Cruel Summer

Season 1

TV-14

94%81%

Taking place over three summers - 1993, 1994, 1995 - in a small Texas town, a beautiful popular teen, Kate, is abducted and, seemingly unrelated, a girl, Jeanette, goes from being a sweet, awkward outlier to the most popular girl in town and, by ’95, the most despised person in America.

Where to Watch Season 1

10 Episodes

Happy Birthday, Jeanette Turner
E1
Happy Birthday, Jeanette TurnerTaking place over 3 summers in the 90s when a popular teen goes missing, and a seemingly unrelated girl transforms from a sweet and awkward outlier to the most popular girl in town, eventually becoming the most despised person in America.
A Smashing Good Time
E2
A Smashing Good TimeIt’s time for the annual Skylin Garden Club Party! Year after year after year, the residents of Skylin struggle with the truth around what happened to Kate, keeping their secrets buried and maintaining appearances.
Off with a Bang
E3
Off with a BangVictim or villain? Jeanette continues to add fuel to the fire as her reckless behavior causes her friends and family to question her even more.
You Don't Hunt, You Don't Eat
E4
You Don't Hunt, You Don't EatKate, reeling from the lawsuit, prepares her defense and finds friendship in an unlikely source. The annual Wallis hunting trip becomes the setting for an important first meeting.
As the Carny Gods Intended
E5
As the Carny Gods IntendedJeannette and Kate cross paths at the Skylin High takeover of the County Fair, where one is desperate to prove herself and the other to lose herself.
An Ocean in Me
E6
An Ocean in MeA new deposition threatens Jeanette’s case. A discovery causes Cindy’s suspicions about her own daughter to reach new heights as her relationship with Greg becomes further strained.
Happy Birthday, Kate Wallis
E7
Happy Birthday, Kate WallisKate struggles with a family secret she’s been holding on to. Joy tries to convince Kate to go on “The Marsha Bailey Show.” Mallory has a birthday surprise.
Proof
E8
ProofOn the first day of school, everyone learns that the drama of the summer is anything but over and that some people will pay more for the consequences of Jeanette and Kate's deception than others.
A Secret of My Own
E9
A Secret of My OwnKate's closely held secrets and fragmented memories of her time in Martin's captivity are brought to the surface.
Hostile Witness
E10
Hostile WitnessKate and Jeanette's worlds collide as the court date arrives, finally forcing the two young women to answer the question on everyone's mind, but the answer comes with a price that not everyone can pay.