Fans and one entertainment outlet have sharpened focus on a brief Season 3 moment of The Summer I Turned Pretty as the Prime Video series approaches its series finale on Wednesday, Sept. 17. A Decider write-up argues that a line in Episode 10 — in which John Conklin appears to clutch his chest and mentions heartburn — may be foreshadowing for a medical emergency in the finale that would affect the show’s principal characters.
The scene in question occurs during a Thanksgiving sequence in Episode 10, titled “Last Call” (also referenced as “Last Year” in some summaries), when John (Colin Ferguson) and Laurel share a short on-screen moment. In roughly 45 seconds of footage, John puts his hand to the left side of his chest, remarks that he has had heartburn all day and takes a Pepcid.
Decider and many viewers argued the gesture and the on-screen purchase of over-the-counter antacid could be a deliberate clue rather than casual dialogue — noting the show’s history of using seemingly throwaway lines as setup for later developments. The outlet compared the remark to an earlier line from Jeremiah in Season 3 that foreshadowed a later haircut for the character Belly (Lola Tung).
The theory arrives amid several season-long concerns about characters’ safety. A Season 3 trailer and early episodes prompted fears for Belly’s brother Steven after a car crash left him injured but alive. Viewers also seized on a reminder of family health history when Conrad (Christopher Briney) told his father in Episode 6 that “heart disease still runs in the family,” which fueled speculation about potential heart-related events involving other characters, including Adam (Tom Everett Scott) and, more dramatically, Conrad himself.
Decider argues the John-heartburn moment is likely deliberate staging to set up a medical incident in the finale that would plausibly draw Belly back from Paris. Throughout Episode 10, the show depicts Belly building a new life abroad and resisting returning home — telling friends she fears that going back would prevent her from coming back to Paris and growing. A family health scare would, the theory holds, provide a narrative reason for her to return and could create circumstances that reunite her with Conrad.
Writer Jenny Han has previously said she aimed to explore new territory while preserving a hopeful tone. Speaking with Elite Daily, Han said she went into the story wanting “to make it even better and try new things.” In remarks to People, she added that she does not like “too neat of an ending” but “must insist on hope,” and that hope is a distinction she values when writing for a younger audience.
The speculation that John could experience a medical event is not confirmed by Prime Video, the show’s producers or the cast. Decider framed the suggestion as theory rather than fact, and social media reaction has ranged from alarmed to skeptical. Some viewers pointed to the frequent use of the term “heartburn” as a common, benign complaint; others noted that the program has established narrative patterns in which small moments later gain greater significance.
With the finale scheduled for Sept. 17, viewers will see whether the scene proves to be foreshadowing, a casual domestic beat or a red herring. If the moment is consequential, it would join a season that has moved between romance and high stakes, including Steven’s accident and shifting relationships among the show’s central families. The series adaptation of Jenny Han’s novels has repeatedly balanced romantic plotlines with life-altering events, and fans are watching closely to see how the creators resolve the storylines in the final episode.