Heartbreak High season two was much anticipated by fans after the whirlwind that was season one. Season one quickly made it to Netflix’s top ten after its release, leaving viewers craving more. Season two had a lot to live up to. While the first season had overwhelmingly positive reviews, this season has sparked some mixed reviews. So how does it hold up?
I love the show for the same reasons many others do: its gritty and unapologetic nature, its realistic portrayals of relationships, and its balance of seriousness with humor. Although I agree that season two fell a bit short of the first season, I do still think the show manages to hold its title as one of the best teen dramas on Netflix and beyond. What it lacks in some aspects, it makes up for in heart. Despite its faults, the show feels as genuine as ever.
What Worked
One thing I loved about this season was the diversity of storylines — and the fact that I was interested in all of them. Usually, when I watch a show with a large cast of characters and multiple storylines, there are inevitably some that I wish I could skip through. But this season, I genuinely enjoyed watching each character’s journey. Even characters that I never really felt an interest in during the first season, I found myself wanting to know more about.
Making the Unlikeable Likeable
One of those characters was Spider. Spider was anything but likable in the first season. His storyline in season two, though, gave him much more depth. I loved the relationship that developed between him and Missy, and how it pushed him to reconsider his values. This is how you do character development. It wasn’t until the final episode that he took a full turn for the better. He struggled throughout the season with his own embedded ideals, those being pushed on him by his peers and mentors, and whether he wanted to change for Missy or himself. He made a lot of mistakes and I’m sure he will continue to do so, but that’s the reality of a character like Spider.
Tangentially related to Spider’s story was how this season dealt with the conversation about toxic masculinity. The show did a good job of taking a balanced perspective on the topic. It dealt with the repercussions of feeding into young boy’s fears and weaponizing them. It showed the negative impacts on the girls and also the boys. Spider’s mom is a prime example. Her intense hatred for men, presumably having to do with Spider’s absent father, influences how she treats her son. She already has no expectations for Spider to be a good person and this becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy for Spider.
Oldies but Goodies
And who can forget the characters that viewers already loved since season one? My favorite storylines from those characters were Quinni’s and Ca$h’s. Quinni took a really harsh turn after Darren confronted her about people having to adjust to her needs. She may have started acting out to an extreme, but it ultimately led her to understand that she doesn’t always need to mask and hide herself from others. She embraced her needs as an autistic person, and by the end managed to mend her friendships as well.
Ca$h fought for himself this season also. The confrontation between him and Chook on the lake was a pivotal moment for his character. Not only did he defend his relationship with Darren from Chook’s taunts, but he also made it clear that he was done with Chook for good. He even offered an out to Chook, telling him that he didn’t have to continue on the same path either. Sadly, Chook seems locked in, a sad representation of reality. Some people don’t make it out. But Ca$h does.
What Didn’t Work
Now, although I did enjoy every character’s storyline this season, I will say that the central mystery or conflict this season wasn’t as interesting as the first season’s. The mystery behind what happened to Harper in the first season was more intense and less obvious. This season’s “Bird Psycho” fiasco was still intriguing but could have been fleshed out more. Rowan’s character had a lot of potential but he felt like a plot device at some points.
Particularly, he and Malakai felt rushed. I liked seeing Malakai come to terms with his sexuality but I didn’t quite understand why Rowan would go for him if he really wanted to get to Amerie. Presumably, he initiated a relationship with Malakai in an attempt to get closer to Amerie. But I didn’t grasp why getting involved with her ex-boyfriend would make her closer to Rowan. It seemed to me like it would be a better idea to become friends with Amerie initially. The back and forth between these three was dragged out. But I did find Rowan’s backstory reveal in the finale interesting. There weren’t any real consequences for Rowan at the end of this season but maybe that could be explored in a third season. The ending, after the fire and everything that happened with Rowan, felt inconclusive overall.
Will There Be a Season Three?
Heartbreak High season two left me and many others looking forward to a potential season three. The somewhat lackluster ending could make a good launching point for the next season. As of right now, however, there haven’t been any announcements regarding season three.
Despite the mixed reviews, the fanbase for the show still seems solid. The ending does leave something to be desired. It’s very possible the showrunners are looking to extend the story further.
