jeremiah during the volleyball tournament, and he and Belly do their little handshake:
Which episode was it? Episode 6
While I'm fairly certain that Belly's player substitutions HAD to be cheating somehow, I was 100% in support of them. This scene just shows what a great team she and Conrad make — they already have a well-rehearsed handshake; I MEAN, COME ON — and it's just purely adorable through and through. I couldn't stop grinning the whole time. (Sorry, Jeremiah.)
3.When Belly and Conrad almost kiss on the 4th of July:
Which episode was it? Episode 4
This scene is already off the charts, but the fact that it's set to Taylor Swift's (sorely underrated) "False God"??? Next level. Conrad seemingly admits there's really something between him and Belly, and they VERY NEARLY KISS (ughhhh, Jeremiah! That firework was not cool!). Based on the number of times that I rewatched this scene, it very well could have been my top-ranked scene on any given day, but there are two more that ultimately HAD to come out on top...
2.When Conrad and Belly ACTUALLY kiss at the very end of the season:
Which episode was it? Episode 7
Finally, after a whole season of good muffins and flashbacks and staring and pining and hair touching and hand shaking and almost kissing, we get the perfect romantic ending that anyone on Team Conrad had been waiting for from the moment "Lover" first played. This scene follows a devastatingly emotional scene set to Phoebe Bridgers' "Funeral," and it kind of feels like emotional whiplash. (And Belly probably should have remembered to check in on Jeremiah, too, but that's beside the point...)
But everything about it is perfect, down to yet another Taylor Swift song — this time it's "This Love." It's the kind of scene that ends and makes you instantly want to rewatch the entire series. Which I absolutely did.
1.When Conrad steps in for Jeremiah and dances with Belly at the debutante ball...
...and, of course, when Laurel says this about them:
Which episode was it? Episode 7
This is not just the best Conrad and Belly scene; it's also the best use of a Taylor Swift song. "The Way I Loved You" feels as if it was written for this show, and it's played at the perfect moment. I teared up when I realized the parallel with their flashback dance scene. I full-on wept when I realized Susannah got to see Conrad dance with Belly in a white dress. I ugly-cried when Laurel said Conrad is the sun for Belly. It was a perfect scene and thus the best, most important Conrad and Belly scene of the season. The End. SEASON 2 NOW, PLEASE.
I MEANNNNN...
