Starstruck Season 2 Review: Miscommunication and Mistakes Don’t Dampen the Charm and Heart
It’s been a year since that movie-esque ending, and that’s where everything picks up as Starstruck kicks off its sophomore run in hilariously charming, messy, and entertaining fashion taking Jessie and Tom through a relationship obstacle course.
The season picks up right where season one left off as Jessie makes the big decision to stay in London. The pair navigate some insecurities, intimacy issues, and commitment only made slightly more complicated when job prospects, brothers, and terrible exes are added to the mix.
Insecurities Come Marching In
Season 1 highlighted a lot of Jessie’s insecurities about being in a relationship with an actor. Though it seemed like she came to terms with some aspects of it by the season 1 finale, this season saw her dealing with another side of her relationship with Tom: the prospect of commitment.
From what we’re shown in Jessie’s life, she’s always seemed a little flighty. Unwilling to take some things seriously. But season 2 amps that part of her up, juxtaposing her need to avoid labeling things with Tom’s need to define what they are to each other.
I like that we get to see that side of Tom and the mounting sense of insecurity when it comes to his place in Jessie’s life, especially when Ben comes into the picture.
Tom’s an actor, and though we see that he is trying to change his career trajectory, he’s still recognizable, as we saw back in season one and even this season. So, seeing him nervous about Ben coming back into Jessie’s life and trying desperately to impress his parents when he returns for Christmas in episode 2 is sweet and endears you to him even more.
It shows that he’s just as vulnerable and human as Jessie is but more willing to feel and confront the situations that come his way.
Romance References Galore!
One of my favorite things aside from the writing, cast, and characters is the mixture of subtle and not-so-subtle references to fun romantic dramas and romantic comedies. From the mention of fantastic classic romantic movies made during movie club in episode 5 and the Love Actually reference in episode 2 to the romantic tropes they run through every episode, it’s a fun layer to the show, and the mentions make it all the more grounded.
Jessie: I can’t believe he Alan Rickman’d me!
The All That Heaven Allows mention surprised me because it’s one of those movies that flies under the radar (and Jessie is correct to put that on her list of top romantic movies). Not to mention, The Lake House reference when it comes to the letters Jessie mails out to everyone.
Though, the moment she mentions the letters she sends to everyone, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before came to mind.
The Characters, Writing, and Love Story Make This Season Another Win
It’s amazing that with just six less-than-thirty-minute episodes, Matafeo and company make you laugh, empathize, dislike, and fall in love with these imperfect, multifaceted characters. They manage to add depth to the world with these small moments in these characters’ lives with every new episode.
Rose Matafeo and Nikesh Patel play off each other so well. Their fantastic deadpan reactions bring out the comedy in the most mundane, ordinary moments, and their incredible chemistry makes you even more invested in Jesse and Tom’s relationship.
Though you feel compelled to pick a side by the time episodes 4 and 5 rolls around as Jessie starts to fall into self-sabotaging decision making, you can’t help but feel bad for Jessie and Tom as they decide to break things off.
Tom: I think you were right; it shouldn’t be this hard to love someone.
Their argument breaks my heart as we watch them hurt each other. Though Tom was right about Jessie hiding that Ben got her the library job from him. It’s not an overly dramatic moment that adds to the moment’s effect, but it still stops you as he tells Jessie that she’s right.
You have another excellent ensemble episode with the joint bachelor/bachelorette party setting the scene for what could have been a predictable face off. Still, instead they choose a refreshing route of having Jessie confronted by a boat full of her friends facing her with the hard truth: she’s got commitment issues, and she’s worthy of love and a steady relationship. That makes the final episode a fantastic way to end the season.
It’s a hilarious moment elevated by performances from Emma Sidi, Joe Barnes, and Lola Rose Maxwell.
Jessie’s grand gesture at the lake is hilarious as everyone panics, watching as she wades over to the guys’ boat, and incredibly sweet, declaring what she’s been afraid to say all season if that unsent letter is any indication: she loves Tom.
It’s a quintessential rom-com moment and what makes me love it even more is that it’s not a perfect moment, and she openly acknowledges that she’s got a lot of growing up to do. She has a lot of work to do on herself, but she loves him and wants him to know.
As the pair reunites, it’s a great ending to the season, even if it feels like there’s more development to go for Jessie to call that ending earned. But that’s what makes it feel real. I suppose they don’t both have to have it all together to be together.
Overall, it’s another great installment of Starstruck that left me wanting more. Though I’d be sad to see this be the end, it’s a sweet way to end the series on an optimistic note.
What did you think of this season of Starstruck? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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All of Starstruck season 2 is out now on HBO Max.
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Brianna Martinez
Brianna spends her time away from briefs, legal research, and pleadings, watching TV and writing about it. She generally has a lot of feelings about TV, which you can read about here and on Twitter.