‘Life & Beth’ Season 2 Review: The Girls Are Not Okay

It’s no news that Amy Schumer knows her way around the dark comedy scene. 

The first season of the comedian’s semi-autobiographical series Life & Beth introduced viewers to Beth (Schumer) in the wake of her mother’s sudden death and found her exploring a “will-they-won’t-they” relationship with John (Michael Cera), a quiet farmer and chef whom she met at a vineyard after returning home to Long Island. 

The show returns for an explosive second season – set to premiere Feb. 16, 2024 on Hulu – that hits the accelerator on the couple’s once-budding relationship and takes a deep dive into the large ensemble cast. 

The stellar Season 2 opens with Beth and John in the immediate aftermath of deciding to pursue a romantic relationship despite their different worlds with Beth being a Manhattan salesperson and jack-of-all-trades, and John living a more peaceful life on the outskirts of the busy city. 

In the blink of an eye, the two get engaged and embark on a few firsts in their relationship.

As the season plays on, they work on their varying insecurities and poor communication styles, while unpacking some deeper rooted issues like Beth’s hesitancy to trust men, which, like the first season, boils down to her past wounds that are exposed through artful flashbacks.

The season takes a keen interest in John and his background, showing his loving relationship with his mother — whom he lost at a young age — as well as his stilted interactions with his father, who was short-tempered and dismissive of his soft personality. The thoughtful meditation on toxic masculinity compliments the show’s continual interest in unpacking the long term effects of childhood trauma, and how it lingers through adulthood and crops up during stressful moments – which is a key part of the second half of the season.

Season 2 also introduces a storyline revolving around John being diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder as an adult and navigating what that means for him and his relationships.

Amid the maturation of Beth and John’s relationship, each member of Beth’s rocky friend group gets an individual and captivating storyline, tackling situations of drug addiction, infidelity, and a secret child. In moments, the season feels reminiscent of the best parts of Lena Dunham’s seminal comedy drama series Girls as the friendship group flows through dramatic fallouts, situations of distrust, and “no-boys-allowed” antics. Like the aforementioned series, there are moments that’ll leave the viewers wondering, “Why are these people friends when they clearly hate each other?” and others that’ll encapsulate the joys of female friendship.

The girls are not okay, but at least they have each other. 

Speaking of friendships, Beth’s enigmatic younger sister Ann (Susannah Flood) struggles to keep up with Beth’s changing life and adventures, causing tension to rise between the two. Flood steals the scene as she crafts a multi-layered character out of Ann and makes it clear that there’s something happening far beyond the surface – even if Beth can’t see it.

Despite the season’s oftentimes heavy material, the show is still packed with laugh-out-loud jokes and quirky adventures, and continues Schumer’s trend of pulling together a starry cast, welcoming guest appearances by David Byrne, Jennifer Coolidge, Beanie Feldstein, and Jemima Kirke.

Over a short period of time, Schumer – who also writes, directs, and executive produces the series – has proven that there’s much more to learn about Beth, John, and their chaotic circle, and there’s a need for a few more seasons. Raw and impactful, the new season will keep viewers on their toes in more ways than one.

Life and Beth premieres Feb. 16, 2024 on Hulu.