After months of hype and speculation, Cruel Summer has premiered with a fantastic following. The story follows two teenage girls, Jeanette Turner and Kate Wallis, whose lives have been upturned by a abduction, betrayal, and a mystery that links the girls in a horrid way. Viewers watch the summers of the two girls, set in the 1990s, and how drastically their lives are changed through the years before and after the abduction.
Cruel Summer successfully ties in '90s nostalgia and the unraveling of a mystery, and viewers are completely captivated each week in the attempt to figure out who is lying and who is telling the truth. Not only does the show have a fantastic storytelling ability, but it also has a cast that is outstanding. The characters in the show are each well written and have a slight mystery that leaves fans wondering about their true intentions on the show. While many of the characters' true secrets have not yet been revealed, it is still easy to see which characters are the best on the show.
Jamie Henson
When fans first meet Jamie, he immediately fills the box of the typical '90s teen heartthrob who fans are familiar with: fun-loving, loud, and a popular member of the small town. He is shown as the over-the-top boyfriend who is completely smitten with Kate Wallis. After Kate's disappearance, Jamie soon becomes entangled with Jeanette and further solidifies the sweet boyfriend façade surrounding Jamie.
However, Jamie Henson does lose major points, however, when he attacks Jeanette after Kate is finally found and Kate admits Jeanette saw her in captivity. Jamie also stalks Jeanette, clearly still fuming from some unexpressed resentment. Jamie also loses some popularity points because he easily cheats on Kate once she is found with Jeanette and proceeds to lie to Kate about it, ultimately questioning her judgment due to the trauma she experienced over the year she was missing. Jamie definitely moves well past typical teen heartthrob, and into a character that still has a lot of secrets yet to be revealed.
Cindy Turner
Cindy Turner is Jeanette's mother who loves her children very much and only wants the best them. For Jeanette, that means for her to be more outgoing and more popular among her peers. While Cindy's intentions might seem a little misguided at times, she does try to be open and honest with her children.
Jeanette Tuner's mom is a sweet woman, but she does end up being nowhere in sight once the storyline for 1995 is shown. Viewers watch as Cindy's faith in her daughter is tested as the town's gossip becomes harder to ignore. Ultimately, Greg's mistrust of his wife's beliefs and Jeanette's ability to easily lie to her mother makes Cindy realize that her place is no longer centered in this town. While her absence makes her a little less likable, Cindy's character is still well-written and still has a lot of layers yet to be revealed.
Ben Hallowell
Ben Hallowell has only solidified himself as a side character so far. He is best friends with Jamie Henson and he has tried to be a voice of reason for Jamie as he navigated the return of Kate and his rage towards Jeanette. Ben also is in a secret relationship with Vince, which fans have questions about.
While Ben has only been introduced to fans in brief moments, those moments shape the kind of character that Ben really is. He is a loyal friend that wants to see everyone getting along and being happy. He also seems to genuinely care about Vince and it will be interesting to see how their relationship continues.
Derek Turner
The first time Derek Turner makes his appearance on the show, fans are ready for the typical jerk older brother character to begin. However, Derek turns out to be extremely supportive and sweet, especially when it comes to Jeanette. Derek steps away from the overplayed trope of bratty sibling and moves into a character that is more mature than a stereotypical teenager.
Derek supports his family and stands beside his sister as the allegations and rumors spread. Derek also fully believes Jeanette and follows her as she attempts to make things right with Kate and Jamie. Derek cements himself as a fantastic character with his willingness to stay true to his family despite the town's growing hatred and in the way he tries to keep the family together despite the separation over the years.
Greg Turner
Jeanette's father has slowly become more prominent as the episodes pass. He is a family man and he is the more sympathetic of Jeanette's parents. It is clear from the first episode Jeanette and her father have a close bond and that she tends to trust her father more than her mother. Greg also stands by his family and his daughter to the point where he is the last family member who has stayed by her side as the show moves through the different years.
