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| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|5|04}}
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| ShortSummary = Alternating between July 15, 1993, 1994 and 1995.
| ShortSummary = <!-- Episode summaries must be expressed in your own words. Do NOT submit content you find from another web site as it is plagiarism and likely a copyright violation, which Wikipedia cannot accept and will be removed or reverted. Superficially modifying copyrighted content or closely paraphrasing it, even if the source is cited, still constitutes a copyright violation. Summaries should be about 100 to 200 words in length, per MOS:TVPLOT, and those substantially less than 100 words are most likely to be scrutinized for possible copyright violation. -->

* In 1993, Kate struggles to be accepted by her stepsister, Ash, as the family prepares for their hunting trip with Jamie, Derek and Ben. Once there, Joy reveals she invited Martin Harris. Kate tries to confide into Ash about Joy’s affair, but Ash angrily tells her off before she can. Looking for company, Kate stargazes with Martin.

* In 1994, Kate attends therapy where she bumps into Mallory, to whom she confides that she saw Jeanette and Jamie kiss. In her sessions, Kate recalls almost escaping after she figured out Martin always brought food down while she was in the shower. After clawing his face during the attempt, Kate recalls things got “much worse.” The police call Kate and Joy down to the station to reveal they don’t have a solid case against Jeanette. Kate catches Ash going through her computer and tells her how their fight at the hunting trip the year before pushed her to confide in Martin. Ash begins communicating with Kate online through the abduction victims chat under an alias.

* In 1995, Kate and her family meet with lawyers. Kate becomes nervous when they tell her she must be consistent in her story to avoid being painted as a liar. Joy finds a note with the word “liar” taped on their door, and, fearing their wealth would be at stake if they lost the case, forces Kate and Mallory to attend the hunting trip to ensure Joy’s friends will call Kate honest if called as witnesses. At the trip, Joy accuses Mallory of being behind the note. After finding out, Kate tells a fake ghost story about her abduction (using a character named Annabelle) that blames her mother and all the adults for letting her trust Martin, threatening that they better have their stories straight in court. Back home, Kate begins listening to tapes of her therapy session to make sure her story is perfect. In the tapes, Kate talks about how she met “Annabelle” near the end of her abduction, but she can’t recall who that is.
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Revision as of 03:04, 5 May 2021

Cruel Summer
Genre
Created byBert V. Royal
Starring
Music by
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes4
Production
Executive producers
ProducerNicole Colombie
Cinematography
  • Damián García
  • Jayson Crothers
  • Allan Westbrook
Editors
  • Christopher Nelson
  • Meridith Sommers
  • Damien Smith
  • Jeff Israel
Running time42–45 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkFreeform
ReleaseApril 20, 2021 (2021-04-20) –
present (present)

Cruel Summer is an American teen drama thriller television series created by Bert V. Royal that premiered on Freeform on April 20, 2021.[2]

Premise

The show depicts the long-term effects of a kidnapping in the fictional town of Skylin, Texas, focusing on three days over the course of three years in 1993, 1994, and 1995. It is about two young women: Kate Wallis is a beloved popular girl who one day disappears without a trace at the hands of Martin Harris; and Jeanette Turner is an awkward outcast who is accused in the case of Kate's disappearance by not reporting it from the start, which results in her becoming the most despised person in America. Each episode follows a different character as the story of the aftermath of Martin's death and Kate's rescue unfolds.[3]

Cast and characters

Main

  • Olivia Holt as Kate Wallis,[4] a popular girl who goes missing without a trace
  • Chiara Aurelia as Jeanette Turner,[4] a nerdy girl who takes over Kate's life after her disappearance
  • Froy Gutierrez as Jamie Henson,[4] Jeanette and Kate's mutual love interest
  • Harley Quinn Smith as Mallory Higgins,[4] one of Jeanette's best friends before her newfound popularity
  • Brooklyn Sudano as Angela Prescott,[4] a bartender and Greg's new girlfriend
  • Blake Lee as Martin Harris,[4] the new vice-principal of Skylin High School and Kate's kidnapper who later dies in a shootout.
  • Allius Barnes as Vince Fuller,[4] one of Jeanette's best friends before her newfound popularity
  • Nathaniel Ashton as Ben,[a] Jamie's best friend
  • Michael Landes as Greg Turner,[4] Jeanette's father

