‘Cruel Summer’ Recap: ‘Bloody Knuckles’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Sadie Stanley and Lexi Underwood as Megan and Isabelle in Episode 3 of ‘Cruel Summer’ – ‘Bloody Knuckles’. (Photo Courtesy of Freeform.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 203 of ‘Cruel Summer’. To revisit the Season Two Premiere, click here.

There are, a great many elements that go into crafting a quality mystery story. For instance, the mystery in question, needs quality characters. For they are going to drive the story and the case that awaits and without fleshed out characters that we either relate to or find ourselves deeply curious about, there’s nothing there to grab hold of us. Not to mention, the mystery itself needs to be compelling so that we are curious about how and why this happened, and on a deeper level… the mystery needs to keep us guessing, needs to keep us wondering and engaged as to what is going on. So that in essence, we are part of the story and find ourselves emotionally and mentally vested in it, and that is why the Freeform series, Cruel Summer, is of note.
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For this is a series that accomplishes all of that, especially when it comes to the engagement aspect of the story, as evidenced by last night’s episode. For ‘Bloody Knuckles’ is a story that took the time to not only build upon the characters and teach us more about what makes them tick, but it also gave us a lot to pay attention to, and lots to ponder upon when it comes to the case. The kind of stuff that has us wondering now… exactly what happened to Luke and whether or not Megan and Isabella are actually involved in his death or are instead part of a massive cover up designed to keep multiple people and multiple secrets hidden in this town. A hypothesis that became viable, when we learned exactly how these two bonded and learned about how this city harbors a lot of ugly behaviors that speak to a desire to project a great image over anything else.  

All of which was posed to us during the various timeframes that have played out in this story. For the summer of 1999 allowed for us to learn that what made Isabella and Megan true besties for life, is their shared father related trauma. Since that allowed for us to learn they don’t feel they have a solid support network and being there for one another created that and gave them a lot from an emotional standpoint. To the point where they would always have each other’s backs and having that present… would indeed create the solid unity we saw in winter of ’99 and the summer of ’00 since they refused to do anything but stand by one another in these trying times and well, that makes them appear to be less of suspects and more gatekeepers of dark truths in this town that could ruin lives.  

Because we also came to learn that Luke’s idiot brother… has a real darkside to him. One where his privileged standing motivates him to skirt the line, but never cross it. But hurt people in the process to amuse him, and that truth could cause real trouble. Not to mention, we also learned there’s a real ugliness to Jeff as well, since he has no qualms being cruel when it suits him, and there was implication that a reveal of that would ruin him, and there was also implication he knew more than he has let on. And of course, Steve Chambers is all about preserving his family image… to the point where he will become verbally and physically abusive with his sons and flex his standing with others to keep the family name in a shining light. All of which… really made it seem as though, this duo is trying hard to keep a terrible truth about Luke’s death a secret, one that could indeed ruin lives and shatter this town to its core and that… is about as engaging as it gets.

Because it leaves us wondering what would be so dark and so ugly, that two people would be willing to bear the brunt of town drama and tell lies over bringing forth justice for Luke? Which simply compels us to continue the journey. To learn about this secret and learn the truth about what happened to Luke and why… and why this duo made the choices they made and well… that makes for a great mystery plain and simple. For it accomplishes everything on the brief list we outlined a moment ago, and absolutely investes us in this journey and we are indeed now eager to follow it every step of the way, and truly, it will be fascinating to see what we are right and wrong about as the mystery does indeed unfold in the weeks to come. Until next time.  

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