Want to hear more from the actors and creators of your favorite shows and films? Subscribe to The Cinema Spot on YouTube for all of our upcoming interviews!
Welcome back to Essex!
Season 2 of Mindy Kaling and Justin Noble’s comedy series, The Sex Lives of College Girls, is here, and this sophomore season might be funnier than the first.
Alyah Chanelle Scott, Reneé Rapp, Amrit Kaur, and Pauline Chalamet all reprise their roles as Whitney, Leighton, Bela, and Kimberly, four college roommates who enter college with a rocky start but slowly form an unbreakable bond.
The Sex Lives of College Girls Season 1 Recap
At the end of The Sex Lives of College Girls Season One, we watched the explosion of the Theta fraternity. Leighton’s (Rapp) brother, Nico (Gavin Leatherwood), got expelled for having the answers to dozens of tests, and Kimberly (Chalamet) lost her scholarship for using those answers to cheat. Now, she must find a way to pay her tuition without telling her parents what happened. Nico’s okay, though; his parents bought him an Audi to mend his broken heart.
What Are They Up To Now?
Kimberly has proven to be one of my favorite characters from the start. Her naivete gets her stuck in some pretty awkward situations this season of The Sex Lives of College Girls. Kimberly’s financial struggles are an everyday part of the lives of many college kids. Watching the creators translate that onscreen with gravitas while still finding the humor in her side jobs is a perfect balance. Kimberly takes it all in stride, and her quips are laugh-out-loud hilarious.
Leighton has decided to come out to the rest of her roommates. After being heartbroken at the end of season one, she is turning things around for herself. She feels as though she needs to catch up sexually to meet where her straight friends are at. With this weight lifted off her shoulders, Leighton is more relaxed, witty, and open.
After Bela (Kaur) rightfully quit The Catallun, she is now channeling all of her anger and using it to find a female-only comedy magazine. Bela has strong leadership skills, but it’s not something she notices right away in herself. Her competitive spirit and desire to succeed will set her up for success in her comedy pursuits. First, she has to make it through a comedy magazine competition with the editor of The Catallun.
Whitney (Scott) is feeling lost now. Soccer season is over, and she’s unsure where her passions lie. As cliche as this is going to sound, it becomes the perfect opportunity for a self-discovery journey. Proving to herself and her mom that she can succeed in one of Essex’s hardest classes proves to be tougher than she bargained for. She might even join a sorority too!
Character Progression in The Sex Lives of College Girls Season 2
The Sex Lives of College Girls is confident from the very beginning. Even in Season One, we saw a clear development of the characters, where they came from, and what they wanted for themselves. Season Two honors that and pushes it even further. Each girl is a standout on her own, and the writers are open to giving them an equal space to grow. However, when they’re together, the camaraderie is enviable. For college graduates who watch this show, it might invoke a feeling of yearning for the good old days.
All four of these women are someone you, as a viewer, would want to be friends with. Every episode I found myself relating to at least one thing that Leighton, Whitney, Bela and Kimberly experience. The good stuff and the bad stuff alike. It’s a realistic depiction of the best parts of college; staying out late with your friends, talking about your latest campus crush, and having live-in best friends.
Season 2 of The Sex Lives of College Girls premieres Thursday, November 17th on HBO Max.
This article was edited by John Tangalin.