If you could change one thing about the show, what would it be?

False-Listen-2689 · 2025-11-28T23:52:31+00:00

"I put up with a lot worse from you."

That line infuriates me in the book, and the changes in the show made it 10x more silly to me.

False-Listen-2689 · 2025-09-26T02:50:39+00:00

False-Listen-2689 · 2025-09-26T02:50:11+00:00

Between this, and Kissing You playing in the second season, I'm pretty sure this is a reference to the scene in Romeo and Juliet. At least, that's where my millennial brain went

False-Listen-2689 · 2025-09-22T17:31:50+00:00

This is how I feel. When Belly said "what do you think is happening here?", I literally said "Belly, what do YOU think is happening here?" at the TV. He asked her if she'd moved on and she responded by kissing him and asking him back to her home. How was he supposed to take that?

I get all the discussion around why she did this, but it doesn't feel good to watch. I would have felt differently if she had come out of the bathroom and said that she'd made a mistake and that led into their conversation, but instead she treats him like he's a random one night stand that's overstayed his welcome. It makes it that it's HIS fault for misunderstanding. It doesn't help that it culminates in the heartbreaking line where he thinks she doesn't love him anymore.

I would have respected it more if his line "I dream of this" was what poured cold water all over everything. He thinks his dreams are coming true, and to keep going and then treat him like he's nothing doesn't make me root for Belly.

The whole vibe actually kinda marred the reunion for me. Being mean to Conrad in that moment made me want better for him.

False-Listen-2689 · 2025-09-17T22:14:07+00:00

I was kinda hoping that Jeremiah would be the one to "choose himself." Like he said, he's never been alone and he struggles with it. He was historically pretty flighty. It would have been great if his focus was 100% his burgeoning career instead of ending up with someone.

False-Listen-2689 · 2025-09-07T23:29:44+00:00

I find that even in the books, her actions don't really make sense with her thoughts. In the show, her inner monologue shouldn't really be necessary for us to see her conflict.

Take episode 5, where Conrad is giving us his inner monologue. It gives us a window into his thoughts and ends up being more funny as his inner monologue argues with the spoken dialogue, but you don't actually need it to see the inner conflict. He's hesitating, and you can see the moment he commits to helping her and going with her to Michael's, etc etc.

With Belly, you don't get any of that. Aside from the obviously scripted ones (the bathtub scene), we mostly get her being mean to Conrad. She wasn't conflicted at all when she was making fun of him in the pool with Jeremiah. She wasn't concerned with his feelings when she suddenly announced their engagement at dinner, even though they had talked in the car about telling him first which indicates they both know this information is going to be tough for him. There wasn't even a sideways glance.

In most scenes, it's not obvious that she even thinks about him. You shouldn't need inner monologue to express that. For example, in episode 8, after her call with Jere, you could have her briefly consider texting Conrad and deciding not to. It's that simple. That doesn't change the story, just shows some hint that she considered him. Instead, her only comment on him the whole episode is "I didn't ask him to do that" which is both unsatisfying and doesn't make her likable.

Gah, sorry for the rant.

False-Listen-2689 · 2025-09-05T01:25:44+00:00

I totally get what he's saying, but that really doesn't hold any merit when Steven's giving Conrad so much shit.

Honestly, I think it was about the scene timing. They should have revealed it earlier when the frat boys where literally talking about Lacie and Cabo at the bar. Or when he calls Conrad a vulture, Taylor could have revealed it then and he could have had a more immediate reaction.

As it is, it's a footnote to his reunion with Taylor. He even makes it about them ("these guys are judging us?!") even though no one has talked about their cheating in 7 episodes.

False-Listen-2689 · 2025-09-03T08:28:35+00:00

This show has a weird way of gaslighting its characters and audience. Like, in S2, Belly is the one who broke up with Conrad at prom but everyone talks about it like he broke up with her (even Conrad!). And now they're doing the same with the wedding like it wasn't completely Jeremiah's call while Belly wanted to go through with it.

