Belly told Conrad to go to hell…. And he did….. for 5 years
It was all worth it to him though…
Then he experienced one day of heaven, just for her to momentarily send him back again.
They’re going to have the best love story to tell their kids one day.
Btw, this is intended lightheartedly. They could laugh about it in Paris and ultimately see the funny side of all the hurt. That’s healing.
After Belly and Conrad had their kitchen fight she had this inner monologue “When Conrad Fisher told a girl he loved her, he meant it. A girl could believe in that. A girl could maybe even bet her whole life on it. That’s what I would be doing. I would bet my whole life on him and I can’t do that. I won’t”
Now, I know at this point she was bound to her promise to Jeremiah and she was not willing to walk away from him, but why was she not willing to bet her life on Conrad later on? Was it because she was afraid he would turn cold again although this time it seems she grasped that him telling her that he loved her is meaningful to him, he wouldn’t play with it. Why wasn’t she willing to do this after she and Jere broke up or is it maybe something we could see in the movie?
With this sentence I don’t think she should really bet her life on him but to me that she can trust his love for her. Was it just her fear of heartbreak and need for emotional security that made her cling to Jeremiah instead? Why was she more in fear of being loved by Conrad than hurt by Jeremiah? Obviously I know her feelings for Conrad runs much deeper but it’s actually a sad story what she was willing to sacrifice. That she maybe thought so little of herself that she thought she didn’t deserve a love like Conrad’s.
I think this scene also makes it hard for some people to understand their Paris pre kick-out conversation, because at this moment she realised how deep and true his feelings is, so why did she resort to thinking it was all about Susannah again?
It’s not a Belly hate post. I really just want to understand.
Probably unpopular opinion, but I don’t hate the 4 year time jump. Unlike in the books, the premise of the show was to give Belly more agency and not just that Jeremiah was only a rebound (he still was but it wasn’t the only reason she chose him).
The main reason in the show was not only that she couldn’t really get over Conrad but that she and Jeremiah developed a toxic codependent relationship that would’ve digested each other in the long run and for a codependent relationship, the 4 years makes so much sense and it also make her unwillingness to call off the wedding, More understandable. She freaking build something for 4 years, not easy to walk away from that.
Now, I know a lot despise that she slept with both brothers, but giving her more agency would’ve lead to that whether they dated for a short time or years. Also, the amount of times she slept with Jeremiah shouldn’t be a reason to try and diminish BellyConrad, because if you’ve slept with someone once, you’ve slept with them. The quantity doesn’t change that fact, so I found it funny that some are 🆗 with her sleeping with Jeremiah after Conrad but say it is disgusting with Conrad just because it was 4 years.
The 4 years also made the wedding more “ridiculous” to me because unlike in the books it wasn’t really about their age but the fact that they actually didn’t grew up in the 4 years and in some ways even regressed to being very very childish and very immature. Financially Jeremiah and Belly in thinking the small stuff irritating her about Jeremiah wouldn’t become an issue and other examples. Sixteen year old Belly would be ashamed of some stuff 21 year old Belly did. Also, the reason why some of the other characters brings up age is not really about their age but their own hidden feelings they have about them as a couple. For instance, I’m convinced Laurel knew something was not that kosher in the relationship but she couldn’t say it, or put her finger on it, so she resorted to blaming their age and for Conrad it was because he is still in love with her and them getting married will forever alter any chance he still thought he could have.
What do you think went through Belly’s mind when she first saw Conrad here for the first time in years and the subsequent day they spent together (not the later part when she realised she still loved him or later pushing it down as nothing happened or will ever happened). But do you think her heart pinch a bit by learning about his life in California, a life she deliberately chose not to be part of? Did she notice the maturity and how he became an adult because since his first appearance on the show, he was oozing grown up while in contrast she and Jeremiah stayed kids (which makes the marriage even funnier). Did she think he has a gf (I’m convinced she thought Agnes was his gf). Did she wonder about his life like he did in Paris?
Knowing Belly and that she buried her feelings for him, she probably made a point to not think about his life there but seeing him and this version of him that she’s no longer part of, must’ve instilled some feelings. Because he was also always a precious person to her and now he build this whole new life and even persona without her even having a glimpse of it except that she probably knew he did very well in college.
