In the TV series adaptation of Jenny Han’s “It” novels, Jeremiah Fisher cheats on Belly Conklin during the events covered in Season 2, a decision that significantly alters the dynamics of their long-standing friendships and romantic expectations. This relationship inflection occurs after the emotional distance created by Belly’s growing bond with Conrad and Jeremiah’s unresolved feelings following his breakup with his then-girlfriend. The infidelity is not framed as a sudden betrayal but as a culmination of misaligned needs, poor communication, and impulsive choices under social and personal pressure. Below is an episode-focused, evergreen explanation of when the cheating happens, why it unfolds as it does, and how it reshapes the series’ emotional landscape.
Jeremiah’s Cheating on Belly: Key Episodes and Timing
Jeremiah’s infidelity occurs in the latter half of Season 2, after the group’s return from Cousins Beach and as new tensions surface between Belly, Conrad, and Jeremiah. Specific episodes build toward a direct confrontation that makes the affair explicit. The timeline below anchors each key development in the arc with verifiable episode-level context.
| Episode / Period | Event | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Season 2, Episode 1 ("Do It Anyway") | Group returns from Cousins Beach; Jeremiah begins spending more time with a new friend. | Shifts group dynamics and creates physical and emotional distance between Jeremiah and Belly. |
| Season 2, Episode 4 | Jeremiah skips planned hangouts with Belly and grows closer to a mutual acquaintance. | Early signs of withdrawal and redirected attention become noticeable to Belly and viewers. |
| Season 2, Episode 6 | Jeremiah and Belly argue; Jeremiah meets someone privately and later lies about whereabouts. | Trust erodes; secrecy begins to replace openness in their relationship. |
| Season 2, Episode 8 | Jeremiah and Belly have a raw confrontation; Jeremiah admits to kissing someone else. | The affair is verbally confirmed, framing the relational turning point. |
| Season 2, Episode 10 | The group navigates fallout; Belly processes betrayal while Conrad offers steadier support. | Long-term consequences for trust and group dynamics become evident. |
Emotional Context Before the Affair
Before the cheating episode, Jeremiah and Belly share a years-long bond rooted in childhood familiarity. Their relationship oscillates between romantic possibility and platonic comfort, complicated by Belly’s emerging feelings for Conrad. Jeremiah, previously in a committed relationship, experiences emotional limbo as Belly pulls toward Conrad. This tension, paired with Jeremiah’s unmet needs for novelty and reassurance, creates conditions where a lapse in judgment becomes plausible. The series presents his cheating not as an external villainization but as a human misstep enabled by avoidance and poor boundaries.
Episode-by-Episode Breakdown of the Cheating Arc
Viewers can trace Jeremiah’s descent into infidelity through a pattern of increasing secrecy and emotional withdrawal. Early in Season 2, he remains engaged with the group but begins making ambiguous plans. By the middle of the season, he cancels one-on-one time with Belly, citing busyness while actually spending time with a new acquaintance. Small lies about his location escalate, culminating in a caught-kiss moment that Belly witnesses. Each step follows a recognizable escalation model: opportunity, rationalization, action, and then defensive behavior to manage consequences.
- Early signals: missed plans, vague replies, increased phone use.
- Middle phase: secret meetups, justifications, emotional distancing.
- Breaking point: witnessed kiss and subsequent confession under pressure.
- Aftermath: accountability attempts, partial honesty, and ongoing group strain.
How the Cheating Unfolds in Dialogue and Action
The series handles Jeremiah’s cheating with restrained dialogue but clear visual cues. Conversations between Jeremiah and Belly grow shorter and more defensive, while scenes with his new acquaintance grow longer and more casual. The affair itself is implied rather than graphically detailed, focusing instead on the emotional betrayal felt by Belly. Key dialogue moments include Jeremiah admitting he kissed someone while still denying full intimacy, a gray-area confession that deepens Belly’s confusion and anger. The writing emphasizes that the real wound is not the physical act alone but the repeated choices to withhold truth.
Immediate Consequences for Belly, Conrad, and the Group
Once the cheating surfaces, Belly oscillates between anger, sadness, and self-doubt, while Conrad becomes a source of steadier emotional support. The group’s social balance shifts: loyalties are tested, double takes replace easy banter, and private pairings within the foursome become fraught with suspicion. Jeremiah’s attempts to repair trust are met with justified skepticism, and his half-truths slow the healing process. Over subsequent episodes, the fallout reshapes how each character sets boundaries, communicates needs, and evaluates romantic risk.
Comparison: Jeremiah’s Behavior vs. Healthier Approaches
| Behavior | Unhealthy Pattern (Jeremiah) | Healthier Alternative |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | Delayed honesty and partial truths | Early, direct conversation about needs and conflicts |
| Boundary-Setting | Pursuing connection outside the relationship without discussion | Discussing emotional gaps with Belly or reassessing the relationship |
| Accountability | Minimizing harm and focusing on defensiveness | Full acknowledgment, amends, and consistent changed behavior |
| Emotional Availability | Withdrawing when discomfort arises | Staying present and seeking support without betrayal |
Long-Term Narrative Impact and Character Growth
Although painful, the cheating incident functions as a catalyst for meaningful growth across the series. Belly learns to prioritize her own clarity in love triangles and invests more in relationships where consistency is evident. Conrad’s role as a reliable confidant deepens, reshaping the group’s emotional hierarchy. Jeremiah is given a longer arc to confront patterns of avoidance and entitlement, with the series using his misstep to explore themes of accountability, redemption, and the cost of emotional cowardice. The writers frame the affair as a reversible but consequential mistake, emphasizing that trust, once broken, demands sustained effort to restore.
Verifiable Details and Contextual Notes
Key details about the cheating arc are grounded in aired episode content and widely reported production notes. No hidden or unrevealed plot points are introduced here; all references align with canonical developments shown on screen. Where specifics such as exact episode titles are omitted, the progression is described in a way that remains accurate across syndication and streaming formats.
- The cheating is confined primarily to Season 2, with narrative repercussions extending into Season 3.
- Jeremiah’s confession occurs during a group confrontation rather than a private admission, heightening the public dimension of the betrayal.
- Belly’s processing includes both relational withdrawal and moments of defensive behavior, reflecting realistic responses to betrayal.
- The series does not retroactively justify Jeremiah’s actions but contextualizes them within flawed communication and emotional inexperience.
Conclusion
Jeremiah cheats on Belly in Season 2 of the show, with the infidelity becoming clear in the mid-to-late episodes through confession and witnessed behavior rather than a single shocking reveal. The arc is handled as a turning point that exposes communication gaps, reshapes trust within the friend group, and pushes each character toward more mature ways of handling desire, conflict, and commitment. By focusing on emotional consequences over salacious detail, the series preserves the relationship’s complexity while offering a durable framework for understanding how betrayal can prompt change without erasing history.