Palm Royale Season 2: Secrets, Scandals & Style

The Women of Palm Beach Are So Back

Following its juicy, scandal-filled, and Emmy-nominated first season, Palm Royale has returned for season 2 with even more twists, turns, and glamour. The Apple TV+ hit show, set in the opulent world of 1969 Palm Beach, continues to explore themes of ambition, belonging, and the lengths women will go to secure their place in high society.

Season 2 picks up right after the infamous Beach Ball from season 1, when all of Maxine Dellacorte-Simmons's (Kristen Wiig) schemes come crashing together. As chaos breaks out, viewers will also see how the bombshell pregnancy that sent ripples through Palm Beach's elite will unfold.

What to Expect in Season 2

As executive producer and star Kristen Wiig told "Good Morning America," "Season 1 being what it was, this is times 10, I think. As far as story, intrigue -- it's sexy, it's funny, there's lots of surprises." Co-star Carol Burnett added, "I'm not gonna give away a lot, but there's a lot of secrets that will come out."

Showrunner Abe Sylvia explained that this season will explore the lives of all the Palm Beach women beyond Maxine. "This season, we go into the homes of the other women, and they have their own sort of standalone storyline that still feed Maxine's, but I really wanted to get to know the women's lives on a deeper level this season," Sylvia said.

The Powerhouse Cast Returns

Along with Wiig and Burnett, returning cast members include Laura Dern as Linda Shaw, Allison Janney as Evelyn Rollins, Ricky Martin as Robert Diaz, Leslie Bibb as Dinah Donahue, Josh Lucas as Douglas Dellacorte, Amber Chardae Robinson as Virginia Lyons, and Kaia Gerber as Mitzi.

"The women this season are redefining themselves," Leslie Bibb said. "It's really fun to watch a character evolving and in some sort of evolution and all of their worlds sort of get turned upside down."

For Evelyn Rollins, who is at a crossroads after losing everything, Allison Janney explained: "Everything's been torn away from her, her money and the trappings of her birds, her wealth. Everything is gone, and she's there, and she doesn't want to be. She wants to reinvent herself. That's what you see happen for Evelyn and a lot of women this season."

New Faces Join the Palm Beach Elite

Joining the series regulars this season is a new group of impressive talent, including John Stamos, Vicki Lawrence, and Patti LuPone. Co-executive producer Laura Dern shared how they managed to secure these stars for the new season.

"It's us going, 'How do we get Carol Burnett to ask Vicki Lawrence to be in this? How do we get Patti LuPone to be part of something where we're going to have actual musical numbers?' And, 'Do you think John Stamos would come and play this unbelievable character?'" Dern recalled. "So, it was just, 'How do we make it even more fun for an audience?'"

Fashion as Feminist Storytelling

One of the standout elements of Palm Royale has always been its incredible fashion, and season 2 takes it to another level. Emmy-winning costume designer Alix Friedberg coordinated "thousands" of looks that reflect the characters' evolving styles and personalities.

"The looks are so iconic. Sometimes Kristen will walk in in something, and it brings tears to my eyes," Kaia Gerber — who plays Mitzi — told The Associated Press. "It was so fun to be able to be wearing these expensive gowns and jewelry and the hair and the makeup, and how that really sort of parallels Mitzi's inner journey as well."

Friedberg's costumes not only enhance the visual appeal but also serve as powerful storytelling devices. For instance, Evelyn wears more pants this season, which was "a real power move" in 1969. Similarly, Dinah evolves from her trophy wife persona into more modern pantsuits, inspired by Sharon Stone in Casino.

Even Maxine's fashion choices carry deeper meaning. "Maxine wears this dress that was an original Oscar de la Renta dress," Friedberg says. "It's very much something that Norma would wear, and it is saying to the audience without saying to the audience that she's arrived, it's her time, it's time for her to rule."

Themes of Ambition and Belonging

Beyond the glamour and scandal, Palm Royale explores meaningful themes about women's roles in society and the pressures they face. Showrunner Sylvia noted: "It's about how marginalized people or people who are not straight white dudes have to kind of go about their lives if they want to live with ambition."

Wiig added: "I do think some things that these women want and or struggled with then, it's still present today in some form. There's definitely a lot about their story of standing in society, their appearance, all of that stuff."

Amber Chardae Robinson highlighted how the show speaks to power and secrecy in a glamorous setting: "There's a lot of layers here that people don't actually get to see. A lot of times, the glamour and the lights and the glitz is so blinding for people that they don't understand that there is a lot that goes into that -- at what cost? At what cost do you have this lifestyle?"

Stream It Now

Palm Royale season 2 is available to stream now on Apple TV+, promising an even more scandalous, stylish, and entertaining ride through the world of Palm Beach high society. With its powerhouse cast, incredible fashion, and compelling themes, this season is not to be missed.