On July 16, 2025, fans of The Summer I Turned Pretty were treated to the highly anticipated premiere of the show’s third and final season on Prime Video. The series, adapted from Jenny Han’s best-selling trilogy, has long been celebrated for its evocative storytelling, heartfelt performances, and, perhaps most notably, its masterful use of music to amplify the emotional stakes of its narrative. Among the standout moments in the season’s opening episode was the inclusion of Taylor Swift’s Midnights vault track, “You’re Losing Me,” a choice that has sparked widespread discussion among fans and critics alike. The song, with its poignant lyrics and melancholic tone, serves as a perfect fit for the pivotal moment it underscores, encapsulating the heartbreak and complexity of the show’s central love triangle. This article explores why “You’re Losing Me” resonates so deeply in the context of The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3, episode 1, examining its lyrical significance, its alignment with the show’s themes, and its role in elevating the storytelling.
The Emotional Core of The Summer I Turned Pretty
The Summer I Turned Pretty, created by Jenny Han, has captivated audiences since its debut in 2022 with its coming-of-age tale centered on Isabel “Belly” Conklin (Lola Tung) and her romantic entanglements with the Fisher brothers, Conrad (Christopher Briney) and Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno). Set against the idyllic backdrop of Cousins Beach, the series explores themes of love, loss, growth, and the bittersweet transition from adolescence to adulthood. Season 3, which picks up after a three-year time jump, finds Belly navigating her junior year of college, her relationship with Jeremiah seemingly solid, and her lingering feelings for Conrad resurfacing at critical moments. The show’s ability to balance lighthearted summer romance with deeper emotional undercurrents has made it a cultural touchstone, particularly for younger audiences.
Music has always been a cornerstone of the series’ emotional resonance. Jenny Han, a self-professed Swiftie, has meticulously curated soundtracks that enhance the narrative, with Taylor Swift’s music serving as a linchpin. From Lover’s “Cruel Summer” in Season 1 to Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)’s “Last Kiss” in Season 2, Swift’s songs have been woven into the fabric of the show, often acting as an emotional shorthand for Belly’s inner turmoil. The inclusion of “You’re Losing Me” in the Season 3 premiere continues this tradition, but its placement feels particularly significant given the song’s raw vulnerability and the dramatic context it accompanies.
“You’re Losing Me”: A Song of Heartbreak and Finality
Released as a Midnights vault track in 2022 and later made widely available in November 2023 to celebrate Swift’s streaming success, “You’re Losing Me” is a haunting ballad that chronicles the slow unraveling of a long-term relationship. Written during a period of personal reflection for Swift, the song is widely speculated to reflect her breakup with Joe Alwyn after six years together. Its lyrics are steeped in grief, resignation, and the painful realization that love has faded beyond repair. Lines like “My heart won’t start anymore / For you” and “Do I throw out everything we built or keep it?” capture the anguish of watching a once-vibrant connection slip away, with both parties too weary to fight for it.
The song’s emotional weight lies in its specificity and universality. Swift’s storytelling prowess shines through as she paints a vivid picture of two people becoming “ghosts to each other,” a sentiment that resonates with anyone who has experienced the gradual erosion of a relationship. The bridge, in particular, is a gut-punch: “I sent you signals and bit my nails down to the quick / My face was gray, but you wouldn’t admit that we were sick.” These lyrics, paired with the song’s sparse production and plaintive melody, create an atmosphere of quiet devastation, making it an ideal choice for a moment of emotional reckoning in The Summer I Turned Pretty.
The Context: A Pivotal Moment in Episode 1
Spoiler Warning: The following section contains spoilers for The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3, Episode 1.
In the Season 3 premiere, “You’re Losing Me” plays over the closing credits, amplifying a heart-wrenching scene that marks a turning point for Belly and Jeremiah’s relationship. The episode opens with Belly settling into her freshman year at Finch College, with Jeremiah by her side as her supportive boyfriend. However, a three-year time jump reveals tensions beneath the surface. After Jeremiah bails on a dinner with Belly’s brother Steven (Sean Kaufman) due to a confrontation with his father, Belly attends a frat party where she learns a devastating truth: Jeremiah hooked up with someone named Lacie during a trip to Cabo, a fact he concealed from her. The revelation, overheard through a bathroom door, shatters Belly’s trust. In a heated confrontation, she declares that their relationship is “broken” and that she’ll “never trust” him again, before running off into the night as Swift’s song begins to play.
The choice of “You’re Losing Me” for this moment is nothing short of genius. The song’s lyrics mirror Belly’s emotional state as she grapples with betrayal and the collapse of a relationship she believed was her future. The line “You say, ‘I don’t understand,’ and I say, ‘I know you don’t’” echoes the disconnect between Belly and Jeremiah during their argument, where his attempt to justify his actions with a “we were on a break” excuse falls flat. Similarly, the song’s theme of a relationship losing its “pulse” aligns with Belly’s realization that her trust in Jeremiah may be irreparably damaged. As she walks away, the song’s mournful tone underscores the finality of her decision, while also hinting at the lingering pain of what could have been.
