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These 2 Things Completely Changed ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’s Finale for the Better

September 24, 2025

Editor’s Note: The following contains spoilers for The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3 finale.You can’t think about The Summer I Turned Pretty without a Taylor Swift reference. The pop star might’ve never made a guest appearance in the Prime Video YA hit, but her music became an important vehicle to tell Belly’s (Lola Tung) coming-of-age story, in particular her growing affection for Conrad Fisher(Christopher Briney). From “False God” playing when Belly and Conrad lean in for an almost kiss during the Fourth of July episode in Season 1 to this season’s “loml” kicking in as Belly cries over Conrad’s confession, each Taylor Swift song included in the series furthers the plot and leads Belly one step closer to her endgame.

By the finale, fans of the series, who also consider themselves Swifties, couldn’t help but wonder what needle drops were in store for the TV show’s anticipated resolution. Jenny Han saved the best Swift songs for last, with two iconic tunes setting the stage for Belly and Conrad’s happy ending. Throughout The Summer I Turned Pretty, Belly was at a crossroads between being with Conrad or being with his brother, Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno). It was only in the finale that the protagonist decided to follow her heart and ultimately end up with the man she’s always pictured as her soulmate. “Dress” and “Out of the Woods” play during Belly and Conrad’s rekindling, and in turn, give audiences all the feels.

“Dress” Plays in Belly and Conrad’s Steamiest Scene Yet

Credit: Image via Prime Video

Before Belly and Conrad run into each other in the streets of Paris, Belly was determined to move on with her life in Europe. She moved into her friend’s apartment, was already looking for schooling alternatives to complete her degree, and seemed to be enjoying Benito’s (Fernando Cattori) company. Cousin’s Beach seemed miles away, and the prospect of reuniting with one of the Fisher brothers was even more unexpected for Belly. But judging from the fact that she was still corresponding with Conrad and opening the care packages he would send her, it was clear that Belly’s feelings for him had never wavered even if she tried to set them aside.

When Conrad reunites with Belly a day before her birthday, they go sightseeing together and share glances at the dining table where Belly and her Parisian friends get together to celebrate her. It comes as no surprise when their passionate eye contact makes way for a passionate embrace. When Belly and Conrad kiss for the first time in Season 3, it is just as intense as one would imagine, and that’s partly because “Dress” sets the tone for this moment. Considered one of Swift’s sexiest tunes, “Dress” conveniently plays when Belly and Conrad are in the heat of the moment. By that point, it had been years since Belly and Conrad had ever gotten intimate, and as one would expect, they’re crazy for each other in this given instance. Much like Swift sings, Belly doesn’t want Conrad as her best friend, but rather wants him to take off the black dress she’s been wearing the entire night.

“Out of the Woods” Is the Perfect Track for Belly’s Chasing Sequence

Belly and Conrad standing together on a train in the series finale of The Summer I Turned Pretty TSITP.

If “Dress” wasn’t enough to make Conrad and Belly’s reunion burn with desire, it doesn’t take long for another Taylor Swift needle drop to get into the cue. Once the couple has finished satisfying their wants (and needs), they proceed to talk about whether their love for each other is genuine or a reflection of Susannah’s (Rachel Blanchard) wishes. Susannah had always dreamed that Belly would get married to one of her boys, and Conrad always seemed to be the one she referred to. After her death, Jeremiah and Belly decide to give their relationship a shot and later proceed to getting engaged. Jeremiah believed that marrying Belly was what his mother would’ve wanted, and that was one of the reasons the wedding was called off. Susannah had written to Conrad that she had only seen him happy once, and it was when he was with Belly.

This candid conversation between the two characters leads Belly to let Conrad go. Immediately regretting her decision, Belly cries and becomes restless in her room, wondering if maybe being with Conrad had nothing to do with Susannah but rather everything to do with her. The moment Belly remembers that being with Conrad at Cousin’s Beach is what she’s always pictured for her future, Swift conveniently sings the lyrics, “I remember.”

As Belly runs after Conrad, “Out of the Woods” pulsating beat adds a level of adrenaline to a scene that feels straight out of an early-aughts rom-com. The protagonist hopes that she will arrive just in time to catch Conrad before his train departs and bear her heart out to him. Having a song like “Out of the Woods” play in a scene like this holds a deeper meaning. Swift’s song focuses on a relationship filled with uncertainty of whether it will last and craving for stability. In many ways, Conrad and Belly’s relationship up to this point felt in limbo, especially because of Jeremiah. In the finale, viewers finally see these two characters getting to a place of wanting the relationship to work, without any obstacles in their way.

Taylor Swift Played a Key Role in Belly and Conrad’s Meant-To-Be Romance

Having two Taylor Swift songs mark Belly and Conrad’s send-off (at least in the series) is nothing but fitting. After all, Swift’s music was featured in many memorable moments between the couple, and added significance to their meant-to-be romance. It’s hard to forget when Belly and Conrad kiss at the beach at the end of Season 1 as “This Love (Taylor’s Version)” sounds off. Earlier in Season 3, audiences couldn’t help but feel the goosebumps take over as “False God” played for the second time in the series’ run, when Belly is helping Conrad take care of a wound. If there is one onscreen couple whose trajectory has been defined by Taylor Swift, that would be, without a doubt, Belly and Conrad. Swift’s songs added nuance to their relationship, chiming in during their highest and lowest instances, proving that love, pain, and everything in between are part of the journey.

Given the announcement that there is a Summer I Turned Pretty film in the works, it’s hard to believe that more of Swift’s repertoire won’t make it to the final cut. After all, the pop star is releasing a new album next week, allowing for there to be a handful of possible tracks for the upcoming movie. No matter the song selection, one thing is for certain. Swift’s music will allow for Conrad and Belly’s happy ending to be just as passionate and filled with emotion as the series’ finale. “Dress” and “Out of the Woods” were the ideal tunes to mark their romance reigniting, proving that when the right song is paired with the correct scene, magic can (and will) happen.

All episodes of The Summer I Turned Pretty are available to watch on Prime Video in U.S.