Zoey’s Extraordinary Drinking Game (part Deux)
Down a Shot: every time Mo comes up with an eponymous cocktail for his restaurant MaxiMo (a joint collaboration with bestie Max if you hadn’t guessed by that name, by the way). I could do with a Cos-Mo myself (geddit?!)
Down a Shot: each time either Zoey, Max, or Simon air out their respective daddy issues in a musical fashion.
Down a Shot: each time besties Max, Mo and Simon hang out with each other and/or host game viewing parties that turn into self care and in-house group therapy sessions.
By: Vidal D’costa (Two Beers) –
Zoey and her gift of hearing ‘heart songs’ (refer to my review of season 1 for more deets) are back! However she faces setbacks and repercussions galore, thus opting for a more rational approach and enlisting the help of a therapist who can guide her in striking a fine balance between using said powers to aid others with their innermost desires while also maintaining her own sanity and thus indulge in some much needed self care too.
A Toast
Apart from timely topics such as grief and post partum trauma, season 2 also acts as a platform for secondary characters such as Simon and Toben, who were otherwise shortchanged or sidelined in season 1, to voice their socio-cultural struggles, thus amplifying the need to address racial issues and inclusivity in a contemporary, mature fashion while also not entirely rebranding the show itself.
Season 2 also benefits from exploring subjects such as the hurdles of parenting in all its forms- be it Zoey’s brother David and his wife Emily struggling with a newborn or Mo confronting his fears of stepping into the shoes of a step-parent.
Yet another highlight this season is the development of Max as a multi-faceted character who is equally flawed as his peers yet also capable of navigating his own emotional baggage. This is especially refreshing since much of his characterisation in season 1 heavily focused on his overly endearing facets that occasionally served to render him superficial, so showcasing him as an individual who can also have cracks in his armour also allows for more potential for emotional growth, conflict, and development around this character.
While the love triangle that overstayed its welcome in the first season still rears its head in the second season, it doesn’t take up too much screentime this time around and in fact also felt a lot more organic as a tool for creating conflicting character dynamics towards the finale instead. The flashbacks, too, are utilised effectively, especially in conveying the strong attachment between Zoey and her father and its connection to the current/future trajectory of her relationship with Max. Some of the callbacks to season 1 also prove to be legit tearjerkers, particularly if you’ve been paying close attention to the characters and their heart songs since the very beginning.
As usual, the song and dance sequences are memorable and I not only came away with a few new song recs this season but some song choices such as ‘Pure Imagination’, ‘Carry On’, ‘Sing a song’ and ‘I melt with you’ even sparked major nostalgia for me! (Although as fun as it is seeing Noah Weisberg get down with his big solo number, let’s just never overlay Dubstep with a beloved classic like ‘Pure Imagination’ ever again, for the love of all that’s holy!). Speaking of solo numbers, it was finally lovely to listen to Zoey belt out her own robust heart songs as she grows as a character.
The production value of the show itself has grown leaps and bounds with the manner in which the musical numbers are staged and I was impressed by the intricate cinematography in numbers such as Alice Lee’s heartbreaking rendition of ‘Gasoline’ wherein audiences are offered a birdseye view of Zoey dutifully assisting her exhausted and distressed sister-in-law Emily in coping with her post-partum trauma (stan a show that showcases a rare but much appreciated ‘women supporting women’ narrative!).
The addition of comic relief characters such as Aiden (played by Felix Mallard), Zoey’s free-spirited next door neighbour whose key qualities include getting baked and playing in a garage band, and Noah Weisberg as a sketchy and kooky CEO named Danny Michael Davis who is definitely the love child of Jeff Goldblum and Jeff Bezos (and/or Mark Zuckerberg) result in the show’s humorous moments only growing tenfold, and scenes such as Zoey opting for a brief break from work-related stress by lip syncing to ‘Starships’ by Nicki Minaj in a quaint suburban neighborhood with both Aiden and Davis acting as her backup dancers whilst also… ahem, ‘chasing the dragon’ certainly succeeded in cracking me up!
The talented Jane Levy is provided with a vast variety of opportunities to let her hair down this season and my personal favourite moments include the actor channeling her spunky camaraderie and lively charisma in the cute, childlike, and foot-tapping renditions of ‘I Lived’ that also feature Peter Gallagher briefly reprising his role as Zoey’s dad. Furthermore, I was unprepared for the amount of anguish that Skylar Astin brought to solo performances of both ‘Numb’ and Billy Joel’s ‘New York State of Mind’. Astin’s ability to let loose during energetic and peppy numbers such as ‘Let’s Get Loud’ during the restaurant opening scene while also drifting into more sullen and tragic covers of ‘Say Something’ certainly deserve more praise. The chemistry between Astin and Levy still captivates and could legit turn anyone into a hopeless romantic!
Veterans Mary Steenburgen and Bernadette Peters reprise their roles as Zoey’s mum and her ever-supportive bestie Deb respectively and deliver formidable performances, despite limited screen time. Alice Lee and Alex Newell as Emily and Mo, too, are nothing short of tremendously talented performers and left me spellbound with their solo covers of ‘Gasoline’ and ‘I Look to You’ respectively.
Beer Two
While Season 2 does have its fair share of ‘curveball moments’ such as an unpredictable episode wherein Zoey’s powers undergo a glitch or a scene wherein Max hilariously bursts into unprovoked mashups mid-foreplay, when it comes to resolving the multiple layered conundrums, the writers seem to have bitten off more than they could chew and often tend to play it safe or stick to inconsistent, cliched solutions that are at best far too convenient. As a result, some endings felt rushed and could have been a lot more impactful.
Newer entrants to the show such as Harvey Guillen (of What We Do in the Shadows fame) in the role of Max’s ‘replacement’ George and Katie Findlay as Max’s childhood sweetheart Rose are also unfortunately limited in their one-dimensional, throwaway roles and their subplots feel like filler. Both characters could have benefited from more screentime and it certainly wouldn’t have hurt to incorporate them both in the series in the long run, either.
Verdict
Season 2 acts as a charming and wholesome successor to its first season (despite a few flaws) while greatly expanding upon the playlist, too. So don’t miss out if you’ve been a fan of this show, its concept, its musical numbers, and its characters ever since its inception!