Why “You’re Losing Me” Fits Perfectly
The inclusion of “You’re Losing Me” is not just a musical flourish; it’s a narrative choice that deepens the emotional impact of the scene and reinforces the show’s thematic core. Here are several reasons why the song is a perfect fit:
1. Emotional Authenticity
Swift’s music has always been a hallmark of The Summer I Turned Pretty because of its ability to capture the raw, messy emotions of youth. “You’re Losing Me” is particularly suited to this moment because it doesn’t shy away from the ugliness of heartbreak. Belly’s decision to end things with Jeremiah isn’t triumphant or empowering; it’s gut-wrenching and uncertain, much like the song itself. The combination of Swift’s vulnerable vocals and the scene’s raw dialogue creates a moment that feels achingly real.
2. Thematic Resonance
The song’s exploration of a relationship’s slow decline parallels the broader arc of Season 3, which is set to resolve the love triangle between Belly, Jeremiah, and Conrad. As the trailer for the season teased with a mashup of Swift’s “Daylight” and “Red (Taylor’s Version),” Belly is torn between the “golden” love she shares with Jeremiah and the “burning red” passion of her past with Conrad. “You’re Losing Me” serves as a counterpoint to these earlier songs, signaling that her relationship with Jeremiah may not survive the weight of his betrayal, while also foreshadowing the emotional complexity of her rekindled connection with Conrad.
3. Jenny Han’s Curatorial Vision
Jenny Han’s personal connection to Taylor Swift’s music is well-documented. She has shared that Swift’s Fearless album, particularly “The Way I Loved You,” inspired the original novel, and her collaboration with Swift has allowed the show to feature exclusive tracks, such as “This Love (Taylor’s Version)” in Season 1. Han’s decision to use “You’re Losing Me” reflects her knack for selecting songs that not only fit the mood but also carry layers of meta-narrative. The song’s inclusion feels like a nod to Swifties, who have long analyzed its lyrics in the context of Swift’s own life, just as The Summer I Turned Pretty fans dissect its implications for Belly’s journey.
4. Cultural Impact
The use of “You’re Losing Me” has generated significant buzz on platforms like X, where fans have expressed their emotional reactions to its placement in the episode. Posts such as “the first taylor song which played on tsitp s3 is you’re losing me that’s killing me 😭😭” (@reputationlisa) and “Omg you’re losing me was featured in the first episode of The Summer I Turned Pretty S3!!” (@SwiftyRuza) highlight the song’s impact on the show’s audience. This synergy between Swift’s music and the series’ fanbase underscores the cultural resonance of their collaboration.
The Broader Role of Taylor Swift’s Music in Season 3
“You’re Losing Me” is just one of several Taylor Swift songs expected to feature in Season 3, continuing the show’s tradition of using her music to punctuate key moments. The season’s trailer already showcased a mashup of “Daylight” and “Red (Taylor’s Version),” hinting at the emotional tug-of-war between Belly’s relationships with Jeremiah and Conrad. Given Han’s access to Swift’s re-recorded catalog and the recent release of The Tortured Poets Department, fans speculate that additional tracks, such as “Speak Now” or “The Best Day,” could appear in later episodes, particularly in scenes involving Belly’s potential wedding or her bond with her mother, Laurel (Jackie Chung).
Swift’s music has become synonymous with The Summer I Turned Pretty, not only because of its emotional depth but also because of the show’s ability to use it in unexpected ways. For example, Season 2 featured “Delicate (Taylor’s Version),” a then-unreleased track, showcasing Han’s ability to secure exclusive songs that enhance the show’s prestige. “You’re Losing Me” continues this trend, serving as a bridge between the show’s fictional world and the real-life emotions of its viewers.
Conclusion
The inclusion of Taylor Swift’s “You’re Losing Me” in the Season 3 premiere of The Summer I Turned Pretty is a masterstroke of storytelling, perfectly capturing the heartbreak and betrayal at the heart of Belly and Jeremiah’s falling-out. The song’s raw lyrics and melancholic melody amplify the emotional weight of the scene, while its thematic resonance with the show’s exploration of love and loss makes it an ideal choice. As The Summer I Turned Pretty heads toward its series finale, the use of Swift’s music continues to elevate its narrative, creating moments that linger with viewers long after the credits roll. For fans of both the show and Swift, “You’re Losing Me” is not just a needle drop—it’s a poignant reminder of the power of music to tell stories that break our hearts and help us heal.
