**Palm Royale Season 2: Stream It or Skip It?**
Apple TV+’s star-studded series *Palm Royale* wrapped its first season with a wild episode that ended on a cliffhanger but left many questions unanswered. Now, the show returns with much of the same cast and continues to showcase its bright, sunny Palm Beach setting more than fifty years ago. But does Season 2 offer a clearer understanding of its characters?
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### Opening Shot
“It was the beginning of the new season. Like a rising sun, the dawn of a new season brings a fresh start to all,” narrates Maxine Simmons-Dellacorte (Kristen Wiig) as she steps out of a limo in front of the Palm Royale country club.
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### The Gist
The episode opens with an idealized reenactment of Maxine’s performance at the Beach Ball, which ends disastrously when Robert (Ricky Martin) is shot by Mary Jones Davidsoul (Julia Duffy), and Linda Shaw (Laura Dern) takes the fall. However, this turns out to be a hallucination — Maxine is actually lying on a gurney in a sanitarium, forcibly committed by her husband, Douglas (Josh Lucas).
The narration then shifts to Norma Dellacorte (Carol Burnett), who is fully functioning and scheming to oust Maxine from the family once and for all. Norma is determined to ensure Robert recovers from his gunshot wound, especially since he seems to know her true identity. She also harbors resentment toward Evelyn Rollins (Allison Janney), who helped plan the Beach Ball with Maxine.
Maxine is held on a 5150 psychiatric hold and the medication she is receiving makes her imagine she’s sipping martinis — not grasshoppers — poolside at the Palm Royale. Meanwhile, Linda is confined to a padded room at the same facility, thanks to Virginia (Amber Chardae Robinson), who is trying to keep her out of jail.
Norma encourages Douglas to annul his marriage to Maine and marry Mitzi (Kaia Gerber), who is pregnant with his child. This marriage is critical to unlocking a massive trust fund, but only if the child is born within wedlock.
Elsewhere, Dinah Donohue (Leslie Bibb) is engaged to a much older, extremely wealthy fiancé who has already made her the beneficiary of insurance policies and other assets, securing her financially once he passes. Norma is involved in this situation as well and wants to ensure Dinah maintains her privileged status.
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### What Shows Will It Remind You Of?
*Palm Royale* strongly feels like a scripted, period version of reality series such as *The Real Housewives*. The show’s vibe also echoes *Feud: Capote Vs. The Swans*, mixing camp with high-society drama.
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### Our Take
After the convoluted Season 1 finale, we hoped Season 2 would bring clarity. Instead, after the first episode, we’re more confused than ever. The central theme—Norma versus the rest of her social circle—is clear enough, but the surrounding storylines add so much noise that it becomes difficult to follow.
Going against Norma is dangerous for one’s societal standing, but she dislikes the “old broad” so intensely that she might even reconsider her alliances, possibly siding with Maxine just out of spite. Unfortunately, the dialogue tackling this internal conflict is so dense and wordy that the core message gets lost.
This heavy, verbose style permeates the entire first episode. That said, Kristen Wiig’s performance as Maxine remains compelling, as do the portrayals by Allison Janney, Julia Duffy, and others. However, *Palm Royale* is so enamored with its late-1960s/early-1970s kitsch aesthetic, numerous characters, and intricate plotlines, that the strong performances often get buried beneath a blizzard of words.
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### Performance Worth Watching
Carol Burnett is, of course, a legend, but it’s remarkable how much verve and energy she brings to the role of Norma at age 92. We’re seeing far more of a fully engaged Norma this season.
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### Sex and Skin
There is none in the first episode.
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### Parting Shot
After her psych hold ends, Maxine expects Douglas to pick her up. Instead, hours after she’s supposed to be released, Evelyn arrives to get her. Looks like Maxine’s new alliance is clear.
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### Sleeper Star
Julia Duffy stands out, as does another ’80s sitcom alum in the cast: Mindy Cohn as Ann Holiday. We’re always eager to see more of both.
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### Most Pilot-y Line
“Don’t you huff and puff! It’s my turn to huff and puff!” Maxine declares to Douglas after realizing he committed her to the sanitarium.
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### Our Call: SKIP IT
We keep trying to exercise patience with *Palm Royale*, but the show remains overly fixated on its visuals, needle-drop soundtrack, and excessive dialogue. Its characters continue to feel like ciphers, making it tough to care about their fates.
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### How to Watch *Palm Royale*
Apple TV+ offers a seven-day free trial for new subscribers and has one ad-free streaming plan available for $13.99/month.
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*Will you be tuning in for more society drama at the Palm Royale, or is this a pass?*
https://decider.com/2025/11/12/palm-royale-season-2-apple-tv-review/