Why Conrad Says ‘What Have I Done’ In ‘Summer I Turned Pretty’ Season 3 – And It’s Not Just Because of Belly

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In Episode 4 of Season 3, titled “The Summer I Turned Pretty,” Conrad Fisher (played by Christopher Briney) was left questioning himself, saying, “What have I done?” as he hugged Belly Conklin (portrayed by Lola Tung). The reason for his deep concern became apparent in the final season of this Amazon Prime Video series. The opening episodes have predominantly focused on Belly and Jeremiah Fisher (Gavin Casalegno), providing ample screen time to depict their tumultuous relationship journey. This encompasses their highly publicized breakup following Jeremiah’s cheating scandal, as well as an unanticipated proposal that resulted in a controversial wedding.

In Season 3, there has been a noticeable lack of Conrad’s appearance on screen, given his significant role in Belly’s narrative. However, it is reasonable that he appears less frequently because of his distance from the primary characters, as he was preoccupied with his studies at Stanford. Nevertheless, the third season of The Summer I Turned Pretty reveals that Conrad has lost his job, causing him to come back to Cousins and contemplate his future plans.

In Season 3, Episode 4, following Laurel’s (Belly’s mother) refusal of their wedding, Belly and Jeremiah fled. Unexpectedly, they encountered Conrad at the Fisher family beach house in Cousins. There, Jeremiah asked Conrad to be his best man, alongside Steven, for their upcoming wedding, which Conrad agreed to do.

Why Did Conrad Say ‘What Have I Done?’

In Episode 4 of The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3, Conrad concluded the episode by disclosing that he had baked Belly’s favorite muffins as a birthday gift, promising to never forget her special day. On top of this, he also consented to serve as Jeremiah’s co-best man for their upcoming wedding.

Conrad’s message was seen by Belly as a form of congratulations for the wedding, and she was overjoyed at this development, marking their first embrace in quite some time. This moment wasn’t lost on Conrad, and internally, he pondered, “What was that action of mine?

In the ending of Season 3, Episode 4 of “Summer I Turned Pretty,” Conrad’s closing statement indicates a shift in narrative focus as we delve into his perspective for the first time, much like how Season 2 spotlighted Jeremiah’s viewpoint in one episode. This change promises fans an insightful exploration of Conrad’s genuine emotions towards Belly and her wedding to Jeremiah, as well as whether he continues to harbor feelings for Belly.

It’s intriguing how Conrad’s phrase, “‘What have I done?’“, mirrors Belly’s statement in The Summer I Turned Pretty, specifically during Season 1, Episode 2, when she uttered it while trying on a debutante dress in the presence of Susannah (Conrad and Jeremiah’s late mother) and Laurel. Both instances suggest that Conrad and Belly are engaged in actions they don’t wish to perform, but do so to bring joy to someone they care for deeply.

It’s evident that Conrad continues to harbor feelings for Belly. Agreeing to serve as Jeremiah’s best man at their wedding is a source of pain for him.

In addition, Conrad’s exclamation “‘What have I done?’” carries a double meaning; it’s not only about Belly, but also has significance for his brother Jeremiah. By agreeing to be a co-best man, Conrad is opting for the noble path, showing his readiness to experience an emotional upheaval, all in the hope of seeing both brothers contented.

Previously in an interview with Entertainment Weekly conducted in May 2025, actor Christopher Briney had revealed that he would be narrating an episode for Season 3. This suggests that it’s probable the narration will feature in Episode 5 of the upcoming season.

Taking over the narration briefly can be quite enjoyable. It’s intriguing to grasp the underlying meaning. Having a clear understanding of the subtext adds to the fun, as it simplifies the scene since you’re essentially doing half the job.

Briney playfully hinted at a unique approach to visual storytelling from Conrad’s point of view.

The visual storytelling approach used in this show provided a unique insight into the character’s perspective. It was fascinating to be part of it. Our aim is to convey, as we do for Jeremiah and Belly throughout the series, what it might feel like to inhabit that person’s mind for an episode.

In the third installment of Jenny Han’s “The Summer I Turned Pretty” trilogy, titled “We’ll Always Have Summer“, readers will find a new perspective: Conrad’s, which is introduced starting from Chapter 20 and further developed in Chapter 28.

Why Conrad’s Perspective Is Important in The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3

In the first four episodes of The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3, Conrad had a minimal presence, which strongly hints at an expansion in his role for upcoming episodes. The fifth episode of Season 3 is expected to cater to fans of both the books and the series by delving into Conrad’s thoughts about the wedding, Belly, and Jeremiah.

In the book, it appeared that Conrad concurred with Laurel on not going ahead with the wedding, expressing his sentiment as, “‘Laurel certainly wouldn’t have said yes to throwing her teenage daughter a wedding.’” Additionally, he expressed Jere’s decision as “unreasonable” considering the situation at hand.

In Chapter 28 of “We’ll Always Have Summer,” it’s made clear that Conrad continues to harbor feelings for Belly. This is indicated by his admission that the primary obstacle preventing him from reciprocating her love was the fact that Jeremiah is his brother.

I was powerless to stop him from marrying my sister. All I could do was watch as the event unfolded, since he was my brother, and I had given him my word.

In the final season, some of Conrad’s previously hidden emotions towards Belly could become apparent on-screen, shedding light on his longstanding feelings after so many years apart. This revelation about Conrad’s true feelings might drastically alter the narrative as it will provide an explanation for why he maintained a distance yet continued to back their decisions.

It’s intriguing to explore how the series will portray the complex love triangle involving Conrad, Jeremiah, and Belly, and how it might deviate from the source material. There’s a possibility that the dynamics among this trio could be reimagined in the adaptation process. However, one constant is that Conrad continues to harbor feelings for Belly, and these emotions are likely to have significant consequences moving forward.

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2025-08-01 19:22