Cruel Summer: Timeline Breakdown of Season 1

1993

Image Source: Freeform

It's 1993 and Jeanette's birthday, a milestone she and her friends celebrate by coming up with daring activities for her to do — like sneak into new assistant principal Martin Harris's home. She first runs into Kate Wallis at the mall while she's out shopping with her friends Mallory and Vince. Kate barely notices her but Jeanette can't stop noticing how affectionate she and her boyfriend Jamie are, nearly forgetting about the "You Go Girl" choker her friends gift her.
Despite being a popular teen in town, Kate has a hard life and we first see it with her helicopter-mom Joy, who pressures her to live up to the family legacy. Kate suspects her stepdad is having an affair only to realise it's her mother.
The family drama comes to a head during a family hunting trip, pushing Kate to turn to Martin Harris, who her parents had invited. He acts as her only solace at a time where she struggles to connect with those around her. We know he is also the man who kidnaps her and holds her hostage in his home.

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Image Source: Freeform

Kate has been missing for a year, and Jeanette has slowly stepped into her shoes, celebrating her birthday as the new "it" girl who is also dating with Kate's former boyfriend, Jamie. She's alienated her friends at this point, including her best friend Mallory.
When news breaks that Kate is alive and Martin has been gunned down by the police, Jeanette's world flips on its head. Jamie punches her in the face, accusing her of doing something to Kate and promptly reconnects with his old flame.
A traumatized Kate is struggling in therapy and refusing to talk to anyone about the events. It is during this time she befriends Jeannette's ex-friend Mallory at the therapist's office, and Mallory helps her come to terms with her trauma.
Kate discovers Jamie's still in touch with Jeannette, and in a fit of rage, shows the police Jeanette's "You Go Girl" choker and accuses her of knowing about Kate's kidnapping.

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Image Source: Freeform

We watch Jeannette a year older on her birthday discussing Kate's accusations with her family and lawyers, and vehemently denying them. By this point, the case has received national attention and Jeannette has become despised around the country, unable to show her face anywhere without being ostracized. Jeannette's lawyer suggests that she attempt to be more likable to get people on her side, a suggestion Jeannette balks at.
Despite garnering public sympathy, Kate has become withdrawn and rebellious and when he finds out Jeannette is suing her for defamation, she has a breakdown. During the annual hunting trip, Kate reminds her family that they're responsible for leading her into the lion's den, so to speak.
It's still difficult to know who is telling the truth. Kate privately reveals in an online chat — to her stepsister, unbeknownst to Kate — that she hasn't been honest about something. Jeannette confides in one of her old friends that she broke into Martin's house many times.
One of the big twists comes when Kate's listens to her 1994 therapy sessions, to piece together her memory. Kate hears herself telling her therapist that she met a girl named Annabelle the day she was rescued. But whether that is true or something her mind came up to deal with the trauma remains to be seen.

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