A Captivating Love Story: Unraveling the Enchanting Parallels between 'The Summer I Turned Pretty' and the Timeless Romance of 'Pride and Prejudice'

Christopher Briney plays the character of Conrad while Lola Tung portrays Belly in the adaptation of 'Summer I Turned Pretty'. In the well-known novel adaptation of 'Pride and Prejudice', Kiera Knightley takes on the role of Elizabeth and Matthew MacFadyen plays Mr. Darcy. The images above showcase the performances of these talented actors.

Fans of The Summer I Turned Pretty couldn't help but notice an endearing parallel between Belly and Conrad's relationship and a well-known moment from Pride and Prejudice. A keen observer on TikTok pointed out that in the season 2 premiere, Conrad (Christopher Briney) subtly flexed his hand as he bid farewell to Belly (Lola Tung) following their heartfelt confession of emotions.

Showrunner and author, Jenny Han, responded in the comments, saying, "You all are fast ️."

The scene drew inspiration from the 2005 adaptation of Pride & Prejudice, where Mr. Darcy (played by Matthew Macfadyen) lightly brushes past Elizabeth Bennet (Keira Knightley), causing a strong and memorable moment.

Belly and Conrad's love story has made a significant impact as The Summer I Turned Pretty continues to unveil fresh episodes. Following their long-awaited kiss in the season 1 finale, the popular Prime Video series seamlessly carries on from there.

Matthew MacFadyen portrayed Mr. Darcy in the adaptation of ‘Pride and Prejudice’ on YouTube. Nonetheless, their journey towards a joyous ending is hindered by numerous challenges. Conrad's choice to maintain a distance from Belly initially created an obstacle, but it was his brother Jeremiah (played by Gavin Casalegno) who further complicated matters. Despite Belly's previous interest in Jeremiah, she ultimately chose Conrad over him.

Following the show's return on Thursday, Briney, age 25, shared his insights on the difficulties of embracing Conrad's new mindset.

"It was an enjoyable experience delving into this alternate version of Conrad, as it's quite peculiar," he disclosed to Entertainment Weekly on July 14. "I had already explored this character for an entire season and had spent the previous summer with them. And now, returning to the same character who, in many ways, has evolved significantly."

"As I stepped back into Conrad's shoes, it felt somewhat uncertain. I found myself causing harm in different ways and lacking knowledge on self-care techniques," he continued. "The challenge was to balance all these various aspects, maintain the character's authenticity, and vigorously advocate for their choices and beliefs."

The actor expressed that he doesn't always see eye to eye with Conrad's choices. He further added, "Defending them can be challenging at times, but gradually and carefully, I would defend each one within the context of the character and find forgiveness for him in my own mind. It's truly enjoyable as an actor to delve into that and portray a character who behaves objectionably. I like to believe it's not within my own nature — it's beyond Chris. Hence, being able to portray that unapologetically is incredibly entertaining."

Christopher Briney as Conrad in ‘Summer I Turned Pretty.’ Prime Video

Tung, 20, for her part, praised Briney for helping her bring Belly and Conrad’s emotional love story to life.

“

Working alongside Chris, he effortlessly facilitated our immersion in the scene, allowing us to explore fresh perspectives with each take. We experimented with different approaches, striving to maintain that profound emotional state for as long as possible,” she expressed. “However, it was undoubtedly challenging. I'm uncertain if there's a definitive method to navigate such intense emotions without experiencing some impact because it truly takes a toll on oneself. Nonetheless, I was immensely grateful that we were able to share those significant moments together.”

Casalegno, 23, previously hinted at the emotional barriers Jeremiah would have in season 2. In season 1 and even season 2, Belly's inner thoughts were prominently featured, allowing viewers to connect with and love her character. Similarly, Jeremiah's character will be better understood and appreciated as audiences relate to his compassion and caring for others.

The Summer I Turned Pretty episodes are available to stream on Prime Video Fridays.