Expert explains love triangles are having a 'Gen Z renaissance' after The Summer I Turned Pretty movie confirmed
As The Summer I Turned Pretty movie has been confirmed after the dramatic season finale, one psychotherapist has shared her thoughts on Gen Z's increased interest in love triangle story lines
As The Summer I Turned Pretty has been confirmed for a movie, one psychotherapist has weighed in on why love triangles are experiencing a "Gen Z renaissance."
The past few years have been famously filled with love triangle dramas from the series The Summer I Turned Pretty to the hit sports drama Challengers to even the classic vampire franchise Twilight. And as there has been a noticeable resurgence in interest in these types of storylines, one relationship expert has weighed in with her thoughts and how this plot line could be detrimental to young, impressionable audiences at home.
As the world has been engulfed in the "Team Conrad" vs "Team Jeremiah" drama unfolding on The Summer I Turned Pretty, psychotherapist Dr. Avigail (Abby) Lev, Founder and Director at Bay Area CBT Center, has shared her thoughts on the increased interest.
In an interview with The Mirror US, Abby shared her take on why younger audiences have been drawn to these types of plotlines. She explained, "The reason Gen Z audiences resonate so strongly with love triangles is that narcissists often use triangulation as a way to feel special and to 'win' others over."
She continued, "With the rise of social media, likes, and views, younger generations are becoming more narcissistic, and being at the center of a love triangle feeds into the fantasy of being chosen, admired, and seen as unique. These plots glorify the idea of being picked, of winning love, and of proving your worth — values that are extremely harmful when internalized."
Abby went on to urge that these types of storylines can often be harmful to younger audiences, as these types of love triangles are often lead to dysfunctional and toxic dynamics.
She explained, "In reality, if you’re in competition with someone in a relationship, or if a partner is triangulating and turning you against someone else, that isn’t love. That is manipulation and toxicity. Shows [or movies] like Twilight or The Summer I Turned Pretty normalize and glamorize unhealthy, toxic dynamics by presenting them as desirable romance. The message becomes: if you just fight harder, try harder, or prove yourself enough, you’ll win someone’s love. But that’s not love — it’s dysfunction."
And while these types of storylines are clearly not healthy to replicate, they are an addictive and dramatic way to capture audiences' attention.
Speaking on the addictive nature of love triangles, Abby explained, "These storylines are so addictive because they play into the fantasy of being special, chosen, and desired by multiple people at once. The 'good guy versus bad guy' trope creates tension, but it’s built on the same manipulative strategies we see in personality disorders: splitting people into 'all good' or 'all bad' categories, then pitting them against each other. That isn’t romance — it’s toxic psychology disguised as entertainment."
And while she is not a fan of these type of tropes in general, the psychotherapist has confirmed that she is in fact Team Conrad.
Citing her reasoning for this, Abby explained, "Personally, I’m firmly 'Team Conrad.' He simply loves her without games, without manipulation, and without making love into a competition. Choosing Jeremiah, by contrast, represents the worst of these tropes —teaching that if you just love someone who mistreats you hard enough, you can change them. That’s the most toxic message of all."
Click here to follow the Mirror US on Google News to stay up to date with all the latest news, sports, and entertainment stories.