HUMAN RESOURCES (Season 2) -- Ending Just As It Continued

Review by Adam Donato

(L to R) Thandiwe Newton as Mona, Keke Palmer as Rochelle, and Nick Kroll as Rick in Human Resources: Season 2. Credit: NETFLIX © 2023.

It was recently announced that Big Mouth will be ending with its eighth season and that the spin-off show Human Resources would be ending as well. Before there’s any reception for the second season of Human Resources, it’s already over. At least this gives the writers the opportunity to give it a real ending. Does the ending live up to the potential of a franchise finale? Does this new season justify giving this spinoff show a second season in the first place? What’s new about season two and does it work in the first place?

It’s funny to find out this is the final season because one could watch this season and have no clue the show is ending. This season has a finale, but it’s no grander than any regular season finale. Without spoiling anything, there’s a couple plotlines that are left open. It seems like they’re trying to continue. Whether any of these plot lines will converge with the final season of Big Mouth and be resolved there has yet to be seen. If this is the last we see of the Human Resources characters, it’s not an entirely unsatisfying ending. While there may not be super high expectations for spinoffs, it’s fair to say Human Resources is a success. It was liked enough to garner a second season. There was never a grand plan for the show to last many seasons so ending after two is reasonable and admirable.

Randall Park as Pete, Nick Kroll as Maury, Maya Rudolph as Connie, Aidy Bryant as Emmy in Human Resources: Season 2. Credit: NETFLIX © 2023.

As its own season of television, Human Resources season two is generally a good time. Picking up right where we left off in the first season, Maury and Connie have a child and their conflict is that the child doesn’t want to be a hormone monster and instead wants to be a shame wizard. This plot line is interesting in that it fleshes out the world and personal struggles these creatures go through. The love triangle between Pete, Rochelle, and Dante is well developed and doesn’t take the easy way out. The collection of humans being helped by Emmy and the other creatures do a good job of exploring different types of people and situations. The crude humor is in line with what came before, but the bit is starting to wane. It seems like there’s even less songs in this season than the last. It almost makes one think the musical element was obligatory and should’ve been left out of the spinoff.

It’s pretty impressive what new cast members are featured here in this second season. Young hot stars like Miley Cyrus and Florence Pugh lead the way, while older pros like Eugene Levy and Isabella Rossellini carry the weight. Cyrus is pretty recognizable, but blink and you won’t notice Pugh. Levy is a comedy legend and Rossellini tackles one of the more complex human characters in the show. These separate plotlines are given a common theme that wraps the season up together nicely.

Decently funny and well put together, Human Resources season two is a welcome introduction to Pride Month. While it’s not the bombastic finale Big Mouth will probably be, this sequel season brings enough new stuff to the table and wraps things up well to put a bow on this spinoff. It’s a niche audience, but those who are still around will be satisfied. Enjoy Human Resources season two on Netflix.

Human Resources streams on Netflix beginning June 9. All ten episodes reviewed.

Rating: 3/5