In the books, when she saw him that first summer, her inner voice was about how he’s different and had changed, so I was wondering if she had similar thoughts.
Now, I know some fans take this scene as proof that Conrad hated Jeremiah and wanted to hurt him. To me, that’s not remotely true and myself couldn’t admire a character more than after this conversation.
Firstly, he defended Jeremiah when Adam immediately assumed it was his doing, then he took the blame although at worst he’s 33% to blame for everything blowing up. Now, Conrad could’ve easily gone around and told Steven, Adam, Laurel, John about Cabo and used that as an excuse for his actions. Like Jeremiah did with him sleeping with Lacey. But he never did, because he knew that was not the reason why he confessed. In a loaded space of time, it was maybe the catalyst but not the reason. He told Belly he loved her because he loved her and said so unequivocally to Adam. But, he could’ve easily took the heat away from himself by telling the others about Jeremiah’s actions.
Now, we get to the part where he told his dad he broke Jeremiah. That to me, is exactly the reason why I will always consider him the best brother and better person. He did a effed up thing in a moment of desperation, because no, he didn’t ran to tell Belly about Cabo after he found out, he went to the beach to clear his head. Belly was supposed to meet Jeremiah and he let her down. As sidenote, we must remember that Conrad was the one who saw his mother crying like he never saw her before when she found out Adam cheated, now the same fate bestowed the love of his life… that moment in time on the beach was emotionally loaded with this and Belly admitting she only ever pictured Conrad. But it was still effed up and his actions caused his brother so much pain and he admitted that he can’t even excuse himself because deep down he wanted it, for Belly to change her mind (the intention was not to deliberately hurt his brother). That’s the actions of a guy who actually loves his brother, because yes he was hurt for himself but he was hurting for Jeremiah too. I can’t hate a guy who takes this level of accountability. He had to live with the consequences of his actions. Thing is, no other one had this level of accountability when BellyJere got together. If only they had, the mess would never happened because if Jeremiah cared about his brother, he would never have gotten with Belly in order not to hurt Conrad and yet it was Conrad who made amends. Rather give me this level of self awareness and responsibility than someone who still blames him sleeping with someone else on finding out about Christmas (nobody forced you).
And yes, I know Conrad and Jeremiah was never really close and this video actually shows why, because the parents (especially Adam) pushed their responsibilities regarding the children onto Conrad because “they’re not good at that stuff” excuse me, but somehow Conrad has to be? Conrad had to look after everyone but who was looking after him? They were never close friends for this reason and Jeremiah’s inferiority complex. But Conrad does love Jeremiah.
Fans of Jelly say how they’re such a beautiful childhood friends to lovers story but I don’t agree. A childhood friends to lovers story is a story about two people growing up together and over time they fell in love and THEN they start a relationship. BellyJere was never that. Belly choose Jeremiah for a relationship because he’s also her friend and hoped that the type of love she had for him will turn into being in love and eventually erase the love she has for Conrad in her heart. That’s why she kind of had to keep score, she had to remember all the sweet details about him (just to later realise she projected Conrad sweetness onto Jeremiah and that he was actually not as sweet as a kid), she had to have all these reasons of “this is how it’s supposed to be” etc. If it’s really how it’s supposed to be, you would have peace in your heart and not have to justify your choice to yourself. With Jeremiah it’s almost the same. He knew she loved his brother but foolishly believed that with time it could turn into their story. And it even maybe did for a while, but it took his brother’s absence to achieve that. At the end of the day, Belly started the relationship and agreed to marry Jeremiah in order to erase Conrad, not because she truly also fell in love with Jeremiah. Eventually he realised that although deep down he always knew. They tried to change their friendship into a love story for different reasons.
Jeremiah literally got almost nothing or build nothing of his own in the show. Or you can see it as he “stole/take” everything from Conrad. The Jeep was Conrad’s first, then his. He “stole/take/wanted” one of Conrad’s most precious stamps once. He “stole/take/wanted” Belly because Conrad loved her and he had to win over him. And with this, PLEASE don’t take it as me objectifying Belly. This is not about that but to show that Jeremiah always wanted what Conrad had and in some ways, he took what was Conrad’s as his, without permission and by any means… stole the stamp and made Belly feel guilty for loving Conrad, and not being there for him, then kissed her after Conrad literally asked him that they should talk the day before.
