“If you like Emily in Paris, then you’re gonna love Mavis in Rome.”
Our bestie Mavis Beaumont (Michelle Buteau), is back for more Survival of the Thickest, and she’s on a flight to Italy with a suitcase full of charm, chaos, apologies, and unapologetic honesty. But don’t let the scenic views and good food fool you—this season is serving up more than just a Roman holiday.
After realizing she made a mistake with Luca (Marouane Zotti) and her Ex (who shall not be named), faster than you can say “ciao,” Mavis is navigating the complexities of love and self-discovery in the Eternal City. Things are going well… but also not going well. You know how it is. Mavis remains warmly socially awkward—she’s raw truth with none of the edges filed down—and Luca? Still the embodiment of our collective book boyfriend dreams. But since we’re in Act II of a longform rom-com, we’re in for a hard slide.
“It’s heaux-kay.”
Luckily, Mavis has her chosen family to lean on. Khalil (Tone Bell) and Marley (Tasha Smith) are back with their own emotional turmoils. Straight off the series finale of Harlem, Jerrie Johnson shows up as Daphne, a possible love-her for Marley. Okay, wait, could Marley be showing some softness beneath her formerly impenetrable armor? I’ll never tell—at least not until you’ve binged the whole season.
And Khalil? After getting his heart stomped in Season 1, he needs the other kind of a break. One that comes with some peace. Can he find the right person to be vulnerable with? Maybe someone to love. Maybe just a good therapist. We don’t know, girl. But we’re holding space for him.
“Get Out of Jail Titties” and AfroPunk
Bring out the guest stars, including Tika Sumpter, Hassan Johnson, Deon Cole, Rolonda Watts, Amy Sherrod, Sandra Bernhard, and the good Anderson.Paak. There’s also a Bevy Smith sighting (yes, Harlem is in the building). Did I mention AfroPunk? Because that’s where we’re headed, and a needle drop from Iniko will have you hitting repeat.
And, of course, as you can tell from the headers, the bestie Mavis, the girlies, and dem boys deliver the one-liners we love to meme. This show is as quotable as it is hectic, with its chaos chefs back in the kitchen, like Peppermint, Liza Treyger, Garcelle Beauvais, Monét X Change, and Honey Balenciaga. Oh, and Buteau’s former work husband, RonReaco Lee, shows up to give Mavis fits, too.
“I didn’t know Bridgerton had a new queen.”
Survival of the Thickest is messier than that group chat with your whole family AND all your friends. It’s wilder than a late-night bodega run in your pajamas because you need onigiri and breakfast tacos. It’s me and my friends. It’s you and your friends. It’s all of us at some point in life. As Khalil says in Episode 207, “it captures [relatable] complexities and nuances.”
This season will take you through every form of laughter in your kit—giggling, snickering, covering your face while your shoulders shake, and kicking up your heels. But it’s also about striving, even when you stumble or feel too silly to take a stand. Survival of the Thickest is the second round of growing up, when thriving isn’t just an option, it’s a requirement.
All episodes premiere March 27 on Netflix
