TV Show review
June 16, 2022 · TV-14 · Ended
Woke Score
Lower is better
Breakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for The Summer I Turned Pretty.
Woke representation / casting
Visible intentional diversity with Asian-American lead Belly (explicit adaptation change) and family in a mostly white beach setting; prominent roles for Asian actors; casting directors known for inclusive practices. Moderate emphasis that some viewers notice but not quota-style or story-mismatched.
Woke political dialogue
Occasional subtle liberal signals (e.g., Ruth Bader Ginsburg photo noted by some viewers); no explicit activist speeches, systemic critiques, or identity lectures in dialogue or arcs.
Identity-driven story themes
Adaptation adds modern diversity and Jeremiah’s bisexuality for contemporary appeal; light self-discovery elements, but core narrative stays universal teen romance, family drama, and grief without centering race, gender politics, or identity activism.
Western institutional / cultural critique
Review
The Summer I Turned Pretty is a Prime Video teen drama series (2022–2025, three seasons) about Isabel “Belly” Conklin and her summers at the Fisher family beach house in Cousins. It centers on a love triangle with brothers Conrad and Jeremiah, first love, heartbreak, family bonds, friendship, and growing up amid grief and change. The adaptation from Jenny Han’s books adds visible diversity through an Asian-American lead family and updates one male lead to bisexual to reflect contemporary views on sexuality. These choices create light representation emphasis, but the core story remains standard emotional romance and coming-of-age drama without political lectures, institutional critiques, or identity-driven plotlines.
None present; story avoids portrayals of toxic masculinity, patriarchy as flawed, or anti-conservative framing of family/relationships.
Woke character or canon changes
Jeremiah changed from straight in books to bisexual/sexually fluid in show (explicit Season 1 confirmation and creator statement tying it to 2022 views on sexuality as spectrum); Belly’s ethnicity updated to half-Korean for representation. These are deliberate identity-driven deviations from source material.
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
Limited online mentions treating it as pushing liberal or “woke” values; no significant organized complaints, news coverage, or social media campaigns accusing DEI/identity politics. Main reaction is non-political fan drama.
Creator track record context
Jenny Han’s body of work emphasizes Asian-American representation (cached 18); Gabrielle Stanton supports diverse writers’ rooms (cached 41); casting directors have high inclusive reputations (cached 51–56); overall mild pattern of representation focus with limited stronger activism.
Production
