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Two years ago, co*edian Michelle Buteau shimmied her hips and made space for herself in Netflix’s queue as earnest Brooklyn stylist Mavis Beaumont in Survival Of The Thickest, which blithely followed the careers and roller-coaster love lives of this Black, body-positive artist and her circle of friends. And in “For A Bigger Purpose, Bitch,” that season’s finale, the series left audiences with the rom-co*miest of cliffhangers, with Mavis to finally breaking away from her cheating ex, Jacques (Taylor Selé), and spontaneously traveling to Rome to confess her love to her long-distance paramour, Luca (Marouane Zotti).   

Now Buteau’s charm, stiletto-sharp co*edic delivery, and empathetic vibe are back for a much-anticipated follow-up. And the wait was worth it, as this second season benefits from tighter scripts, a steady stream of relatable and laugh-out-loud moments, and some A-plus support from Mavis’ besties, artist Khalil (Tone Bell) and sublime boss bitch Marley (Tasha Smith).  

Season two picks right up from Mavis’ surprise confession to Luca and explores the aftermath of that messy exit from her old life into the arms of a man who thought he was dumped 48 hours before she showed up. As one would imagine, love just isn’t enough to overco*e that level of hurt, even though Mavis tries her best to make Luca feel the authenticity of her intentions and prove how easily she could fit into his Italian existence. But their mutual mastery of avoidance makes them both culpable for the rocky ground they find themselves on again. So Mavis returns to New York broken-hearted yet determined to focus on her burgeoning “Styled By Mavis” business and her best friends. 

Wisely identifying the strength of Mavis’ pack in season one, Buteau and showrunners Danielle Sanchez-Witzel and Amy Aniobi have given Khalil and Marley a lot more narrative real estate this time around to explore their own meaningful arcs. Building on their strong character foundations established in the previous batch of episodes, the show’s writers waste no time diving into their vulnerabilities, like Khalil’s tendency to self-sabotage relationships and sandbag his potential as an up-and-co*ing artist. He decides to pursue therapy, and while this decision is treated playfully at first, Thickest doesn’t undercut how powerful it is to watch him go through the process of finding his better self.

Equally impressive is Tasha Smith, who embraces her series-regular status with gusto, unapologetically portraying the force of nature that is Marley. Her certitude with a smackdown remains priceless, but Marley gets to meet her match in Daphne (Jerrie Johnson), an equally smart, confident, and ambitious city-council member. The ladies circle one another like fierce tigers in a se*y hunt throughout the season, which delightfully throws Marley off her dominance game, revealing some new vulnerabilities for Smith to play with. 

But Survival Of The Thickest is at its best when the trio are together, with their chemistries effortlessly firing back and forth. Whether they’re throwing truth bombs, being supportive in a crisis, or just ripping one another with love (and without an ounce of mercy), their mature rapport is a big reason this season feels more assured and lived-in. They ground even the silliest situations that Mavis gets herself into, be it questionable hookups with a local bartender or choosing the most decrepit storefront in Dumbo for her pop-up. 

As the series lead, Buteau continues to seamlessly channel her rockling standup persona into Mavis with finely-tuned tempering. Mavis’ mind—and body—is always moving a million miles a minute as she keeps reaching for her stylist dreams, and Buteau conveys that with sincerity and self-deprecation. She also doesn’t shy away from Mavis’ disappointments and speed bumps, pacing her methodical rise in fashion circles as realistic in this world that is always happy to keep Black women down. Mavis is an unabashed cheerleader of her own curves (and her clients’ physiques) and the rights of those she loves to be their authentic selves. And right now, it feels more wise than ever to bask in Survival‘s affirming light and follow her lead.   

Survival Of The Thickest season two premieres March 27 on Netflix