Created by Bert V. Royal, “Cruel Summer” is an American teen drama thriller television series that takes place over three summers in the 90s when a beautiful and popular teen goes missing, and a seemingly unrelated girl transforms from a sweet and awkward outlier to the most popular girl in town, eventually becoming the most despised person in America and premiered on Tuesday, April 20, 2021, at 9:00 P.M on Freeform.
Jeanette Turner (Chiara Aurelia) starts off as a happy, if shy and awkward, teenager celebrating her 15th birthday. While on a trip to the mall, she runs into the town’s popular girl, Kate Wallis (Olivia Holt). From their first meeting, it’s apparent that Jeanette wants, more than anything, to be popular and accepted by Kate but, as the series goes on, the machinations of their small Texas town keep up social barriers that probably would have prevented them from being friends.
When Kate disappears, Jeanette ends up blossoming, taking Kate’s friends and even dating Kate’s boyfriend. But as the summer of 1994 starts up, Kate is found and accuses Jeanette of knowing where she was the entire time. Cut to the arrival of 1995, where a drastically altered Kate and Jeanette are set to go toe-to-toe when Jeanette sues the rescued girl for defamation of character.
Where can I watch “Cruel Summer”?
Exclusively available for streaming on Freeform, you can also watch the show on Hulu (Free Trial).