by Mike Hilty, Contributing Writer
In this new era of streaming, I’m thankful when a good show gets a second chance. Since so many are being canceled, sometimes even one season isn’t enough to impress studio executives. Beyond that, it isn’t even guarantee that shows with a Season Two will get all the way to Season Two. Between the strikes and budget constraints, studios are rescinding renewals at an alarming rate. One of those casualties at Warner Bros. Discovery was Minx, before Starz thankfully picked it back up.
Season One of Minx was one of my favorite shows of 2022. It is incredibly funny, challenging to thoughts on feminism and sexuality, witty as can be, and features through-the-roof performances. My only real concern when Starz snagged it out of the clutches of cancelation was the quality of the show remaining intact as it moved to a different network.
The first season of Minx ends with Joyce (Ophelia Lovibond) attempting to break away from Doug (Jake Johnson) and Bottom Dollar to figure out what Minx the magazine actually is. Her attempt to go solo comes with Bambi (Jessica Lowe) and photographer Richie (Oscar Montoya) following so they can continue to work on Minx. The magazine is on the cusp of being successful, but as they are running out of money and resources, the staff need to find someone who can help shepherd them to the next level.
That next level comes in Constance (Elizabeth Perkins), a wealthy investor who comes to help Minx. She is the only new character this season, and she is a shark. As the season progresses, we see the type of person she is: strategic, unafraid to make the right business move, and wanting to get the most out of her investment. We see a lot about Constance from the way she treats people, like how she pushes Joyce and tries to keep Doug in the dark as much as possible until the right moment. Perkins is having a bit of a resurgence this year, and I love what she brings to the table. It reminds me of how all these investors with a ton of money are investing in companies, but they are doing so with a desire to have as much say as possible, even if they don’t fully understand the business and potential.
One area that Constance tries to have more of a say in for the magazine is keeping the focus exclusively on women. This comes as everyone on the staff finds out that gay men are among its top subscribers. Constance wants to keep the magazine focused on women, and although she frames it as being strategic, others within the team view it as narrow and a little prejudiced. I’m glad Minx is diving into LGBTQIA+ issues, because it underscores how the community was treated during the 1970s, when the show takes place. One of the episodes deals with an incident involving the police and people at a bathhouse. Richie is doing a photoshoot and he captures the horrors. My only issue with this storyline is that it’s not addressed enough, and I hope that should Minx get a Season Three, this LGBTQIA+ storyline potentially gets more of a focus.
One of the main characters is coming to grips with their sexuality. There was a tease of this potential in Season One, and I’m thankful that Minx didn’t chalk this up to a phase. We have some real depth here, and it takes most of the season for them to fully embrace who they are. This character has perhaps the most robust storyline of the season, and although their scenes are sometimes heightened, I’m really satisfied with how it ultimately turns out.
The character that has the most growth this season is Tina (Idara Victor), who spends a fair amount of Season One in Doug’s shadow. After being promised more responsibilities, she finally makes a move to push herself to the forefront. It comes at the cost of some of her closest relationships with other people, but she’s also attempting to bet on herself. I’m rooting for her to succeed, especially after some of the things she was asked to do at the beginning of the season.
Unfortunately, though, Doug is done a huge disservice to this season. He spends the majority of the time on the outside looking in. Constance relies more and more on Tina and Joyce for the magazine, then Doug, who was the original person who believed in the magazine enough to give it a home, feels threatened. His business instincts kick into high gear and he has a hunch about the future of his publishing company that pushes him into a corner. This forces him to make a choice, one that undoes a lot of goodwill that he builds up throughout the two seasons of Minx. Johnson continues to excel as Doug, but this storyline, particularly the end, really does not work for me.
Messaging and themes continue to be a strong asset for Minx, with this season focusing more on empowerment, and diving deeper into the sexual revolution. Joyce spends a large amount of the season figuring out Minx’s role in making it okay for women to be sexual. She leans into this more with Season Two, after being challenged to think differently during Season One about her perceptions about feminism and empowerment. Although Joyce is reluctant at first, a lot of other people see her as an icon and symbol of what women are capable of if their voices are heard. The success Minx achieves is something that everyone in the series grapples with, and it’s not not always handled in the most healthy way. This journey is the heart of the season. As the magazine continues to attract readers and a following, the staff’s parallel success comes with consequences and newfound questions. It makes the characters more interesting and puts the theme of empowerment at the forefront.
Minx’s return from cancellation is nothing short of a miracle. I didn’t enjoy Season Two as much as Season One, but I love the characters and story enough to still come out the other side happy. Constance’s addition, along with solid character development from some in Season One that didn’t get as much attention, help Season Two avoid a bad sophomore slump. I hope Starz keeps Minx going, as it slots in very nicely with their existing lineup. There is a lot more story to tell, which at minimum deserves another season to finish.
Rating: Liked It
Minx is currently streaming on Starz
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