The moment may be small, yet it’s the beginning of their private connection becoming publicly known, a process significantly intensified by Tom’s fame. With this, the intimate bubble of their relationship bursts. After receiving a light-hearted Christmas gift from Tom - a holiday they opt to celebrate separately - Jessie sends a voice message in return, the vibe of which amounts to ‘I miss you and it’s weird but also I like it?’ Yet Tom accidentally plays the message through speakers in his parents’ home, broadcasting the dispatch to his entire family. To watch Tom actually laugh in return rather than smirking or snorting is nothing short of electric.Ī moment in episode two feels especially prophetic regarding the relationship arc the season traces. His sparring with Vinay proves especially compelling, placing greater pressure on the disparity already at play in Jessie and Tom’s relationship (while also blessing us with some great lines). The season also delivers a collection of new characters, notably Tom’s parents (Mina Anwar and Vincent Ebrahim) and judgemental brother, Vinay (Parth Thakerar), introduced in a Christmas episode providing much-appreciated insight into the leading man’s complex family dynamic. Particularly Sidi, consistently delightful as Jessie’s delightfully clingy but well-meaning roommate Kate, who reunites with our protagonist while in the throes of living room sex with her boyfriend (Al Roberts). Starstruck’s ensemble cast, including stars Emma Sidi and Minnie Driver, likewise returns in fine form. And if her discomfort in prickly social encounters spurs a pang of relatability for viewers, the writers never make the mistake of reducing her to the awkward ‘quirky girl’ persona. Though impetuous, Jessie remains wise about her life’s material realities. Season 2 Jessie is pleasurably self-assured in her neuroses, and the anxiety generated by Starstruck’s shenanigans never shakes these qualities her self-deprecating jokes, many that they are, don’t undermine her inherent confidence. It’s an impressive showcase for Matafeo, accentuating the traits that have made the character feel so lived-in all along. In ‘Licorice Pizza’, Adulthood Is One Big Charade The first season received widespread acclaim for injecting new life into the rom-com genre thanks to co-writers Matafeo and Alice Snedden (joined in the writers’ room this time by Nic Sampson, who plays Jessie’s Kiwi pal Steve), and confirmed Matafeo’s chops as leading lady, capable of occupying a complex emotional milieu while maintaining her immense charm. As we’re reminded only minutes into Season 2, they’ve barely even been on a real date. After all, a showy romantic act can be a tiny bit forceful.Įven if it feels right in the moment, how can you be sure? Or more pressingly, how do you know the depth of your feeling is mutual, and you’re not just trapping your lover under the weight of the tender moment you’ve orchestrated? Starstruck’s protagonists both seem to want to be together, but it doesn’t make the starry-eyed ending of the first season feel any less immense.
The second season begins where the first left off, with a hilarious upending of its own emotional climax: we find the lovers by the roadside, Jessie rambling at a mile a minute, trying to rationalise her decision to stay in London for Tom yet clearly spiralling.
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