‘Cruel Summer’ Recap: ‘The Plunge’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Lexi Underwood and Sadie Stanley in Episode 206 of ‘Cruel Summer’ – ‘The Plunge’. (Photo Courtesy of Ricardo Hubbs/Freeform.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 206 of ‘Cruel Summer’. To revisit the previous episode, clickhere.
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As season two of the hit Freeform series, Cruel Summer, continues along, it is becoming quite apparent… that emotion, deception, and the love triangle created over the past year and a half… played a huge role in Luke’s death. Simply because there were some powerful feelings at play during this time period in everyone’s life and those emotions are beginning to bubble over and cause more harm than good. For they are influencing decisions, bringing forth heartache and causing great division amongst one another… and never was that more evident than during this week’s fascinating episode, since ‘The Plunge’ put all of that on display.
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For instance, we came to learn that in the Summer of ’99, shortly after Isabella broke up with Luke to give Megan her shot at the man she loved and adored… that heartbreak came quickly out of Megan’s push to finally be with him. Since Jeff noticed closely how much attention she paid to Luke and how she made sure he noticed his feelings for her, and that broke Jeff. Because he really wanted a shot at being near Megan and knew that he had lost the battle and the war. So, he begrudgingly informed her of his desire to step away from such matters, which would explain the dark manner in which he treated Megan later in the timeline and of course… Megan’s hard desire for Luke, seemingly won over with ease… brought forth more trouble and strife down the line.

Because back in the Winter of 1999, during the plunge event that shares the namesake of this episode, Megan tapped out to help her friend with a coding job related to the boogeyman that was Y2K. Which meant it was up to Isabella and Luke to have fun and well… Luke definitely held to that mantra. By making an attempt to be near Isabella once again when he spoke out about simple worries regarding his relationship, which led to more deception since Luke didn’t talk about it in the slightest. Not to mention, lies brought forth division in the Summer of 2000, since Megan finally confronted her pseudo- ‘sister’ about the whole mess with Lisa. Giving rise to more of the testy and unhealthy game they play and well… all of this made for some fascinating television to say the least.

For it was, unconventional in nature. Since we often expect mysteries and crime shows to start to feed us clues at this point in the story. But all this did was offer up more of the unhealthy dynamic between two friends, while gently hinting at the real possibility that the love triangle and the mixed and muted feelings everyone has for one another… contributed to the end and a secret. The kind that might be revealed come next week, since Megan’s mother was quick to ask some questions about the clue she found under Isabella’s bed and well… we say might, because there might not be time for that happen. Not when Parker overhead the battle that Megan and Isabella went through in this tale, one that implied guilt, before she promptly made her way to the sheriff to inform him of that discussion.

But while we wait to see what comes out of that discovery and that brewing trouble, we can celebrate another fascinating tale. One that once again took the time to show us moments that at a casual glance… seem to be nothing more than a slice of life before tragedy. But deep down, these moments and the others we’ve been privy to, are all part of a complex puzzle, one that came together to bring forth great tragedy and great suffering and well… as we enter the home stretch for season one… it will be fascinating to see how those moments begin to jell and bring forth a grand understanding of how Megan and Isabella’s toxic relationship, combined with their own insecurities and worries and needs, ended an innocent life. Until next time.

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