Conversation Starter FTD: Is TSITP Season 3 Even Watchable?
Is a New Taylor Swift Era Dropping This Wednesday?
Hi chat. I trust you had a great weekend and are enjoying the last few drops of summer.
Today I want to open up with a conversation starter that’s been weighing on many people’s minds: Is this season of The Summer I Turned Pretty watchable?
And my short answer is Yes it is watchable – but watchable and good are two separate things. The best cultural phenom I can equate it to right now is everyone in HBO Max land loving And Just Like That.
The show is by definition “not good” – there have been plenty of jokes about script inconsistencies, how this season was written by AI and beyond. Yet each week, loyal fans are tuned in to watch, soak up the silliness and spend time with their favorite characters.
It isn’t a hate watch, it’s torture-tainment. I am aware you’ve lost the plot and I’m too far gone along with you to stop now. So show me how bonkers it can get. And I feel this applies to TSITP being watchable this season. Because if you zoom out, the story is messy: childhood best family friends and two brothers torn between the one girl? And she is ping ponging between them both? They have all been underage up until five minutes ago lol. And the parents waited until a botched engagement to express concern? Like be so ffr! My parents would have my ass at their house on lockdown for half the things these children have done. But the mess is beautiful and mesmerizing and yes all we need is a scene of Conrad wiping peach juice off Belly’s face to be pulled right back into the narrative. WE WANT IT.
We will overlook the insufferable character development! THESE CHARACTERS ARE ANNOYING. Again in a similar vein to AJLT but we are on the journey and so close to the end, so why stop now?!
Because beyond all of the criticism, at the end of the day all we want is a comfort watch, a little YA romance and we know the ending will be worth the wait either because we’ve read the books or googled a synopsis (to each their own!)
So yes TSITP Season 3 is watchable, absolutely. But that doesn’t mean its good.
And it’s clearly struck a cord with viewers and brands alike because everyone from Crumbl to Sour Patch Kids and Gritty are standing on business with their team.
Regardless of how we feel, the fact is we’re conversation starting about it and to me, anything we can discuss, that feels like appointment TV, for better or worse, is watchable.
Conversation Starters
And speaking of TSITP, Panera tapped Chris Briney (Conrad) to star in its latest love triangle ad about choosing between salad and sandwiches. I may be the only person who thought this commercial was a stretch. Like I get it but it didn’t make me giggle or hit in the way I would’ve expected it to. And then I spiraled that perhaps I have aged out of being the target demo but also I just think if an ad needs heavy context setting and explanation for my brain to really clock it, it’s just not the strongest ad! I’m sorry! Team Conrad?!
The Jonas Brothers kick off their stadium tour at MetLife in New Jersey with a surprise guest appearance by Demi Lovato. Now this absolutely hit. To know me is to know I have lore with Demi Lovato. One sided lore let’s be clear here. I am a huge Big Chill froyo fan and she went ham on them during the pandemic. They have since squashed their beef so I am happy to move forward. And as a Canadian kid without access to Disney Channel, Camp Rock was one of the first Disney movies I ever watched on TV. So I am all for this reunion and hear me out– could we get another era of Camp Rock?!
Jen Pawol has made US sporting history by becoming the first female umpire to referee a Major League Baseball (MLB) game during the regular season. At 48 years old this woman is making history. It is truly never too late to go after your dreams. A simple reminder to never quit. Bet on yourself. And always believe.
Ben Platt’s version of Diet Pepsi from the Las Culturistas Culture Awards went so viral it is now streaming on all major platforms. We need more awards shows to take notes from the Culture Awards. Like seriously – this show was freaking fun and surprising. No one was taking themselves too seriously and everyone COMMITTED. I don’t think I love anything more than when people commit to what they’ve set out to do. It just hits a different tone for me and this show absolutely did that. If you haven’t watched it on Peacock yet go watch it!
Aubrey Plaza to star in and produce the upcoming Heidi Fleiss biopic. I just want my comedic queen to pour herself into what makes her happy after all she’s been through. And if that is work and acting and producing and creating, then yes give me it all.
One Last Thing
Are we getting new Taylor Swift music? Will it be announced on the New Heights podcast?!
