How did Cruel Summer season 1 end? (Explained)

Cruel Summer season 2 is currently a good success on Freeform. It’s notable for having a completely different cast and storyline from Season 1. So as newbie fans watch this year, they may be confused as to how Season 1 ended, so here’s a quick explanation.

Caution: This article contains SPOILERS for Cruel Summer Season 1

Season 1 of Cruel Summer set the tone as each episode bounces across three different years, each one setting up and advancing the plotline. The mingling of the timelines shines more light on the storyline and makes it intriguing to see what changes.

It begins in a small Texas town in 1993 as popular high schooler Kate Walis (Olivia Holt) suddenly goes missing. Among those affected is nerdy classmate Jeanette Turner (Chiara Aurelia), who has a crush on Kate’s boyfriend, Jamie (Froy Guiterrez).

In 1994, Jeanette is now the most popular girl in school, leaving her old friends behind to hang with Kate’s clique and dating Jamie. At this point, Kate is found, having been kidnapped by school vice-principal Martin Harris (Blake Lee) and accusing Jeanette of knowing all along where she was and never telling anyone.

In 1995, a now outcast Jeanette is facing criminal charges with Kate becoming a national story and Jeanette sues her for libel. As the legal case builds, more secrets are revealed that show there was more to Kate’s abduction than there seemed.

The ten episodes built on the mysteries, showing the clashes between the two girls before the finale finally revealed the truth.

What really happened to Kate in Cruel Summer Season 1?

It turned out Kate and Martin had been in a relationship Kate was convinced was love. She changed her mind when Martin held her hostage. She was thus trying to hide how she had just walked right into her own captivity.

In a face-to-face talk, Jeannette and Kate realized the girl Kate assumed was Jeanette seeing her held captive in the house was really their mutual friend Mallory (Harley Quinn Smith). Jeanette dropped the lawsuit and Kate told the press that Jeanette was innocent as both teens decided to move on with their lives. That included Kate and Mallory sharing a kiss.

But in the final scene, a flashback to 1993 showed Jeanette breaking into Martin’s house and hearing Kate’s cries for help. Jeanette’s only response was to smile as she realized this was her chance to take over Kate’s spot as the top girl in town.

In other words, Kate was right all along about Jeannette leaving her with Martin and stealing her life. That Jeanette gets off scot-free for her actions is amazing and brings the series to a unique conclusion.

With season 2 using a new cast and storylines, it’s unlikely we find out what happened to Jeanette and Kate but it shows Cruel Summer loves to throw in some wild twists.

Cruel Summer Season 1 streaming on Hulu. Season 2 airs Mondays on Freeform and streaming on Hulu.