Now, I’ve realised it’s actually what happened with Rosie the dog too. Conrad found her, that makes her HIS first dog and yet Jeremiah claimed her as his first pet (Anika had to ask him the answers to the Jere trivia questions and he said Rosie was his first pet). That while he and Steven was being vile about Rosie to Conrad. What I’m getting at is that Conrad always build something or collected something or worked towards something and instead of Jeremiah doing the same, he got jealous of Conrad and took Conrad’s stuff as his own or break Conrad’s stuff in that typical jealous younger sibling way.
I know he didn’t took the Jeep, but it’s actually playing into his inferiority complex regarding an older brother. As a middle child myself, I know how me and my sister always felt about always getting our older sister’s hand downs. We understand now as adults why, but at the time we’ve sometimes felt like we were not good enough to get new stuff and had to get older sister’s hand downs. It’s not right that he resented Conrad for that and I don’t even know if he resented Conrad for getting hand downs because with them, I don’t even think he got a lot of hand downs. I just found it interesting that his first car wasn’t his first.
And Conrad was actually the one who encouraged him to do something he loved with his life, but instead he just wanted what Conrad had. Wanted it without contributing to it (like the stamps) and no one ever called him out on it.
Edit: Some still took offence with me using the words stole regarding Belly although I explicitly tried to explain and I’ve decided not to change it because it’s fitting of how Jeremiah viewed Belly with his “I gave you your shot” comments and “You wanted Belly, so you took her” of which Conrad called him out for. The matter is, Conrad wanted Belly (she wanted him too), Jeremiah knew and he just had to sabotage something his brother deeply loved, just like he had done with the stamp. The stamp was precious to Conrad and meant something to him. But this time it actually had the power to break his brother because he was the one person Conrad told about his true feelings for Belly. Anyway this thought about him always wanting what Conrad had came to me watching the Rosie episode. Dude couldn’t even make up his own first pet, he had to take Conrad’s…
Conrad basically became Aunt Julia in season 3. The one who couldn’t find it in their heart to go back while Susannah&Laurel (Jere&Belly) were there and maybe lived in this fantasy world they’ve created around Cousins. Not that I’m doing a parallel between Laurel/Susannah and BellyJere because BellyJere are NOT soulmates… they told themselves that to justify their relationship.
It’s just symbolic because Conrad got Julia’s room and he fought her so hard in regards to the house, just for him to become the ejected one (both by their own choice but also because of their hurt) like her.
There is so many takes of how Conrad shouldn’t have written Belly letters or that he shouldn’t have gone to Paris. The thing is, Conrad never got closure, not when she went after Jeremiah s2 and even more so not in s3. Now, their last interactions consists of the kitchen fight where he realised she still loved him but he didn’t pressure her about it at all. Then their goodbye scene in the club room. If the story ended there, and she still married Jeremiah, an argument can be made that he got some closure and he maybe would’ve been able to even move on eventually although it would’ve taken him some time because Jeremiah would’ve been gone from his life too, even Steven, it would’ve been tough for him but over time he would’ve. But this is not where the story ended and Conrad also read Susannah’s letter where she stated that Belly looked at him like he’s the only boy in the world and he, just like Jeremiah, knew that Belly started to look at him that way again and he even said so in his beach confession. Then the wedding gets called off and he knows his confession was ultimately the reason, so now it left him without closure again. Belly more than once after the wedding, gave Jeremiah closure, so he knew he had to move on, but she never did for Conrad because subconsciously she didn’t want to move on from him. Now, after a few months he starts to write her letters and explicitly states that if it’s not okay for him to write, she should let him know and if she did that, he would’ve accepted it and moved on, but she didn’t and her silence was not giving him closure. Ultimately she did send him something and it was not discouragement. Then when in Paris, she could’ve given him closure like for Jeremiah if she wanted too, instead she slept with him and their last talk was not closure either because he then knew she still loved him, she admitted it. If she didn’t chase after him, he would’ve maybe left her alone to respect her wishes like he always did but imo because of the same reason of no closure, he would’ve find it hard to move on because he knows she loves him. That’s also part of the reason Belly never contacted Conrad during Paris. She knew if she opens that door, it’s either her opening her heart to him again or saying goodbye forever and she wasn’t ready for either.
