REVIEW: ‘Survival Of The Thickest’ Season 2 Returns Bolder Than Ever

Survival of the Thickest Season 2 returns to Netflix for another season of love, laughter, and a little mess. The romantic comedy series created by Michelle Buteau and Danielle Sanchez-Witzel continues to celebrate self-love, body positivity, and Black joy through humor and a stunning wardrobe.

This season expands on the series’ rich, diverse cast, mixing new and returning faces. Alongside Michelle Buteau, Tone Bell, Tasha Smith, and Marouane Zotti, this season’s cast features Garcelle Beauvais and Peppermint. Survival of the Thickest Season 2 also brings more guest stars, such as Anderson .Paak, Tika Sumpter, Monét X Change, and Sandra Bernhard make memorable appearances.

When we last saw Mavis, she chose herself over her terrible ex, Jaque, and flew to Italy in a grand romantic gesture to win Luca back. The new season picks up with Mavis and Luca embracing at his doorstep, reminiscent of an idyllic happily ever after ending. Unfortunately for Mavis, her love life is not a fairy tale this time. Now, Mavis returns home heartbroken but nevertheless ready to embrace a new chapter in her life with her best friends Khalil and Marley by her side as new opportunities in their careers and love lives open up.

Survival of the Thickest Season 1 was about Mavis picking up the pieces after heartbreak. She took a leap of faith in new love and her new career as a plus-size stylist. Now, Season 2 is about Mavis doubling down as she continues to step into her power, owning her success in the fashion industry, and navigating the ever-messy world of love, career, and friendships.

Survival of the Thickest Season 2 is a beacon of representation on TV.

Season 2 picks up with Mavis and Luca reuniting in Italy. Most fans may hope for a fairy tale ending right at the start of the season, which would have been interesting but not authentic. Survival of the Thickest Season 2 grounds itself excellently, acknowledging that grand romantic gestures aren’t always the answer to every romantic issue.

Although Luca and Mavis still love and care for each other, her grand gesture does not resolve the pain and heartbreak she caused Luca when she chose her toxic ex, Jaque, over him last season. Although Mavis and Luca love one another, instead of relying on romantic comedy tropes, Survival of the Thickest Season 2 leans more into the complexities of relationships, showing that true love needs more than grand gestures to thrive. This season also touched on the nuances of modern-day intimacy, love, and dating from various perspectives.

For example, once Mavis is not quite ready to get back into dating, she looks for something more casual but quickly learns it can be just as complex and messy. Instead of shaming hookup culture, the show highlights that nothing’s wrong with wanting physical companionship with no strings attached.

In contrast, Khalil realizes that women were a coping mechanism for him to avoid his problems, leading him to do inner work on himself. Lastly, this season, Marely finds herself in a new budding romance that challenges and encourages her to embrace vulnerability more. The show validates Mavis, Marley, and Khalil’s perspectives with nuance, capturing the realities of dating today.

This season of Survival of the Thickest brings back the humor, heart, and unapologetic self-love that makes this show phenomenal. Additionally, Survival of the Thickest continues to be a beacon of representation. The show celebrates Black joy, plus-size confidence, and LGBTQ+ identities in a beautifully organic and refreshing way. Mavis’s mission to create space for plus-size people, Black women, and trans folk in the fashion industry continues to be at the show’s core.

Survival of the Thickest Season 2 is about more than romance, it’s about community.

This show isn’t just about romance. It’s about Mavis forging her path in the fashion world, a space that often tries to dictate her worth. This season is especially compelling because Buteau and her team balance this overarching theme alongside other plotlines, such as Mavis’ love life, ensuring that her professional ambitions and advocacy occupy as much space in this story. Proving that Survival of the Thickest is not only about romance and comedy. It is also about empowerment, inclusivity, and sending a powerful message to the fashion industry.

Survival of the Thickest balances multiple storylines that give the show’s remarkable characters room to grow and mature. Khalil went from a playboy artist to falling in love and ultimately getting heartbroken last season. In Season 2, Khalil’s character arc takes a relatable deep dive into a more vulnerable and authentic portrayal of a Black man struggling with mental health.

The show thoughtfully captures Khalil’s mental health experience to help remove the judgment from the topic of therapy. Through insightful therapy sessions and showing vulnerability with his male and female friends, Khalil’s storyline is crucial and intentional. The plot line is not simply cast off after one episode, either. Khalil’s mental health is touched on repeatedly this season, thus accentuating the importance of mental health to the character’s development and its message to the audience.

Survival of the Thickest Season 2 is a must-watch season that captures the importance of community, love in all forms, and redefining success. Season 2 beautifully doubles down and builds upon the groundwork it laid with its characters in season one. The show thoughtfully balances career ambitions, love, and mental health themes through relatable characters and authentic representation.

Survival of the Thickest Season 2 is streaming now exclusively on Netflix.