Belly or Jackie?

Izzie Odom - Reporter

When it comes to binging, most girls go straight for the heartbreaking, love-triangle and coming-of-age shows. The shows The Summer I Turned Pretty and My Life with the Walter Boys both fit that description. 

   SPOILER ALERT AHEAD!!

   The Summer I Turned Pretty was released in June  2022 and consists of two seasons, averaging eight episodes per season. The main characters are Isabel (aka Belly) and the two brothers, Conrad (the oldest) and Jeremiah (the youngest). Every year, Belly spends her summers at the beach. Belly, who is sixteen, finds herself in a love triangle between the two brothers. 

   In season one, there is a ball, and where she dances with Jereimah, but her heart still pulls her toward Conrad. The last episode ends with Conrad and Belly kissing at the beach, giving a hint to the second season. 

   Leading into season two, viewers learn that Conrad and Belly dated after the summer, but it ended up not working out. Jeremiah feels hurt by Belly, but she realizes that she is better with Jeremiah, and season two ends. 

   My Life with the Walter Boys was released after The Summer I Turned Pretty and is a spin-off of the show. It was released in December of 2023 and consists of two seasons, averaging 10 episodes per season. The love triangle consists of Jackie (the main love interest), Cole (the oldest), and Alex (the youngest). Jackie is a originally a city girl but has to move to the mountains of Colorado. She lives with the Walters family. They have 12 children. Cole and Alex are two complete opposites. Cole is the charming hearthrob who is rebellious. Alex is thoughtful, sweet and likes to play it safe. 

   In season one, Jackie struggles to adjust to life at the ranch. She also has an instant connection with both of the brothers. In the end, Jackie kisses Cole, and she flees back to New York very conflicted. 

   In season two, Jackie’s mother-figure, Katherine Walter, begs her to come back to the ranch. When Jackie comes, she reconnects with Alex, while still having little butterflies for Cole. She set boundaries with Cole. The ending of season two ends with Jackie confessing her love for Cole.

   Ultimately, everyone has their own opinions, and the world may never agree on which show is truly better. So while debates about “the best show” will always exist, I’ve come to accept that there’s no definitive answer — just stories that hit home in different ways for each of us.