Recurring

  • Sarah Drew as Cindy Turner, Jeanette's mother
  • Barrett Carnahan as Derek Turner, Jeanette's older brother
  • Nicole Bilderback as Denise, Jeanette's lawyer
  • Andrea Anders as Joy Wallis, Kate's mother
  • Ben Cain as Rod Wallis, Kate's stepfather

Episodes

No.Title [5]Directed byWritten byOriginal air date [5]U.S. viewers
(millions)
1"Happy Birthday, Jeanette Turner"Max WinklerBert V. RoyalApril 20, 2021 (2021-04-20)0.274[6]

Alternating between June 21 on 1993, 1994, and 1995, Jeannette Turner celebrates her birthday.

  • In 1993, she bumps into popular Kate Wallis and her boyfriend, Jamie Henson at the mall where Jeanette and her friends Mallory and Vince create a bucket list of daring activities. While playing hide-and-seek in a house her father recently sold, Jeanette meets Skylin High's new vice principal, Martin Harris.
  • In 1994, Kate has been missing for a year and the now popular Jeanette celebrates her birthday with her now-boyfriend Jamie and Kate's former friends. A jealous Mallory confronts Jeanette for taking over Kate's life, which Jeanette dismisses. When it is announced that Kate has been found alive, Jeanette runs to see Jamie, who punches her in the face, asking her what she did to Kate.
  • In 1995, now nationally-despised Jeanette spends her birthday meeting with lawyers and fighting with her father and his new girlfriend. As Jeanette watches reruns of the news, it is revealed that Kate was abducted by Martin Harris, who was later killed in a shootout with the police. In another interview, Kate claims Jeanette Turner had seen Kate being held in captivity but said nothing, condemning her publicly.
2"A Smashing Good Time"Bill PurpleBert V. RoyalApril 20, 2021 (2021-04-20)0.218[6]

Alternating between June 26 on 1993, 1994, and 1995, the day of the Wallis family’s annual garden party.

  • In 1993, Kate believes her stepfather Rod is cheating on Joy. She tells Joy about the affair and attempts to find proof, but discovers Rod is only planning a surprise cruise for Joy. Kate apologizes to Joy, but Joy berates Kate for making accusations and being an embarrassment. Upset, Kate leaves the party and gets drunk. The gardener Scott returns Kate home, where she discovers Joy and Scott are having an affair. Distressed, Kate sneaks out again and is found by Martin Harris.
  • In 1994, Jamie (who has reconciled with Kate) and Rod are worried that Kate refuses to talk to the police or go to therapy. Jamie secretly meets with Jeanette, who swears she is innocent, and the two kiss as Kate secretly watches. Angry, Kate goes to the police and offers Jeanette's necklace as proof of her accusation.
  • In 1995, Kate has taken a dark turn, becoming snarky and hostile. In an online abduction victims’ chatroom, Kate confesses to an anonymous friend that she hasn't been completely honest. Kate then discovers that Jeanette is suing her for defamation. Joy tells Rod to call their lawyers as Kate screams.
3"Off with a Bang"Kellie CyrusBert V. RoyalApril 27, 2021 (2021-04-27)0.228[7]

Alternating between July 4, 1993, 1994, and 1995.

  • In 1993, Mallory is furious when Jeanette flushes the stash of joints that Mallory brought. Cindy suggests Jeanette distance herself, recalling her own high school popularity. Jeanette sneaks over to Martin Harris' house to steal a yearbook as an apology gift for Mallory. Later, Jeanette poses in the mirror with a joint she secretly kept.
  • In 1994, Greg and Derek furiously confront Jamie for punching Jeanette. Jeanette is questioned by the police and is shocked when they produce her necklace. Cindy begins to doubt Jeanette. Meanwhile, Vince meets up with Ben whom he’s secretly dating. Jamie asks Jeanette to keep their kiss a secret and asks how she knew Kate went missing before everyone else did.
  • In 1995, Kate angrily confronts Jeanette when they bump into each other driving, but Jeanette drives off. Jeanette practices how to be likable by mimicking television shows and avoids Cindy's calls. During the fireworks, Jeanette breaks into Martin's house and finds Vince. They have a heart-to-heart and Jeanette admits she's been to Martin's house many times. Vince later lies to Jeanette's lawyers saying he doesn't know if she ever went back to Martin's house.
4"You Don't Hunt, You Don't Eat"Laura Nisbet-PetersImogen BinnieMay 4, 2021 (2021-05-04)N/A

Alternating between July 15, 1993, 1994 and 1995.

