Netflix’s Dead To Me returned for its second season and wasted absolutely no time elevating the twisted drama and darkness surrounding Judy Hale and Jen Harding.
The episodes found a way to make you feel bad for and cheer on the murderers as they cover up the murder of Steve Wood while also are making you feel the same guilt and anxiety they feel as they sink under the weight and pressure of their lies and get uncomfortably close to being caught
Here are the 5 biggest twists from the Dead To Me Season 2! (
Spoilers if you continue. Recap Dead To Me Season 1 now!
Steve Has a Twin Brother Named Ben
When someone who looked like Steve Wood showed up at Jen’s house at the end of Dead To Me Season 2 Episode 1, our go-to was that Steve was somehow alive. We’ve been conditioned to live and breathe by the “no body = no death” rule, but in this case, we saw a body kept in the freezer and buried in the forest, and we still thought he was going to come back to get revenge. This just goes to show you we have absolutely no trust when it comes to television writers — we expect them to pull one over on us.
However, instead of bringing Steve back from the dead, the writers utilized the cliche twin trope by introducing Steve’s semi-identical and polar opposite brother, Ben, a chiropractor who has the hots for Jen. I’d complain that the show is better than this, but I can’t because Ben was dorky, dweeby, and danced a lot, plus, his involvement will carry over the drama into season 3 (more on that in a minute).
James Marsden is exceptional at weaving in and out of these two varying characters that it was hard to believe it was the same actor at times. And I still thought there was a .01% chance he would turn out to be Steve pretending to be Ben.
Dead To Me, Netflix, Season 1. James Marsden as Steve Woods.
It Wasn’t Self Defense
Steve spoke out what Jen feared — that she pushed her husband away and was so unbearable that he wanted to die — which is why she clobbered him over the head and killed him. It was a moment in which she found herself consumed with rage. She was too embarrassed to admit it, so she lied about what happened to herself and to Judy. She allowed her friend to believe that Steve was trying to strangle her and thus, deserved to die.
While no one deserves to die, I would argue that it was a form of self-defense. Jen told him to leave her house, but he refused and the verbally abused her. That’s just as threatening as anything else, which is why Perez let her off the hook. Jen’s anger may have gotten the best of her, but she was also protecting herself, Judy, and her children from a man who had a history of being emotionally manipulative and abusive. Who knows what he would’ve done if he found Judy after she stole all his money and turned him in for money laundering?
Dead To Me Season 2 Recap: The Morning After (2×01 and 2×02)
Judy Hooked Up With Perez’s Girlfriend
I can’t be the only one who thought the biggest twists of the season was that Michelle, Judy’s new friend and love-interest, was Perez’s ex-girlfriend. Talk about messy. Perez couldn’t shake Judy, which is one of her greatest qualities. To echo Jen, she’s like a baby, you can’t help but love her.
Personally, I would’ve liked for Judy’s relationship with Michelle to complicate things more with Perez. It was underwhelming to have her be so messed up with a woman whose ex was the FBI agent that was trying to incriminate her and have it not affect the storyline much at all.
The Chief is The Greek
One of the reasons Perez let Jen go because connected with a mother protecting her children from an abusive situation. However, it worked out perfectly because, at the same time, Judy gave them dirt on the Captain, who was also part of the Greek mafia that Steve was working with to launder money. I expect Perez had her suspicions but never had the proof until that moment.
We know the misogynistic Captain went to federal prison, and it’s likely they pinned Steve’s death on him or will now that Daisy found the body in the woods.
However, it was too perfect, which makes me think the Greek’s are going to come for Judy and Jen at some point. The money Judy had stashed away in the paintings likely belonged to them, and they’re going to want it back!
Steve’s Girlfriend Is Pregnant
This seemed like a bigger revelation that again, should’ve held more weight, but it didn’t. It merely served as a reminder for Judy that Steve was a tool who never cared or respected her. It was also a representation of what she couldn’t have with him — a child — and showed that she truly had a heart of gold and could forgive anyone even the woman who was screwing her man.
Credit: Dead to Me/ Netflix
Jen Comes Clean
Jen’s “aha” moment came when she realized the secrets and lies were making her ugly and hurting everyone around her. She couldn’t go on like this and thus, she decided to turn herself in and leave Judy to take care of her boys. It was a big realization considering how far they both went to cover up what they did, but in this case, living with her secret was worse than paying the price in jail.
However, she caught Perez off-guard, couldn’t find Steve’s body, and showed genuine remorse, plus, Perez had a soft spot for abuse situations, so coming clean earned her back her freedom without any capital punishment.
Charlie Figures It Out
Charlie was able to crack the case quicker than the Laguna PD and FBI. When he saw a picture of Steve’s car at the vigil, he realized his mother was involved in some way and pieced together that she had gasoline when she came to pick him up, which meant she burned the car. When he confronted his mom about it, she admitted she was scared because Steve was involved with some very shady and dangerous people, which bought her some time.
And then, Charlie found the letter his mother left for Judy. While we don’t see if he opens it, my guess is that he does read it and learns the truth about his father’s death.
Ben’s Drunk Driving
Judy fought long and hard to get a stop sign an intersection known for speeding and just when her wish was granted — BAM — she got T-boned while driving the brand new car she and Judy bought for Charlie. They both survived, thankfully, but it leaves us with the perfect segway into season 3 as the driver of the car that hit them was none other than Ben, Steve’s twin and Jen’s sort-of-lover, who, upon learning that they found Steve’s body, drank himself into oblivion, and got behind the wheel.
Still in a fuzz, Ben drove away from the scene of the accident clearly not aware he hit his “realtor friend.” Jen kept a secret from Ben about his brother and now, Ben’s likely going to keep a secret from her.
Will she be as forgiving as she’d want Ben to be?
What did you think of Dead To Me season 2? Were you a fan of the season? Sound off in the comments!