Closure is the reason why I feel very strongly that the Jelly argument wasn’t a breakup, because there was no discussion., no closure. That’s not how you end a 4 year relationship and especially not with a person you know your whole life.
The Jellyfish fans love to spin the narrative that it is BellyJere story for 3 seasons. A narrative that unfortunately got it’s why to some Bonrad fans and also the narrative that certain fan service was done to cater to Jelly fans… now let’s break down
Season 1
Belly is literally out of her mind in love with Conrad and the whole season is filled with their angsty moments, from literally the moment they first saw each other and lover played till eventually ending up dancing at the deb ball and it ended with them kissing. It’s literally a Bonrad season and I’m not going to break it down into episodes because just as the Deb ball, all roads lead to Bonrad. What does Jelly have? A few kisses while we all know what transpired beforehand and them not being on the same page about what that means (almost a foreshadowing that they were never on the same page about what their relationship means, her calling it whatever this is later in season 3, a storm etc and them not being on the same page about the alleged breakup)… the kisses meant nothing to Belly, hence why she could forget it immediately as soon as Conrad kissed her, heck if it meant something to her she wouldn’t allow Conrad to kiss her at all…
Season 2
First 4 episodes is literally all about her love for Conrad and how it blew up in her face and her wanting not to be hurt this way again… episode 4 she literally still say he makes it so hard not to love him and when he’s like this she remembers why she do (her correcting herself doesn’t count because het first thought is the correct one)
Now episode 5 could technically be considered a Jelly episode because she did ask him why he didn’t want to kiss her in truth or dare… but are we going to forget her talk with Taylor like minutes before where she admitted that she loved Conrad longer and truer than anyone ever in her life… not a strong Jelly episode
Episode 6 was heavy Bonrad and a case can be made that they would’ve even reconciled if Jeremiah didn’t invite himself to the party store… yes, then his guilt tripping about her swooning over Conrad started but the episode ended with her being one present tense away from sorting things out with Conrad… again not boding very romantically for Jelly
Episode 7 is not really Jelly or Bonrad, we had Bonrad scenes but at this point she already decided to let Conrad go and getting him into Stanford would make it easier which ironically is exactly what happened till they saw each other again after years and things weren’t easy anymore. It ended with Jelly kissing but it’s not really a win for team Jelly if her narrative is basically I’ve dreamed my whole life about being with Conrad, but I guess you will do…
Episode 8, with Jelly is practically the same it’s not a win for Jelly despite them ending up together because her inner voice is literally, this is not how I pictured it… Uhm what basis for a relationship is that? Not only is it based on hurt but also denial.
Season 3
Episode 1 is technically Jelly’s but JH practically gave them nothing because not only did I cop immediately that Belly is not as happy as she tells you but the cracks in their relationship was already showing and it ended up with her finding out about Cabo. I mean IJBOL literally gave them nothing
Episode 2 they’re broken up, yes they ended up engaged but it’s not romantic given all the circumstances and the reasons for the proposal and her saying yes. Episode 2 actually has some of my favourite Bonrad moments in the Christmas flashbacks and them showing how compatible they actually are, even while not dating. She’s not afraid to challenge his views (watching Casablanca) and yet so harmonious…
Episode 3 is technically a Jelly episode till the moment she saw Conrad and her whole world stands still. If this happens, how solid is your engagement really? Then you saw her looking at Conrad and then Jeremiah while taking that picture and you just have to laugh 🤭 also by now you should’ve copped that Jeremiah knows something the way he looked at both taking the picture… and then the car ride to the restaurant where Belly is still thinking about Conrad but then putting on a display to appease and assure Jeremiah 🤭
Episode 4 is Jelly although not and only until it wasn’t… not only were they apart but she was crying all the time, they fought with Laurel and it really showcases their codependency because they used Susannah as an excuse for everything (actually episode 3 telling the family Susannah was used too). Then Conrad made an appearance, and it was showcased first of all the type of person Belly had to become with him in her mocking Stanford and Conrad but later on when they was watching movies and mocked Conrad. I mean, they’re on a date but only thinking about Conrad. Proof that Conrad is right in the middle of that relationship and unlike with Jeremiah, he didn’t put himself there. He would’ve haunted that relationship always. Then she gave up Paris for him and as soon as Jeremiah leaves her fake smile goes away, she ended up crying her heart out and Conrad (once again for the millionth time) being the one who fix things… and their hug…