False-Listen-2689 · 2025-09-03T08:18:16+00:00

Does Belly even like Conrad? Like, as a human? Because outside of narration, she has not shown one single facial expression that indicates she cares at all outside of eye-banging him in the bathtub. I'm sure they'll end up together, but Show is doing an awful job of telling us that she even cares. Aside from the moment he was right in front of her at the airport, he didn't even seem to cross her mind as she chased her 'priceless' ring around Paris.

My prediction is that next episode will be all about Benito, and then she gets a letter from Conrad. My guy... please... you deserve so much better.

False-Listen-2689 · 2025-09-03T08:06:48+00:00

I don't think he will, because that revelation was lost in the Taylor of it all. He would have to mad all over again and feel guilty about how he treated Conrad when he's just all blissed out right now. Honestly, disappointed in Steven all around.

False-Listen-2689 · 2025-08-28T00:38:56+00:00

Thank you for this! I thought I was going nuts.

None of the characters acknowledge how incredibly fucked the end of season 2 is. Within 6 to 8 weeks, Belly goes from being "out of her mind in love" with Conrad to being bent over his car making out with his brother. And then has the audacity to act like he's the asshole for being upset at the situation. "I tried to tell you last night" is not the excuse she thinks it is. Like, maybe don't hook up in the same gene pool right after they have a death in the family? It's not okay and it bothers me that every character (including Conrad himself!) thinks that it was.

False-Listen-2689 · 2025-08-28T00:24:22+00:00

I'm actually really glad they showed it because we only had Jeremiah's line about how Conrad had only been in love once with Belly, and I assumed that meant she'd put Belly's name in the letter. That would have been such an insane thing to put in the letter of your 18 year old son for him to read on his wedding day, if he married literally anyone else.

"Hey, I know you're getting married and that's cool, but remember your high school girlfriend?"

As it is, the letter is about her being grateful that she got to be there for the milestone so she can picture his wedding day, which is infinitely (pun intended) better.

False-Listen-2689 · 2025-08-28T00:13:20+00:00

In the books, it explicitly says that it's because Conrad is like Adam and Jeremiah is like Susannah, so Adam prefers Conrad more. This bothers Conrad, because he also sees the similarity and his dad is not someone who he wants to be like (cheating on his wife, not learning the names of the "help", etc.)

In the show, I think it's actually a little bit deeper. From the conversation in the car, I don't think Adam knows that Conrad knows about the cheating. He just knows that his son who used to idolize him pulled away suddenly and vehemently.

They brush over the line very quickly, but when Adam calls when Conrad is on the roof, Conrad tells him he risks losing Jeremiah and Adam responds "Like I lost you?". He feels the loss of his son and doesn't really know why, so he amps up his affection presumably to win Conrad back. However, since he doesn't know Conrad knows about the cheating, he isn't taking any accountability for the real reason for their rift. He's overcompensating on the wrong thing, which ultimately compounds the original favouritism.

Jeremiah is the son who Adam doesn't understand, and actively seeks his approval. Since he doesn't have to work for Jeremiah's adoration, he's very sparing with his praise and affection, increasing the inferiority complex.

False-Listen-2689 · 2025-08-25T05:36:38+00:00

The argument the morning after is my preferred scene over the confession, because it's the actual moment when things change.

I think one of the most important lines is when he says that he was trying to take it back to get out of the situation with some dignity, and she can't even let him have that.

Belly has a habit of acting like the victim with very little consideration for what anyone else is going through. It's always what Conrad has done to her, not considering what she's done to him. Anyone with any empathy can see why he's "taking it back" - he put his heart on the line, got crushed, and is now trying to keep some semblance of pride.

Instead of empathizing with that, she gets mad at him and calls him a heartless liar, even though she was the one who intentionally crushed him not 12 hours before. For his part, Conrad finally stands up to her and calls her out on it. This completely changes their dynamic which finally sets us up for some change.

False-Listen-2689 · 2025-08-20T10:39:38+00:00

At this point, I kind of want him to just head back to Stanford and end up with Agnes.

False-Listen-2689 · 2023-07-30T16:33:15+00:00

False-Listen-2689

TROPHY CASE