‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ Drops Devastating Conrad Easter Egg Featuring Iconic Harry Styles Song
Amazon Prime Video’s hit teen drama The Summer I Turned Pretty has consistently delivered the perfect blend of youthful romance, beachy nostalgia, and emotional gut punches. But in a recent episode, the show truly outdid itself—dropping a subtle yet heart-wrenching easter egg centered around fan-favorite character Conrad Fisher. The kicker? It was paired with a deeply emotional Harry Styles track, leaving fans reeling and theories swirling across social media.
The moment in question features the Harry Styles ballad “Fine Line,” a closing track from his critically acclaimed 2019 album of the same name. Known for its sweeping orchestration and emotionally charged lyrics, “Fine Line” isn’t just a sonic choice—it’s a thematic bombshell when paired with Conrad’s storyline.
Conrad and Belly: A Love That’s Always on the Edge
Conrad Fisher, portrayed with magnetic complexity by Christopher Briney, has been at the center of the show’s love triangle since Season 1. Torn between his deep, brooding love for Belly (Lola Tung) and his inability to express his feelings healthily, Conrad has become one of the most compelling—and tragic—figures in the series.
In the current season, which has only amped up the emotional intensity, viewers have watched Conrad struggle with heartbreak, suppressed grief over his mother’s death, and the slow realization that letting Belly go might be his most selfless act. But when “Fine Line” begins to play in a poignant scene involving Conrad, it becomes clear the showrunners aren’t just pulling on heartstrings—they’re telling fans something profound about his emotional arc.
The “Fine Line” Between Love and Loss
Harry Styles’ “Fine Line” is known for its emotional depth. With lyrics like “We’ll be a fine line / We’ll be alright,” the song speaks to the fragility of relationships, especially ones that linger between connection and collapse. When used in a key moment involving Conrad—watching Belly from afar, possibly during a turning point in their relationship—the song’s inclusion becomes a narrative device.
It’s an unspoken confession: Conrad still loves her. He always has. But he believes he can’t be the person she needs. It’s that fine line—between being close enough to love, yet too far to hold on—that defines their current dynamic.
Fans immediately picked up on the significance. TikTok exploded with reaction videos and breakdowns, many pointing to the emotional parallels between Conrad and the character Harry Styles sings about in the song. “He’s literally the ‘Fine Line’ guy,” one fan posted. Another wrote: “This just confirmed Conrad’s still the endgame in his heart—even if he lets her go.”
An Easter Egg with Deeper Meaning
But this wasn’t just an emotional music cue. Fans noticed something else: the easter egg embedded in the episode’s dialogue and symbolism.
In the scene where “Fine Line” plays, Conrad is seen writing in a journal—something he hasn’t done openly before. Eagle-eyed viewers spotted that the journal’s cover bore a symbol closely resembling a compass, with one of its directional points highlighted in gold. Some theorists have speculated that it’s a callback to a quote from Season 1, where Conrad told Belly, “You’re my true north.” The compass, the song, the gaze from a distance—it all ties together into a carefully orchestrated message from the show’s creators: Conrad’s love hasn’t gone anywhere. He’s just learned how to hide it.
Jenny Han, the author of the book series and executive producer of the show, has long been known for her literary easter eggs and emotionally layered storytelling. This latest moment only adds to her signature emotional craftsmanship.
Music as a Narrative Tool
The use of music in The Summer I Turned Pretty has been consistently praised for its authenticity and depth. From Taylor Swift’s “This Love” in Season 1 to Olivia Rodrigo and Phoebe Bridgers tracks in Season 2, the show curates its soundtrack to do more than accompany scenes—it deepens them. By choosing Harry Styles’ “Fine Line” for such a critical moment, the show makes an emotional statement that words alone couldn’t deliver.
Music supervisor Justin Kamps, in a recent interview, hinted that songs are chosen not just for their emotional vibe but for how closely they mirror character psychology. “A well-placed song tells the story better than dialogue sometimes. That’s especially true with someone like Conrad, who struggles to speak his heart.”
Fan Reaction: “I Cried for 45 Minutes”
Social media reactions to the episode were intense and immediate. #ConradFisher and #FineLine trended on X (formerly Twitter), with fans expressing heartbreak and admiration for the way the show handled the moment.
One viral tweet read: “They didn’t have to go THAT hard with Harry. But they did. And now I’m crying in public.” Others posted side-by-side comparisons of Conrad and scenes from the “Fine Line” music video, drawing parallels between the visual aesthetics of heartbreak.
Fan edits flooded YouTube and TikTok within hours, many overlaying Conrad and Belly’s emotional scenes with the full song. Others focused on the journal scene, speculating on what Conrad may have written—a love letter, a goodbye, or perhaps a way of coping with the love he knows he can’t fully have.
What It Means for the Future
The use of “Fine Line” and the associated Conrad easter egg doesn’t just signal where the character is emotionally—it potentially foreshadows the long game in the love triangle. While Belly may currently be moving forward, perhaps with Jeremiah, the emotional groundwork for a future reunion with Conrad is clearly being laid.
As one fan put it: “You don’t use ‘Fine Line’ for a side character. You use it for the one who’s breaking inside.”
In a show already praised for its emotional realism and depth, this subtle but devastating moment may go down as one of The Summer I Turned Pretty’s most powerful—and most talked-about—scenes yet. Whether or not Conrad and Belly reunite remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: Conrad is still in love, and Harry Styles helped tell us that without a single word spoken.
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