Episode 5 was already a showcase that Bonrad will find their way back together. The harmony once again, the depth of their conversations. Conrad once again fixing things and not only the house but being there for her when Jeremiah and nobody isn’t (if only she can realise this). Not to mention the sexual tension, so much so that Jeremiah felt so insecure waling in on them that he had to peacock in front of Conrad to even the score. And then it ended showcasing her giving into him once again because of his insecurities… Jelly meanwhile got a freakout about a cake, her crying because of him (which she did ever since episode 1) and concrete proof once again that their relationship was held up by fun and games like having dances and stuff to plaster over the fact that she was losing herself, they resorted to fun instead of having real and honest communication, but somehow Conrad is the bad communicator. They gave Bonrad a hot intimacy scene while Jelly still got nothing.
Episode 6 literally started with her visibly running away from her feelings for Conrad once again, but it also featured a fight and there’s a reason episode 6 is showcased after episode 5 to show the difference between how the 2 guys treat her. Jeremiah couldn’t get away from her soon enough to go and impress his daddy while said daddy already said he will pay for the wedding. Not to mention, the debt stuff. He was literally the cause that she couldn’t get her dream apartment. She called their wedding a storm. She had to run away to her room when she saw Conrad in his own kitchen eating… for reasons we know why… she was in happy tears having her mom at the bridal shower and Conrad did that for her… She mixed up the memories of Rosie which is so telling and she rightfully was scared after Jeremiah confirmed is was Conrad who found Rosie, because what else could she have wrong (uhm, Belly just practically almost everything about both brothers), but the Rosie moment showcased one of the reasons why Belly fell in love with Conrad in the first place… his sentimental side… a side her brother and Jeremiah made fun off but she loved so dearly that she attributed it to Jeremiah because that will make her choice of him understandable… her telling you that she loved Conrad in a way she could not love someone again but pushed it down because she convinced herself it was in the past… and then the episode ended like it did with one of the hottest scenes in the series (Bonrad had all the hottest scenes).
Episode 7 Bonrad got one innocent moment about hurricane vases and it send Jeremiah in a flat spin so much that he had to claim her that afternoon in that scene (which is probably the biggest showcase of the drift that had formed between them), not to mention his crashout towards Conrad in the pub… Meanwhile Bonrad got the candy store scene, shit Belly it’s your wedding day, you deserve to have everything you’ve pictured and then her making a Conrad edit in her head and that after being intimate with her fiancé. We have the beach confession and yes, she did break his heart but that is not a Jelly triumph because if she didn’t love him anymore, she would’ve emphatically told him that she’s so sorry he feels this way but that she’s truly in love with Jeremiah but she couldn’t…
Episode 8, we got the kitchen fight which is one of the buzziest scenes and her realising he has an effect on her and that she will not be able to let him go. The tension between them at the rehearsal dinner. Her subconsciously wanting the wedding to end because why otherwise would she tell Jeremiah about what Conrad said. If it didn’t matter to them like she claims, she could’ve just kept that secret from him as well. And it’s funny that she felt the need to tell him this secret but couldn’t come clean about the secret of Christmas… We had their goodbye scene, the almost airport scene. Jelly got the breakup and no wedding.
Episode 11 was Bonrad obviously.
There’s a reason the 4 year relationship was only flashbacks although I suspect it wasn’t all moonshine and roses either, hence their tendency to cover everything with fun and dances while we know Belly was irritated by a lot of stuff (Belly only called it fine, not great).
Jelly only had about 2/3 episodes in 3 seasons where they were actually together physically. Yes, I know Bonrad technically got even less, but there’s a reason why we have their first time and much more attention to detail and storytelling went into their flashback than anything of Jelly, because their relationship was based of everything superficial. Jeremiah is Belly’s pool, safer but simultaneously high maintenance.
