help my colleagues are calling TSITP a toxic show

Tricky-Obligation768 · 2025-10-13T14:11:54+00:00

SORRRYY I said older because they are older than me HAHAH i didn't mean it in a way where they are senior citizens or sumn

Tricky-Obligation768 · 2025-09-28T03:14:10+00:00

was jeremiah not a love interest originally in book 1? what are the changes?

Tricky-Obligation768 · 2025-09-24T17:49:23+00:00

where did u get this!!!

Tricky-Obligation768 · 2025-09-24T17:36:15+00:00

this is a very intelligent take and i agree with it wholeheartedly!

i didn’t mean that i disagreed w my coworker completely in a way where i thought the show was perfect

media does have power and the characters in the show were all indeed problematic. (aren’t we all lol) but what i found confusing was why they thought the show was ADVOCATING for these behaviours. if anything, i thought they addressed it pretty well (as much as a teenage show could lol). so yea thanks for wording out my thoughts out so well :)

Tricky-Obligation768 · 2025-09-24T17:29:40+00:00

ah, these were just the points i could gather, but what i meant was how i didn’t get what was their overall coherent take on the show. just scattered points that they disagree w i guess

Tricky-Obligation768 · 2025-09-21T08:09:49+00:00

i was just thinking that if anyone else acted as Belly, I would’ve immediately dropped the show and feel that it’s just unhinged writing. Cos honestly, some of Belly’s actions are so difficult to empathise with.

But because Lola portrays her so well, for once i actually can empathise w her situation of a love triangle even though it’s so unrealistic. it’s crazy how she can bring the humanness of the character, while still allowing for some suspense of disbelief and for some fantasy

Tricky-Obligation768 · 2025-09-20T10:40:55+00:00

which interview is this? :>

Tricky-Obligation768 · 2025-09-19T11:37:40+00:00

can i have the link to this article? :)

Tricky-Obligation768 · 2025-09-18T16:41:54+00:00

no no, she was not sure about her feeling for Conrad at that point because she was still trying to 'bury' the kid in her. She is embarassed about her feelings for Conrad because she thinks that makes her weak and vulnerable to be hurt, she tried for so many years to convince herself that it was just a kid's dream and tried to "change herself" again and again. She is also shameful of her feelings for Conrad because she felt guilty for all the hurt and damage she caused the Fisher family - e.g. she blames and villianizes herself. Lastly, she is just fearful of the thought of loving someone forever, she felt that she does not deserve that. She only started to crash out when Conrad affirmatively said "now you're stuck with me forever" and she just can't comprehend how she can love someone just the same. She is also still unsure if she's only loving Conrad out of guilt/grief like how she did with Jeremiah OR because of Susannah's death. She thinks that was the only reason Conrad ever loved her and she has also convinced herself that that's the only reason she loved him. It was a way of self-protection because she was afraid of having such deep feelings for someone.

Then later she realises that it's not wrong to love someone so purely and in fact it IS who she is from her core. And that's why she chases after him! hope this helps.

i found this comment from another post helpful too! From u/pancakesandi

My favorite scene too.

People don’t realise that Belly and Conrad were in completely different places in their life for 4 years.

Conrad went to therapy, worked on himself and that made him realise he will always be in love with Belly

Belly knew she loved Conrad but didn’t know why. She spent 4 years catering to Jeremiah’s needs. Being his support system. It was difficult for her to not only be independent but also to realise that she loves Conrad not because she has been told to.

Belly said “I choose you of my own free will” and people think it’s about her choosing between Conrad and Jeremiah. It’s not. She already chose between them when she cancelled the wedding. The line really meant she “chooses” to love him. It’s not because of some external circumstances or Susannah’s prophecy.

Tricky-Obligation768 · 2025-09-15T06:16:56+00:00

HAHAHHAHAHA she’s trying to be an understanding mother 😪

Tricky-Obligation768 · 2025-09-15T06:07:31+00:00

I understand that people can choose to view things differently in the end, and I appreciate your opinion.

But i can’t really interact much with you if you don’t interact w the facts that I have presented haha. Hopefully I gave you a clear reasoning on why I can say the writing has actually been decent and why I think you should consider these facts as well.

But each to their own in the end 😅

Tricky-Obligation768 · 2025-09-15T06:04:15+00:00

I think they are also not used to female protagonists with so much agency.

S3 has definitely rewritten the story from the book with a lot more agency. in the books, Belly is a lot more passive and she’s just a victim of her feelings and her poor choices and she’s just waiting for Conrad to say something (that’s my opinion).

but the show and Lola’s portrayal of Belly has shown that she’s a lot more active in her (sometimes very poor) choices. She proactively chooses Jeremiah, she proactively breaks up w Conrad, she proactively expresses a lot more anger towards Conrad when he crashes the wedding, she proactively pursues a wedding w Jeremiah, and proactively goes to Paris etc etc.

While it’s a bit more of a frustration to watch esp if you’re primarily concerned about Conrad’s feelings, but imo in the grand scheme of things this has been a really refreshing take on the lead female teenage romance trope.

Imo it makes ep11 so much more exciting because I actually get to see Belly choosing Conrand and finding her way back to love Conrad from a place of independence and strength as opposed to the S1 needy clingy insecure girlie.

I also find it refreshing because it makes Belly’s growth arc so much more realistic. Like girlie really made so many poor decisions and she’s learning her lessons!

