"Palm Royale" was a hit for Apple TV Plus ... depending on who you asked. If you asked the streaming service, the Emmy voters or my wife, they'd tell you they loved it and that they weren't shocked when it was renewed for season 2 shortly after its season 1 finale. If you asked me, I'd tell you that it was one of the worst shows of 2024.
It looks like I won't have long to wait to see if the second season is any better, though, because Apple TV Plus just revealed a release date for season 2, and it's coming soon. "Palm Royale" Season 2 will premiere on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025, with a one-episode premiere on Apple TV Plus. The 10-episode second season will then continue to drop one episode a week on subsequent Wednesdays until the season 2 finale on Jan. 14, 2026.
As for what to expect in season 2? In the first season, Kristen Wiig starred as Maxine Dellacorte, an outsider trying to break into Palm Beach high society in 1969. She sets her sights on membership at the exclusive Palm Royale country club, and while she does get through the club's doors, the first season ends on a tragic cliffhanger.
Now, Maxine has been left a social outcast. "She’ll have to draw on her deep well of cleverness and cunning to prove once and for all that not only does she belong, but she just might have what it takes to rule this town," according to the official logline for season 2. "Along the way she will uncover untold truths and finally understand what this town is truly built on ... secrets, lies and the occasional felony."
I know I'll be hate-watching this show whether I want to or not, since my wife is one of the many people eagerly anticipating the return of "Palm Royale." But I do have some hope for season 2. As much as I disliked season 1, it wasn't without merit. I thought it earned many of its Emmy nominations for costumes, makeup, music, etc. — there's no denying it's a beautifully constructed period piece. I even liked Ricky Martin's performance as Robert, a gay Hispanic man who was compelling as Maxine's nemesis-turned-friend and houseguest of her mother-in-law, Norma Dellacorte (Carol Burnett).
I still can't get over season 1's uneven and often absurd writing, though. This show is loaded with acting talent, with a cast that includes Allison Janney, Josh Lucas, Leslie Bibb, Amber Chardae Robinson, Mindy Cohn, Julia Duffy and Kaia Gerber in addition to Wiig, Martin and Burnett. It should have just been one incredible performance after another and it simply wasn't.
Honestly, I think this show is such a hate-watch for me because it has so much potential with its impeccable production values and loaded cast. It didn't need to jump the shark (in this case, a CGI whale) in its first season. Hopefully, in season 2, we get a more grounded, even show, or at least one that tempers its more absurdist tendencies.
If you're someone who is eagerly awaiting "Palm Royale" season 2, make sure to check out these shows like 'Palm Royale' to watch right now while you wait.
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Malcolm has been with Tom's Guide since 2022, and has been covering the latest in streaming shows and movies since 2023. He's not one to shy away from a hot take, including that "John Wick" is one of the four greatest films ever made.
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