Expert Reveals Surprising Reason Why You Can’t Stop Watching Shows Like ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’
Can’t help yourself from hitting play on the next episode of your favorite TV show? Turns out, there’s a science behind your binge watching.
Shows like The Summer I Turned Pretty “function as emotional simulators,” said Steven Buchwald, a licensed therapist at Manhattan Mental Health Counseling.
‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ characters feel like ‘close personal friend[s]’
The characters in The Summer I Turned Pretty might be fictional. But the emotions we feel as Belly (Lola Tung) navigates her complicated love triangle with brothers Conrad (Christopher Briney) and Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno) are very real, the mental health expert explained.
“Our brains respond to fictional characters through mirror neurons, which fire as if we’re experiencing the emotions ourselves,” Buchwald said. “That’s why Conrad or Belly can feel like a ‘close personal friend’: our brains interpret them as socially significant figures.”
“On a neurochemical level, narrative arcs provide predictable releases of dopamine and serotonin. Anticipating a climactic scene or processing a heartbreak triggers these neurotransmitters, giving viewers a sense of emotional satisfaction,” he continued.
Those feelings might be heightened if you’re watching a show to escape from something challenging in your real life.
“Parasocial relationships or one-sided attachments to characters … can be comforting during times of social isolation or personal stress,” Buchwald said.
Whether you can’t get enough of The Summer I Turned Pretty, keep returning to Gilmore Girls, or are obsessed with Mel’s journey in Virgin River, your favorite show could also be a way for you to experience complex emotions “in a safe environment,” he added.
“We explore love, jealousy, and conflict vicariously, without real-world consequences,” Buchwald explained. “Rewatching episodes reinforces these benefits, creating a familiar, emotionally stabilizing routine. The communal aspect: fan debates, social media discussions, further amplifies a sense of belonging and shared experience.”
“In short, we cling to these stories because they help regulate our emotions, provide dopamine-fueled enjoyment, and offer parasocial companionship that’s both meaningful and safe,” he concluded.
‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ movie is in the works
Whatever is driving people’s interest, relationship-driven shows like The Summer I Turned Pretty have clearly resonated with millions of viewers. And the good news is that Belly’s journey isn’t over yet. The day of TSITP series finale, Amazon announced that the hit series would conclude its story with a feature film directed by writer Jenny Han.
“There is another big milestone left in Belly’s journey, and I thought only a movie could give it its proper due,” Han said in a statement. “I’m so grateful to Prime Video for continuing to support my vision for this story and for making it possible to share this final chapter with the fans.”
All episodes of The Summer I Turned Pretty are streaming on Prime Video.
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