I don’t even know how they thought they could start this episode after the absolute devastation of last week’s ending. I’m still recovering, so I can’t imagine how the characters feel, this is literally their lives and I’m just over here sobbing on my couch like it’s mine. And then they start it by having “Us” by Taylor Swift and Gracie Abrams starts playing. Jenny Han is actually trying to kill me.
First scene? Belly and Conrad. And of course Conrad says he wants Belly to forget about his love confession on the beach. Immediate PTSD from the hotel scene. (Connie, will you never learn?) And then hearing him say “you broke my heart?” Excuse me while mine shatters. No one should be breaking this perfect man’s heart. But, can we give him a standing ovation for clapping back at Belly, calling her the heartless one? Finally! He is laying it all out for her and she’s just standing there. (Girl, WAKE UP. You literally said you’ll never be able to completely let him go, so why are you still fighting this?)
Also, umm, Belly put the infinity necklace on Junior Mint. That’s gotta mean something right? Bonrad endgame, period. Then we get Taylor saying she doesn’t think Conrad can be the guy Belly needs. I’m sorry, is everyone blind? Because I’m confused. And Belly’s logic that if Conrad just isn’t at the wedding, her feelings will disappear? Be serious. You’re marrying his brother. You’ll see him at every Thanksgiving and Christmas until you die. Make it make sense.
Meanwhile, Jeremiah’s out here bragging that he knows the way to Belly’s heart because he got lobster rolls at the rehearsal dinner. Big whoop. If it wasn’t for Conrad, Laurel wouldn’t even be there to see her daughter get married. And then, Jere takes a job without even telling Belly? Like hello, she gave up Paris for you and you can’t even consult her? Newsflash: Marriage means your choices affect someone else too. Start acting like it.
Not Jeremiah saying he’s excited to hear Conrad’s speech at the wedding…as if making Conrad give a toast at his brother’s wedding to the love of his life isn’t straight-up cruel.
And then Laurel goes to Conrad. The second I saw her approach him, I knew what was coming. Everyone grab your tissues, we’re about to see Connie break again. She asks how he really feels, tells him she knows how much he loves Belly, reassures him that he’ll get through it. But WHERE was the best part of this scene from the book? Where was Conrad sobbing in her arms, hating that this wedding was happening? Jenny Han, we couldn’t shave off one Jeremiah scene to give us that? How upsetting.
Anyway, we have to remember that there are other characters outside of just Belly, Conrad and Jeremiah. After eight whole episodes of build-up, Steven and Denise finally share a moment and…zero chemistry. Absolutely nothing. Called it. Taylor is Steven’s only endgame, let’s be honest.
Then Belly tossing and turning the night before the wedding while “Making the Bed” by Olivia Rodrigo plays? Perfect. And when she goes swimming in a red swimsuit? Hello, Easter egg. “Red” isn’t Conrad’s song for no reason. I see you, Jenny.
Of course, Belly decides she has to wake up Jeremiah to tell him about Conrad’s confession. Jere immediately assumes the wedding is off, that she’s running away with Conrad. Honestly…not a wild assumption. But nope, Belly swears she only wants him, lying to him and herself yet again.
On the morning of the wedding, Jeremiah is nowhere to be found. Perfect timing, honestly. Stay gone, Jere. Let Bonrad have their moment. Then Steven finds out about the confession and goes off on Conrad. Says his timing is selfish, that he should’ve stayed out of it. Okay, sure, maybe not the best timing, but Conrad only confessed because Jeremiah CHEATED. And Steven, did we forget Conrad literally saved your life when he pulled strings at the hospital? A little gratitude would be nice, please and thank you.
Finally, the infamous Conrad vs. Jeremiah fight. Jere tells him he doesn’t want him at the wedding, that he’s dead to him, that he’ll never see Belly again. (Harsh.) And all of us who caught the letter mix-up back in season 2? Yep, it was foreshadowing this exact moment. Jeremiah got Susannah’s letter meant for Conrad. And this time we actually get to see what it says, something we never got in the books.
Then, Taylor finally admits she doesn’t think Belly should go through with this. Says she doesn’t believe Belly really wants to marry Jeremiah, that she’s become fully consumed by him and they’re borderline codependent. And Belly? Defensive. Denies everything, snaps that Taylor’s the last person she’d ever go to for advice. Yikes.
Meanwhile, Conrad. Sweet, selfless and broken Conrad goes out of his way to get Susannah’s ring from Adam for Belly because he knew she deserved it. (Even while watching her marry his brother. The man he is.) He tells Belly he won’t stay for the wedding. He says it hurts too much, that he won’t see her for a long time. But he needs her to know that he wishes them the best, and that he doesn’t regret anything, especially not loving her. Knife. Twisted. Again. Belly admits she always believed she and Conrad would find their way back to each other. But this time? It feels final. Please, for my sanity, let her be wrong.
And then when Jeremiah finally asks: “Do you still love him?”, Belly knows she can’t lie anymore. She says Conrad will always be in her heart, but she chooses Jeremiah. And Jere tells her that’s not enough. He wants all of her, not just part. Then he admits he’s known about Christmas this whole time, he just waited for her to say something. He tells her she can’t marry him to erase Conrad. Which basically screams: this wedding is not happening. Someone queue the fireworks and Bonrad wedding bells, because this ship is still sailing.
We end with “Cardigan” playing as Belly leaves Cousins. Devastating. But then, plot twist, she’s off to Paris, using Laurel’s gift. And of course, fate has her run into Conrad at the airport. NO. Absolutely criminal to end it here. Anyway, not to cut this off as abruptly as the episode itself, but…goodbye for now.
Now that we’re all caught up with the book, what new scenes are you expecting to see in next week’s episode? Share your predictions on IG @girlslifemag!
Check out more TSITP:
🐚 “You and I were never anything” : Our TSITP episode 7 recap
🐚 QUIZ! Which new character from TSITP are you?
🐚 QUIZ! Are you in a love triangle like belly from TSITP?
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