Belly's Drama Takes Center Stage
The show brings all the expected summer romance, but it’s hard not to be frustrated by Belly’s character throughout both the Seasons. The constant back-and-forth between Conrad, Jeremiah, and even Cam Cameron leaves her coming across as indecisive and emotionally overwhelmed. Her confusion about her feelings leads to a lot of hurt, especially for the Fisher brothers, and the attention she craves from each one of them feels more desperate than endearing.
What’s most frustrating is how Belly seems to think she’s the only one deeply affected by Susannah’s death. Everyone else, including her own brother, is grieving too, but the show spends so much time on Belly’s emotional turmoil that it feels like the others’ pain is sidelined. While her indecision and dramatic reactions might be an attempt to reflect the chaos of teenage grief, it often feels exaggerated. None of the other characters let Susannah’s illness derail their lives in quite the same way, making Belly appear like the most confused and troubled character, which is frustrating given that everyone is struggling in their own way.
While the show undoubtedly plays up the teenage drama for storytelling purposes, the emphasis on Belly's emotional confusion can make her come off as more self-centered than sympathetic. It’s hard not to feel like the author intentionally made her the most chaotic character, even when others in the show seem to be handling their pain with far more grace.
Overall, the show delivers the summer romance and heartache you'd expect, but Belly’s overwhelming drama may leave viewers rolling their eyes more than rooting for her.