Palm Royale Season Two Is Camp, Chaotic And Completely Addictive

There is a certain kind of television that understands the assignment. Palm Royale season two knows exactly what it is, and more importantly, what it is not. This is not prestige drama. It is not tidy. It is not subtle. It is lavish, over the top, camp and frequently ridiculous. And honestly, thank goodness.

Picking up with the same unapologetic confidence as season one, the new series leans harder into what it already does best. Genre slippage is not a flaw here, it is the point. This is American soap crossed with murder mystery, broad comedy and social satire, all lacquered in glossy 60s excess. Plotlines wobble. Logic occasionally disappears entirely. Characters behave in ways that make very little sense. But none of that feels accidental. Palm Royale operates in a heightened reality where mood, style and momentum matter far more than plausibility.

Kristen Wiig remains the gravitational centre, playing ambition, insecurity and delusion with impeccable comic timing. Around her is a cast that clearly understands how to pitch performance in this world. Leslie Bibb is particularly enjoyable, sharp and brittle in equal measure, while Allison Janney brings her trademark authority and comic precision, anchoring scenes even when the story veers into chaos. Carole Burnett is a joy. There is something quietly brilliant about watching a legend lean so comfortably into the absurd, delivering moments that land because of timing rather than volume.

Laura Dern is less visible on screen this season, but her presence is still felt. Now acting as executive producer, her influence shows in the show’s continued confidence, its refusal to rein itself in, and its commitment to character driven excess over narrative neatness.

Yes, there are plot holes. Some storylines feel stitched together with sequins rather than logic. Twists arrive with theatrical flourish rather than narrative necessity. But Palm Royale is not asking to be interrogated. It is asking to be enjoyed. Sometimes television should simply be a pleasure delivery system, and this one is very good at its job.

Visually, it is where the series truly earns its keep. The costumes are spectacular. Bold colour, exaggerated silhouettes, unapologetic glamour. Every outfit tells you exactly who these women are and who they want to be seen as. The interiors are equally indulgent. Palm Springs opulence, pastel palettes, patterned floors, rooms that feel staged for performance rather than living. It is visual escapism at its most effective. Your eye never gets bored, even when the plot briefly loses its way.

Just when the show risks overstaying its welcome poolside, it decamps to Switzerland, and it is a very smart move. The Alpine episodes provide a visual reset and some of the strongest aesthetics of the season. Chalet interiors layered with timber, texture and low lighting. Fur draped over banquettes. Oversized knits, sculptural skiwear and a sense that everyone is dressed for intrigue as much as warmth. This is après ski excess, not wholesome winter sports.

The colder setting adds contrast and tension. If Palm Springs is about display, Switzerland is about concealment. Secrets are whispered over cocktails, deals are done fireside, and the snowbound luxury sharpens the mood. Plotwise, it remains gloriously loose, but visually it is peak Palm Royale. You might not believe a word of what is happening, but you absolutely want to be there.

In a television landscape obsessed with seriousness and self importance, Palm Royale feels refreshingly uninterested in being worthy. It understands that sometimes we need silly. We need beauty. We need something glossy, indulgent and completely unserious to hold our attention when everything else feels a bit relentless.

With the full season landing on Apple TV online mid January, the timing could not be better. When the nights are long and enthusiasm is low, Palm Royale season two offers sequins, scandal and interiors so good they briefly distract you from the dialogue. Sometimes, that is more than enough.