Killing It Season 2 Review: Satire of Making It in America Continues To Slay
This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the series being covered here Killing It wouldn’t exist.
The underrated Peacock comedy Killing It is back for a second season of skewering the myth of the American dream while delivering plenty of laughs. Created by Dan Goor and Luke Del Tredici, the comedy uses the rags-to-riches story of Craig Foster (Craig Robinson) to comment on the messed up process of “making it” in America.
On the premiere, Season 2 promises viewers more chaos that will somehow top Season 1’s python hunting competition as Craig and Jillian (Claudia O’Doherty) open a saw palmetto berry farm. It’s safe to say it delivers on that promise.
Relying heavily on the comedic chemistry between stars Robinson and O’Doherty, the show isn’t feel-good but still laugh-out-loud funny as you follow the leads’ misadventures. The combination of Craig’s jaded saltiness with Jillian’s naive sweetness creates the perfect blend to keep the bitterness of the show’s commentary from overpowering.
Killing It keeps you laughing because otherwise, you may just cry at the relatability of Craig and Jillian’s plights. In a country where the majority of people don’t have enough savings to get them through an emergency, every setback they face may be a reminder that you or someone you know is just as close to losing it all.
In addition to returning characters like Craig’s brother Isaiah (Rell Battle) and frenemy Brock (Scott MacArthur), a revolving door of standout guest stars bolsters the season.
Dot-Marie Jones leads the enemy Boone clan as mother Jackie who develops a surprisingly sweet relationship with Jillian. VEEP favorite Timothy Simons appears as the extremely politically incorrect and hostile FBI Agent Burton on a personal mission from Donald Trump (the story is set in 2017). Saturday Night Live alums Beck Bennett and Kyle Mooney also appear for short but memorable turns.
Although the series typically shines brightest when focusing on Craig and Jillian, not all forays outside of the main storyline about the farm are unwelcome. The baby shower episode that focuses on Craig’s ex Camille’s surrogacy doesn’t move the plot forward much but creates a new hysterical scenario to explore and lets Stephanie Nogueras shine as an actress.
What sets Killing It apart is its willingness to take the most depraved aspects of America and makes jokes about it.
Take for example when one of Craig and Jillian’s enemies winds up in jail they are delighted because it means they finally have access to free healthcare. It’s sick and twisted but at the same time how can you argue when it’s accurate?
Similarly Isaiah’s battle with debt collectors after assuming a stolen identity leaves you sympathetic for him despite the fact he’s a criminal. The use of the debt collectors (including guest star Jackie Earle Haley) in a comedy-horror turn reminds us that the real villain will always be a society that judges people’s net worth as their only worth.
Craig and Jillian’s moral dilemmas result from of bizarre, exaggerated scenarios that frequently feature wildlife like alligators, giant snails, or sharks, but they’re still a form of the dilemma we all face. It’s absurdism that hits close to home.
Craig starts his journey as a “good guy” but the whole point is that the system doesn’t reward people for being good and following the rules. Craig begins to accept society is “dog eat dog” even though Jillian rightly points out in reality no one wants to see a dog eat another dog.
CRAIG: We all cause so much suffering just by existing in this world. The only thing you can do is try to not think about it.
Under capitalism, we all lose even when we win. If you can’t change it, might as well laugh along to a streaming comedy about it, right?
For the most part, the season flows well but the pacing isn’t perfect despite a shorter order of eight episodes. There’s a particularly convoluted plot involving Isaiah that weighs down the end of the season and feels stretched too thin.
For a comedy, you may not share Craig’s smile during the closing scene which leaves the audience to reckon with his morally questionable final decision.
Despite this twist ending, Craig is still not at the end of his journey and there may be more ups and downs to come. You’re left wanting to see what wild antics Killing It can possibly come up with next.
What did you think of this season of Killing It? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Killing It Season 2 is streaming on Peacock.
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Breeze Riley
Breeze Riley is a pop culture enthusiast who decided to turn her love of watching too much TV into a hobby writing about it. Although she's a convention-going sci-fi and fantasy nerd, she's just as likely to be watching an off-beat comedy or period drama. She is a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic.