Everything In “The Summer I Turned Pretty” Season Two That Would've Been Different With AAA
Despite our editorial team's obvious brilliance, sometimes our more out-there ideas still end up on the cutting room floor. In honor of the premiere of the third and final season of 'The Summer I Turned Pretty,' here's one such instance from our partnership with AAA. Looking for content that marries technical know-how with pop culture tie-ins? Drop us a line!
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In the first episode of season two of the hit series The Summer I Turned Pretty, Belly and Jeremiah, sides one and two of everyone’s favorite teen love triangle, embark on a journey to locate Conrad, Jeremiah’s brother, Belly’s ex-boyfriend, and love triangle side three. Their tense road trip is then abruptly derailed when they end up with a flat tire. Jeremiah says they should just call AAA to come fix the tire, but Belly insists they try to change it themselves. This disagreement ratchets up the tension that has been brewing between them since the end of season one, which quickly reaches a boiling point.
Tears are shed, grievances are aired, and reconciliation is reached. While some viewers might have considered this a disaster averted, others (namely those on team Conrad) were exasperated to see Jeremiah and Belly in each other’s arms once again—and because of a stupid flat tire. And still others—those with an eye for automotive issues—saw the incident for what it truly was: foreshadowing.
In fact, there are several inflection points throughout this season’s events that could have been fundamentally altered if our cast of characters had had the sense to use the AAA membership we know Jeremiah has access to, and taken advantage of AAA’s prompt and professional car care, as well as other American Automotive Association membership perks.
Belly and Jeremiah might never have reconciled
Or at least, they might not have reconciled until much later. If Belly had gone along with Jeremiah’s plan to call AAA to handle the flat tire the pair likely would have continued to stew in their frustrations—Belly feeling confused and guilty about Jeremiah’s cold shoulder, Jeremiah feeling betrayed over Belly’s lack of support after his mother’s death, not to mention his unresolved feelings for her—for another few episodes, or maybe forever.
At the end of the season, Belly and Jeremiah appear to be officially together. But what if it’s only because of the argument they had while changing the tire? What if that catharsis was the spark they needed to rekindle their adolescent love?
It’s possible that if they’d gotten some expert auto help, Jelly (that’s Jeremiah and Belly) would have been snuffed out by stewing resentment and teen angst. On the other hand, love has a tendency to find a way, so maybe they would’ve just had their long-overdue confrontation in front of a hapless AAA technician.
There would’ve been less of a lag mid-season
Even the most die-hard TSITP fans had to admit that the middle episodes of this season had a bit of a drag to them—and no episode better displayed the seeming dearth of writerly inspiration than “Love Game.” This episode found our cast meandering around a Cape Cod boardwalk, competing with one another to win a number of arcade games. While it served as a showcase of various characters’ relationship dynamics, it was also a jarringly—and annoyingly—low-stakes interlude during an otherwise tense season.
One thing that could’ve raised the stakes a bit? A higher stakes setting. A quaint New England boardwalk is a perfectly charming backdrop for summer love, but think how much more intense the events could have been in the shadow of the world’s tallest roller coaster. And sure, the scene where Jerermiah and Belly ride a drop tower ride while Conrad looks on jealously was cute—but imagine if they’d been 456 feet in the air!
Access to these high-drama attractions and more are just some of the perks of a AAA membership. Triple-A members can get discounted tickets and passes for all kinds of experiences—including amusement parks across the country like Six Flags Great Adventure, home of Kingda Ka. Ideal for baiting your ex and bullying your long lost cousin!
Nobody would’ve had to sleep on the floor
In the season finale, Belly and Jeremiah find themselves stopped in their tracks on a road trip once again, this time with Conrad unhappily along for the ride. An unexpected storm blows across their path, they must scramble to find somewhere to stay as the roads are shut down in the face of severe wind and rain (rivaled only by the interpersonal storm that’s been brewing between the three all season). Hampered by the last-minute change of plans and their limited funds, they end up at a budget motel, squeezed into a room with a single bed.
And it ain’t pretty.Belly takes the bed, while the boys sleep on the floor where, earlier in the evening, she’d spotted a roach. With AAA, members get great deals on world-class hotels. Our trio could have gotten exclusive discounts and deals on high-quality hotel rooms, allowing them to find a place to stay with more beds and fewer bugs.
The whole “our mean aunt is selling the summer house” thing might have been a non-issue
The entirety of season two revolves around the decision of Conrad and Jerermiah’s mean Aunt Julia, who has inherited the family’s beach house after the death of the boys’ mother, to put the home on the market. This is a devastating blow for the brothers, as well as for Belly after all the formative summers they’ve spent together there. They set about brainstorming ways to save the house, but find that as a group of four teenagers, they are ill-equipped to become homeowners.
Enter AAA! AAA members are eligible for extremely competitive mortgage rates, including those suited to first-time buyers. And while there’s not yet a “me and my family and closest friends and the girl I have a crush on are trying to save this mansion which is also a symbol of our childhood innocence from the clutches of our estranged aunt with only 5% down” package, AAA offers some of the most tailored rates on the market!