While Greg is definitely a family man, he also moves into a relationship quickly after his wife leaves with a bartender named Angela. Greg also does not hold back his disappointment in Jeanette and his heartbreak over his broken family. Whether or not Greg is fully active and supportive of Jeanette through the trial or if he is still processing the loss of his old life is still to be seen, but it is clear that his character is still well-written and well developed.
Mallory Higgins
Mallory Higgins is one of the most outspoken characters on the show and she takes pride in being completely herself. She is a former friend of Jeanette's and a current best friend to Kate. She feels jaded by the separation of her and Jeanette's friendship and continuously hints that something tore them apart. She also is vocal about her feeling replaced by Jeanette's new friends and new boyfriend after Kate's disappearance.
Mallory may be outspoken, but she still has not fully revealed all of herself yet. A fan theory even suggests that Mallory may be part of Kate's abduction. While that has yet to be determined, it is certain that Mallory has a lot more to show viewers and that she is still a valuable character to the show.
Angela Prescott
Angela is another character who has yet to make a big splash. Viewers don't know much about her except that she is Greg Turner's girlfriend in the future years. While there is still more to be revealed about Angela, she has shown that she supports Jeanette and she has tried to help Jeanette move out of her funk.
Angela may be Greg's new girlfriend, but she has truly shown herself to be a character who likes to take in the whole situation before making up her mind. Her ability to stand beside Greg and Jeanette through the town gossip and trial drama shows her character's resilience and her love that she has for the Turner family.
Jeanette Turner
Jeanette Turner is one of the main characters of the show, and fans are still deciding whether or not she is an admirable character or a villain. It is clear to see in the early years the show depicts, Jeanette is every teen who is still finding her confidence and voice in her world. She longs to be a popular girl, desperately wants to be the girlfriend of an attractive boy, and is overly concerned with her overall appearance and status.
As fans watch her change over the years, Jeanette moves from her geeky stage into a stage where she basically takes over Kate Wallis' life. She has all of Kate's friends and even secured a relationship with Jamie Henson, Kate's boyfriend. After Kate is found, however, viewers watch as Jeanette transforms again into an unlikable outcast.
While fans are still wary of just exactly who Jeanette is and whether or not she truly had a hand in Kate's prolonged captivity, Jeanette also has many qualities that are admirable. Jeanette may have dropped her old friends and changed into an unrecognizable person. It's difficult not to feel sorry for Jeanette, especially since the truth has yet to be revealed, which is another reason why Jeanette's character can still be considered one of the best.
Kate Wallis
Kate Wallis is the other main character who the show centers around. Kate is soft-spoken and sweet when viewers first meet her, but Kate soon shows she is slightly insecure and trying to gain confidence in herself. After she is returned from captivity, she has a difficult time adjusting and fitting in with her former group of friends. Kate finds solace in an online chat group for other survivors and in an unlikely friendship with Mallory Higgins.
There is still a lot of layers to Kate that have yet to be unfolded, but Kate's character is easy to like and feel sympathy for. She went through a traumatic event and she is still trying to find herself again. Kate also believes that she had her life stolen by Jeanette, someone she believes saw her while she was abducted. Kate even dealt with dishonesty in her family life well before her abduction, which she is now facing head-on. While fans still have a lot to uncover when it comes to Kate, she is still a great character with a lot of secrets left to be uncovered.
Vince Fuller
Vince Fuller is a former friend of Jeanette's and he is by far the most loyal character on the show. Vince seems to be the voice of reason for Jeanette and has also stayed by her side despite the fallout of their friendship. Vince also tries to stay loyal to Mallory and tries to reason with her that the friendship between him, Mallory, and Jeanette ended because everyone went their separate ways.
Vince has proven to be one of the more mature characters on the show. He has also shown that he is one of the more honest characters on the show, despite his secret romance with Ben Hallowell. While there is sure to be more uncovered, viewers and fans can agree that Vince's character is one of the best.