The first season of Nine Perfect Strangers was a captivating, if quirky, exploration of grief and healing, anchored by a mysterious premise. This second season, unfortunately, fails to recapture that initial magic. Set in the majestic Austrian Alps, the show sees wellness guru Masha (Nicole Kidman) welcome a new batch of troubled souls to her latest retreat. This time, the guests, including a disgraced children’s TV host, a mother-daughter duo, and a former nun, arrive with the foreknowledge of Masha’s unconventional, psilocybin-fueled methods. This change strips the central conceit of much of its initial intrigue.
While the first season felt fresh and different, this new chapter is a convoluted and messy affair. Moving beyond the tight narrative of Liane Moriarty’s novel, the series loses its way with a plot that feels both overstuffed and underdeveloped. The focus shifts heavily onto Masha’s own convoluted backstory, making her a less compelling, mystical figure and more of a strange, unrelatable protagonist. As a result, there is little care given to the new “strangers,” who often feel like shallow sketches rather than the fully-realized, emotionally resonant characters of the first season.
The series is stacked with high-level talent, and there are certainly standout performances. Murray Bartlett is a highlight as a deeply pained former TV host, and Dolly de Leon brings a quiet power to her role as a nun facing a crisis of faith. However, the show doesn’t use their talents to the utmost degree. Celebrated actors like Christine Baranski and Annie Murphy are saddled with thin arcs that go nowhere, their potential squandered on meandering psychedelic sequences and underdeveloped conflicts.
Ultimately, this second outing feels entirely unnecessary. The original story had a conclusion, and this continuation only serves to offer diminishing creative returns. With a messy plot, a lack of emotional depth, and a frustrating misuse of a stellar cast, there is simply no compelling reason for a season three.