  • In 1993, Kate struggles to be accepted by her stepsister, Ash, as the family prepares for their hunting trip with Jamie, Derek and Ben. Once there, Joy reveals she invited Martin Harris. Kate tries to confide into Ash about Joy’s affair, but Ash angrily tells her off before she can. Looking for company, Kate stargazes with Martin.
  • In 1994, Kate attends therapy where she bumps into Mallory, to whom she confides that she saw Jeanette and Jamie kiss. In her sessions, Kate recalls almost escaping after she figured out Martin always brought food down while she was in the shower. After clawing his face during the attempt, Kate recalls things got “much worse.” The police call Kate and Joy down to the station to reveal they don’t have a solid case against Jeanette. Kate catches Ash going through her computer and tells her how their fight at the hunting trip the year before pushed her to confide in Martin. Ash begins communicating with Kate online through the abduction victims chat under an alias.
  • In 1995, Kate and her family meet with lawyers. Kate becomes nervous when they tell her she must be consistent in her story to avoid being painted as a liar. Joy finds a note with the word “liar” taped on their door, and, fearing their wealth would be at stake if they lost the case, forces Kate and Mallory to attend the hunting trip to ensure Joy’s friends will call Kate honest if called as witnesses. At the trip, Joy accuses Mallory of being behind the note. After finding out, Kate tells a fake ghost story about her abduction (using a character named Annabelle) that blames her mother and all the adults for letting her trust Martin, threatening that they better have their stories straight in court. Back home, Kate begins listening to tapes of her therapy session to make sure her story is perfect. In the tapes, Kate talks about how she met “Annabelle” near the end of her abduction, but she can’t recall who that is.
5"As the Carny Gods Intended"UnknownUnknownMay 11, 2021 (2021-05-11)N/A
6"A Ocean Inside Me"UnknownUnknownMay 18, 2021 (2021-05-18)N/A
7"Happy Birthday, Kate Wallis"UnknownUnknownMay 25, 2021 (2021-05-25)N/A

Production

Development

On September 25, 2019, Freeform gave Last Summer a pilot order.[8] On January 17, 2020, Last Summer was picked to series. The series was created by Bert V. Royal who was also expected to executive produce alongside Jessica Biel, Michelle Purple, and Max Winkler who also directed the pilot. The production companies involved with the series are Entertainment One and Iron Ocean Productions.[9] On May 18, 2020, Last Summer was retitled as Cruel Summer.[10] The series premiered on April 20, 2021.[2]

Casting

On November 13, 2019, it was reported that Michael Landes, Brooklyn Sudano, Harley Quinn Smith, Chiara Aurelia, Mika Abdalla, Froy Gutierrez, Allius Barnes, Blake Lee, and Nathaniel Ashton were cast in series regular roles.[11] On May 18, 2020, Olivia Holt had replaced Mika Abdalla.[10] On October 30, 2020, Sarah Drew joined the cast in a recurring role.[12] On March 11, 2021, Barrett Carnahan, Andrea Anders, Benjamin J. Cain, and Nicole Bilderback were cast in recurring roles.[13]

Music

Besides Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman serving as the main composers,[14] the series heavily relies on a 90's inspired soundtrack.[15] The second episode notably makes use of the Cranberries song "Zombie".[16]

Reception

Critical response

Cruel Summer received generally positive reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the series holds an approval rating of 90% based on 20 critic reviews, with an average rating of 7.8/10. The website's critical consensus states, "Though it may have a bit too much going on, Cruel Summer's delicious twists and delightful turns from its young stars are never less than entertaining."[17] On Metacritic, it has a weighted average score of 74 out of 100 based on 12 critic reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[18]

Saloni Gajjar of The A.V. Club gave the series a B and wrote, "Cruel Summer manages to overcome its convoluted storytelling because it finds interesting, grounded ways to explore the impact of society's expectations of these young girls, and how their town and own families contribute to the pressure they face."[19]

