‘Cruel Summer’ Recap: ‘Springing a Leak’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Sadie Stanley and Griffin Gluck as Megan and Luke in Episode 204 of ‘Cruel Summer’ – ‘Springing a Leak’. (Photo Courtesy of Freeform.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 204 of ‘Cruel Summer’. To revisit the previous episode, clickhere.
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It is definitely safe to say, that each and every one of us are fully invested in the new season of the Freeform series, Cruel Summer. Simply because… it has put on a masterclass in deception. After all, the season two premiere had us briefly thinking that Megan might have killed Isabella for reasons related to that unfortunate tape, when in fact… she was alive… and then we came to learn it was Luke that died, and that this duo were seemingly covering it up to keep a bigger secret at bay. But that of course, left us no closer to the truth about what happened to Luke and why and how he died. But as we slink along through this story, we are starting to get some idea of what might have happened and what might have motivated the end of Luke.
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For ‘Springing a Leak’ is a story that offered up some key moments that potentially could lead to answers, and the Summer of ’99 and the Winter of ’99, outright informed us that the love triangle might have been deeper than we knew and that jealousy all around was in play and that… could have motivated some darkness. As evidenced by the fact that while Isabella and Megan’s friendship was blossoming and strong in those early summer days, to the point where they were eager to forge new memories as besties, there was still some underlying tension regarding Luke and Isabella’s desire to be near him. The kind that seemingly started to boil over in the wintertime, as evidenced by one wild dinner.

Since Megan and Isabella, and Debbie, swung by the esteemed Chambers estate to eat and stay the night when their house struck a leak, and well… several key moments there… seemed to reinforce the possibility that jealousy and love related musings were to blame for the end of a life. For Megan found a Luke and Isabella romance souvenir while using Luke’s shower, and that prompted her to explode with speculation that Isabella was sneaking around with her man, behind her back… and that concern might be warranted. Since that very dinner ended with Brent going off when asked to apologize and he implied that an affair was indeed happening and well… those words/revelations, combined with something Isabella said when she worked to cool Megan down, definitely has us wondering if a crime of passion took place here.

Because Isabella said point blank, that her loyalty to Megan mattered over anything else, something she backed up by offering to pay for the plumbing repairs and through telling Megan… she’d kill for her if it meant proving that loyalty. Which are strong words, the kind that easily could have come to life if emotions ran high and the stakes were great enough, and we learned in the Summer of ’00, they might have been. Since we also came to learn that Megan, was pregnant, and that news, combined with the real possibility that an affair took place, might have helped lead to Luke’s death. But… was it in cold blood? Heat of the moment? And were there other factors at play here? Not to mention, other players involved in that life-changing moment? Because these there are obviously secrets in this town, and more questions in our minds.

Such as… what happened to Megan’s baby? Since we’ve not seen a child in ’00 in the slightest, just the players in this grand mystery. But alas, those questions will have to wait to be answered. For this is a show that only gives us so much, and yet, what it gives us has us buzzing. Because suddenly the innocence we thought this duo harbored may not be as present as we’d like and of course… we simply must know more. More about this pregnancy, more about this love triangle and how all of those elements brought an end to a promising life. Not to mention, should we also be concerned about Brent and his unhinged ways? Either way, all this episode does is leave us hungry for more. Because clearly, secrets are starting to come to light and we are inching closer to the truth, and it will be fascinating to learn all there is to know about the end of Luke in the weeks to come. Until next time.  

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