To be honest, I don’t think I ever knew that Life & Beth was getting a second season, let alone that it was going to drop when it did. There needs to be some more advertising of this show, or hyping it up somehow, because it’s likely with how the television landscape is nowadays, there might not be a third season.
Thankfully, the second season of this sneaky-amazing show wraps up in a way that’s both satisfying but completely set up in a way to give us more if they’re allowed to. Given what happens over the course of these ten, half-hour episodes, it’s hard to imagine how much more ground could be covered with a third season, but again, I think a lot was crammed in here for fear of not being able to finish the whole story they wanted to tell. Even though there was a lot of ground covered this season, I never felt that any one particular story line ever felt shorted. That’s even with the many flashbacks! But just like the first season, those flashbacks serve as way of informing everything Beth is going through as a woman in her late 30s.
Since we left her last, Beth has a new job as a home decorator while John continues to thrive with his farm work. The first episode ends with a bang and a marriage proposal, and you better believe they get hitched in NOLA the very next episode! That one was filled with some very fun guest stars and some hideously hilarious make-up. It is also the catalyst for varying storylines involving her friends. Maya feels as though their friendship is one sided and that Beth truly never takes time to understand her, Jess starts a fling with a police officer that culminates in a later episode centering on abortion (one of the best of the season), and Jen hurts her leg which spurs her to opioid addiction.
Someone that manages to turn their life around for the better is Matt. That’s hard to believe, but he finds out fifteen years later that he has a daughter and it’s his willingness to do right by her, even now, that he makes the significant changes he’s needed to make in his life. Beth’s sister Ann, seems to really be struggling this season, but she does come together for Beth when she needs her most. I hope a future season delves us further into her world. Beth’s world is also forever changed this season when she determines that John might have autism spectrum disorder. It certainly rocks John’s world, but with the help of therapy, starts to make sense of his past and present. That journey is not without its struggles for both John and Beth, but their love and commitment to each other is the real deal. Did I also mention they have a baby by the end of the season? Yeah, like I said, a lot to unpack this time around.
The first season of this show was a pleasant surprise, and I was so happy that this second season was just as enjoyable. Even with the multitude of serious topics covered in its ten episodes, it dashes in just enough humor to mimic how real life is. I also appreciate how much of her real life Amy Schumer lends to this show. She’s been pretty honest in the past, but this is another way to channel those conversations. I know she’s love or hate for most people, but this is a show worth checking out – I promise!