Ratings

On April 30, 2021, it was reported that Cruel Summer is the most-watched overall series debut ever on Freeform with an average 3.81 million total viewers across multi-platforms for its first week.[20]

Viewership and ratings per episode of Cruel Summer
No. Title Air date Rating
(18–49)		 Viewers
(millions)		 DVR
(18–49)		 DVR viewers
(millions)		 Total
(18–49)		 Total viewers
(millions)
1 "Happy Birthday, Jeanette Turner" April 20, 2021 0.1 0.274[6] TBD TBD TBD TBD
2 "A Smashing Good Time" April 20, 2021 0.1 0.218[6] TBD TBD TBD TBD
3 "Off with a Bang" April 27, 2021 0.1 0.228[7] TBD TBD TBD TBD

Notes

  1. ^ a b Nathaniel Ashton was credited as a series regular for the first episode, but credited as guest starring starting from the second episode.

References

  1. ^ Hedash, Kara (April 21, 2021). "Is Cruel Summer Based On A Book? The Show's Inspiration Explained". Screen Rant. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
  2. ^ a b N'Duka, Amanda (February 26, 2021). "Freeform Unveils First-Look At Jessica Biel-Produced Series 'Cruel Summer' – TCA". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 28, 2021.
  3. ^ D'Addario, Daniel (April 13, 2021). "Freeform's 'Cruel Summer' Tells a Haunting, Intriguing Story in Three Parts: TV Review". Variety. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h "Cruel Summer Bios". Disney General Entertainment Content Press. Retrieved February 28, 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Cruel Summer Episodes". Disney General Entertainment Content. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  6. ^ a b c d Metcalf, Mitch (April 21, 2021). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 4.20.2021". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
  7. ^ a b Metcalf, Mitch (April 28, 2021). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Tuesday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 4.27.2021". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  8. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (September 25, 2019). "Freeform Orders 'Last Summer' Drama Pilot From Bert V. Royal, Jessica Biel, Max Winkler & eOne". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  9. ^ White, Peter (January 17, 2020). "'Last Summer': Freeform Picks Up Jessica Biel-Produced Thriller To Series – TCA". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  10. ^ a b Andreeva, Nellie (May 18, 2020). "'Last Summer': Olivia Holt Set As Lead In Recasting, Jessica Biel-Produced Freeform Series Gets New Title". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  11. ^ Ramos, Dino-Ray (November 13, 2019). "'Last Summer': Jessica Biel-Produced Freeform Thriller Sets Michael Landes, Brooklyn Sudano, Harley Quinn Smith And 6 More As Series Regulars". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  12. ^ Petski, Denise (October 30, 2020). "'Cruel Summer': Sarah Drew To Recur On Jessica Biel-Produced Freeform Series". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  13. ^ Petski, Denise (March 11, 2021). "'Cruel Summer': Barrett Carnahan, Andrea Anders, Benjamin J. Cain & Nicole Bilderback Join Freeform Thriller Series As Recurring". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  14. ^ "Wendy & Lisa Scoring Freeform's 'Cruel Summer'". Film Music Reporter. March 30, 2021. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  15. ^ Gelman, Vlada (April 19, 2021). "Cruel Summer Team Previews Freeform Drama's 'Thin Line Between Hero and Villain' and Its '90s Nostalgia Trip". TVLine. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  16. ^ Dodson, P. Claire (April 20, 2021). "The Most Thrilling Mystery in Cruel Summer Is Being a Teenage Girl". Teen Vogue. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  17. ^ "Cruel Summer: Season 1 (2021)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  18. ^ "Cruel Summer: Season 1". Metacritic. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  19. ^ {{cite web|url=https://tv.avclub.com/freeform-s-cruel-summer-is-a-riveting-thriller-hindered-1846712862%7Ctitle=Freeform's Cruel Summer is a riveting thriller hindered by a convoluted format|website=[[The A.V. Club]|first=Saloni|last=Gajjar|date=April 20, 2021|access-date=April 28, 2021}}
  20. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (April 30, 2021). "'Cruel Summer' Becomes Freeform's Biggest Multi-Platform Premiere Ever". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
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