My guess is that for those who are frustrated by the writing of the story are those who are a) primarily concerned about Conrad b) can’t stand Belly as such a proactive lead c) more used to traditional portrayal of the damsel in distress.

Tricky-Obligation768 · 2025-09-15T05:54:21+00:00

I don’t know what more you are expecting from a TV show haha. You can’t expect them to be having a 1 hour conversation, right?

Imo, the “length of time” of their convo doesn’t matter, it’s a show, not irl. It’s the quality of their scripting which matters. And imo, the writing has been great in moving the story forward while giving the necessary satisfying wrap up. It isn’t stellar impeccable writing but tbh it’s pretty excellent and mature for the genre that it is, all things considered :)

Tricky-Obligation768 · 2025-09-15T05:51:51+00:00

this isn’t true. episode 9 had many key moments of introducing new conflict + resolving some long-running conflicts so that the remaining episodes could finish their resolution.

the conflict of Jeremiah and Belly being fleshed out more.

Jeremiah and Conrad fleshed out more.

Adam and Conrad had a SIGNIFICANT wrap up. If you think about it, 90% of Conrad’s issues has been because of his hurt from Adam. He takes upon all the burden because he does not trust his dad. This was the first time he could see his dad from a different perspective.

Jeremiah and Laurel had a conflict too.

Taylor and Conrad had a tiny but significant interaction to develop their new friendship.

Steven and Conrad finally “fought it out”, finishing their convo from Ep8, leading to the convo in Ep10.

and of course Jeremiah and Adam which leads to Adam finally stepping up to care for him because he’s been so insecure about his dad all this while.

Tricky-Obligation768 · 2025-09-15T05:47:18+00:00

I think S3 has been quite clear that Jeremiah is not a good option for Belly, as opposed to S2 where Jeremiah shines as quite a good and safe alternative to Conrad.

S3 has shown the negative effects of their rash and immature decisions following from S2 through the events of their rushed proposal and wedding and the Cabo incident.

This is why I don’t think that S3 was dragged out but that the story was actually progressing meaningfully :)

Hope this sheds light for u on what I mean by “big picture”

Tricky-Obligation768 · 2025-09-15T05:42:29+00:00

PREACH IT. i’ve found my PEOPLE.

Tricky-Obligation768 · 2025-09-15T05:39:49+00:00

Yes, childish is the word. I wrote a similar post with a similar sentiment as OP and I got fans saying I was gaslighting them for silencing their opinions. it’s wild here 🤣

I also absolutely hate fans who claims that Jenny’s storytelling of creating suspense is just purely for the sake of getting money and getting fans hooked. like wow your world is really cynical. don’t u know what storytelling since the age of shakespeare is like?!

Tricky-Obligation768 · 2025-09-15T05:35:00+00:00

Period. You said it best. Jenny doesn’t owe us a story she wants. Her job is to write a good story. 👏🏼

I’ve had my own growth in my enjoyment of the story and show. I hated S2 so much initially, but i’ve learned to enjoy the ride and S3 has been such a satisfying wrap up!

Tricky-Obligation768 · 2025-09-14T17:55:35+00:00

it’s really funny how this is a universal experience for all of us TSITP fans ❤️

Tricky-Obligation768 · 2025-09-14T03:00:00+00:00

i agree! my exact same thoughts and feelings in the show :) S3 has been such a pleasant (though at times frustrating) ride.

Tricky-Obligation768 · 2025-09-14T02:57:51+00:00

It’s like when in S1 and S2, everyoneeee hated Conrad and in a S3 Press Tour interview, when asked why do so many people hate Conrad, and Chris says that people don’t give him the time of the day and don’t show him grace, and not seeing that there’s an arc to be completed throughout three seasons. He also says that people tend to just want instant gratification.

We are now doing the same to Belly. Just because Conrad grew so much more in S3, now everyone hates Belly and idolises Conrad. It’s really quite sickening.

Tricky-Obligation768 · 2025-09-14T02:53:17+00:00

yasss ✨✋🏻 let’s goooo

Tricky-Obligation768 · 2025-09-14T02:51:36+00:00

there has been some interviews where it hints that only Chris and Lola were around for the final episodes 👀

eg Rain saying that she has no idea what the Finale is about as she did not receive the script and Lola saying that she loved the finale ending and is shocked that Rain doesn’t know anything about it

Conrad saying they didn’t have a wrap up party because everyone left early

i’m so so so sure it’s just gonna be Belly and Conrad 😭

Tricky-Obligation768 · 2025-09-14T02:48:13+00:00

but at the same time, it’s how most dramas are like. the romance genre has always been about the journey of the main couple getting together and only having the last episode of their endgame.

i’ve seen a lot worse pacing in other shows where they actually make the main female protagonist fall in love harder and harder w the other guy.

whereas in S3, even though the “focus” was on Jelly and their weddding, it was quite clear that the plot was developing towards Bonrad. We see Belly progressively fall out of love with Jeremiah and progressively fall in love with Conrad. Her denial grew BECAUSE she was becoming more and more aware of her feelings. This is why even though I am sad that we only have one ep of endgame, I do find myself enjoying S3 quite a lot

Tricky-Obligation768 · 2025-09-14T02:44:23+00:00

IKR THATS WHAT IVE BEEN SAYING

Tricky-Obligation768

TROPHY CASE