Season 2 picks up widespread aftermath of last season’s bloody ending. Ava (Kaley Cuoco) gave birth while covering up a murder, while Nathan’s (Chris Messina) tennis coaching career is going nowhere. Their own married life is also not going ideally. Added to all this, Ava’s sister is dating a serial killer and we also might have a copycat killer on the loose. Matt (Tom Bateman) himself is going through his own journey of change and rehabilitation. All this chaos sets up the stage for a crazy sophomore outing.
We had a great setup, but we don’t actually get a great start to the season. The first half of the show is very rocky to say the least. The comedy does not land very often and disappointingly there isn’t a lot of murder or podcasting. We go on prolonged subplots that don’t entirely work but have their moments. Most of the first half is focused on Ava’s motherhood and Nathan’s struggling coaching career. Ava finds a much needed mom-friend in the form of Drew (Melissa Fumero), and they help each other through their motherhood struggles.
The second half of the show is where it’s at its strongest, more specifically episode 5 onwards. From hereon we start focusing more on Matt’s journey and his quest to protect his legacy while balancing his relationship with Tori. Suddenly the comedy starts working and the twists get a lot more interesting, and the viewer is reminded of exactly what made the first season so good. There was a clear difference in the quality of writing in the two halves.
On the performances side, Tom Bateman not only maintains but elevates his chilling charm. He is one of the main reasons why the second half works so much better than the first, as he and his mysterious past are truly in the driving seat. Kaley Cuoco for some reason was a little annoying at times especially in the first half and , arc sometimes feels monotonous amidst the escalating madness. But Chris Messina keeps doing what he does best and you really feel for him at several points in the season. His chemistry with Bateman’s character is and has been one of the best things about the show.
The pacing is really uneven in the beginning but slowly finds its footing and delivers a relentless final two episodes. The blood and body count also starts to ramp up in this period which adds to the excitement. Some of the big twists are predictable but the 2 that arrive in the finale are shocking and cleverly executed. Some viewers may find this season’s zanier tone a bit over-the-top, fans of true crime satire will likely revel in its outrageousness.
Based on a True Story season 2 is not quite as sharp, but it is still a lot of fun. There’s something about this show that despite a rocky first half, it is still an addictive watch. On the whole it does feel like a step down from its freshman outing, but this season still manages to offer twisted storylines and sets up a very exciting third season with its finale. It will satisfy true crime enthusiasts, leaving you eager to see what fresh chaos the Bartletts and the West Side Ripper bring next.
All episodes of Based On A True Story season 2 will stream on Peacock on November 21.