So, yes in season 3 BellyJere may have been together on paper, for 8/11 episodes but it was nothing else than a humiliation ritual imo…
Sorry the post is so long but I just had to get it off my chest because I can never understand the narrative that it’s a Jelly story for 3 seasons and Bonrad only got crumbs. Jelly may have had the length in time dating (not length in time on the show because that’s a myth too) but Bonrad got the intensity and significant, meaningful scenes.
I hope this discussion is allowed, It’s not from the Jelly side of Reddit but a narrative that’s more and more floating around on TikTok under that part of the fandom but I’m not going to post links because idk if it’s allowed. It’s this notion they have that because Susannah painted Jeremiah as Hermes, he represents Hermes and his “joy and radiance” becomes translucent and as a result Belly only loves Conrad when he “wears” Jeremiah. First of all, TSITP is deep but not that deep, secondly is Jenny even into Greek mythology? Thirdly, I have no interest in Greek mythology but I wouldn’t call it a flex if my favourite was compared to Hermes from what I’ve read? It started with one of two of them but it seems there’s a whole bunch now who believe in this theory trying to still explain how Jelly will be endgame. Help me, I just understand.
This made me think about all the people saying this about Belly and Conrad… IYKYK
Sorry but these types of takes are why I’m so mad Jeremiah manipulation and the toxic relationship between BellyJere wasn’t pointed out in the show. Playing SZA Open arms in the background is not enough. There was nothing romantic about that proposal. Firstly he proposed because he could feel he’s losing her and this was a way to stuck her to him forever, secondly she only said yes because she thought her secret of seeing Conrad at Christmas was just as bad as cheating. Not to mention he asked her during a very vulnerable time where the pillars she build her life around was shaken to its core. Nothing about that proposal screams natural organic happiness at all, rather clinging onto something you’re afraid to lose. Further discussions on that thread use Lola defence of the relationship as proof which makes me appreciate Chris’ nuanced take on his character so much. He can defend Conrad but also call him out on his 💩 and in certain regards I feel Lola and Gavin could’ve done the same. It’s not going to kill them admitting their characters made mistakes but instead Lola just defended the proposal saying there was so much love between BellyJere instead of saying maybe at that point Belly was shaken to her core, she found out she still has so much love for Conrad, got afraid of that, got afraid of losing Jeremiah, just like with when she got with Jeremiah in the first place, her emotions was a turmoil. By defending the proposal, some young people will never understand that nothing about it was romantic. Not even the way she looked at him was organic and natural.
Look at the definition of hammy. There’s a reason it is in the show as a clue in a crossword puzzle. Then you realise Belly was hammy with Jeremiah vs happy with Conrad. This is why I give props to Lola for expressing the difference in love she had for the brothers. No wonder Jeremiah and everyone knew she looked at Conrad differently. She and Jeremiah always had to have excessive fun, dance and pda to see even remotely happy while she and Conrad can literally sit and do crosswords and be content
There is so much hate and aggression towards Belly and yes, she was very wrong about a lot of stuff, but so was everyone.
I will just say that in the end Belly was just a teenage girl who wanted to be loved loudly. But she didn’t realise LOUD is not always words.
Nobody loved her more loudly than Conrad, not in words but in actions because nothing screams I love you as hard as what Conrad did for her in s3. Being there for her during wedding planning but ultimately getting her mom because he SAW her, and he KNEW her and that her mother is important to her.
Jeremiah easily told her he loved her and she thought that was what she needed and as someone with an inferiority complex, that was necessary but just as much as only actions is not enough, neither is just words without action. Jeremiah never proofed his words with actions.
Conrad had to learn to tell Belly he loves her but Belly had to learn that maybe actions is speaking louder than words.
I will just add that I think Belly didn’t notice a lot of the things Conrad did for her because he was always that person. She didn’t realise that at a certain age, doing all the things for her, isn’t being the big brother anymore. He always took care for everyone that it never really stood out for her, till she learned he got her her mom and that had shaken her to the core because she remembered his caring nature was one of the reasons she fell in love with him (My young man is kind).