‘Cruel Summer’ Recap: ‘The Miseducation of Luke Chambers’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Sadie Stanley and Griffin Gluck as Megan and Luke in Episode 209 of ‘Cruel Summer’ – ‘The Miseducation of Luke Chambers’. (Photo by Justine Yeung/Freeform.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 209 of ‘Cruel Summer’. To revisit the previous episode, click here. Also, this piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the series being covered here wouldn’t exist.
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The phrase ‘boys will be boys’ is one that has aged poorly over the past decade or so, with good reason. Because for starters, it offers nothing more than a pass regarding the toxic behavior that young men take part in, further enabling them and further pushing them to just ‘be a man’ and do ugly things without reproach or without consequence. But it also has aged poorly, because we’ve come to understand, that the phrase is wrong. For boys will only be boys when they are taught that such behaviors are okay and nudged toward them via an unhealthy reinforcement method. For toxic behavior isn’t something that just magically appears overnight, it takes time and nurturing, like any other behavior in this life. But that does beg an important question… specifically… what does that process look like?
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Which is a question we ask to not only understand how a normal young man transforms into a jerk… but to also figure out how to stop this long-term. For toxic masculinity is a real problem that needs to be addressed in our world and the root cause is always the best place to start and well, all of this is top of mind today, because that question and the process were explored in the next episode of Cruel Summer on Freeform. For ‘The Miseducation of Luke Chambers’ took the time to explore the life and times of the victim in this case, and really come to understand what motivated him to be so toxic and to cross so many lines, and well… a lot of it related to two key elements. Luke’s idiot father and the world that he was currently surrounded by. For both of those elements, nurtured negativity and pushed him toward the edge.

For instance, we came to learn in this story, that Luke had plans for the future. For he saw what his father had become, as a successful businessman, and how he was grooming his brother to be something similar, and he wanted no part of that. Instead, he wanted to join the Coast Guard. Do something noble and feel better about his day. Perhaps contribute the world by saving lives. But of course, dear old dad put him down for such thoughts, and demanded that he toughen up. Be a man and understand that life wasn’t about dreams nor was it always fair. It was about growing up and settling in. Which hurt Luke deeply and angered him, and the foundation for his behavior received reinforcements from his brother and his friends. Who offered up the usual dude bro ideas and concepts around him and pushed him to be something of a playboy, but that wasn’t his style. So, he tried to exist in two worlds… until they pushed him to the edge.

Since his father and his friends were relentless and expected him to really fit the mold of the times and fit the mold of manhood. Which was to be stoic and sexual, and follow orders out of respect, and of course, to be the alpha and impress. Which was enough to force him to take part in the acts necessary to fit in, to be the man everyone wanted him to be. All of which explained that toxic masculinity and informed us that the birth of search behavior comes from outdated societal pressures, and generational trauma and generational expectations. For we have defined men to be toxic, and free from consequence for doing so, and no man can feel accepted in their youth unless they take part. Which means, some fundamental changes would have to come into play to end it, and those will take some time. But make no mistake about it… while we can see Luke as victim of society here, he did… make an active choice to do these things. Which is also part of the process, like anything else in life, and had he chosen to continue to fight, who knows how this story would have ended.

But he did not, and he suffered a gunshot wound to the ear and the devastation of everything he held dear in his young life because of a commitment to the norms. And well, what’s fascinating, is that his toxic behavior also engendered further toxic behavior and helped to build that perfect storm that led to his end, and all of this made for a powerful episode. One that addressed a topic that is in fact, taboo in nature but necessary to explore at this time. Because of the problems this kind of behavior brings forth, and it was nice to see a show, put this on this display and offer warning signs and say enough. Since that sometimes is what we need to light a spark. But now that we know how Luke helped contribute to the madness and what drove him to be such a little punk to people that cared about him, the time has come to turn our attention to the conclusion of this case. For all that remains is the season finale, and it will be fascinating to learn, who killed Luke, and why… and what will become of those who indulged in darkness during that fateful and cruel summer. Until next time.

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