The first season of Apple TV+ musical comedy series Schmigadoon! told such a satisfying self-contained story that there seemed to be no reason for the show to continue. Schmigadoon!'s second season never quite justifies its existence narratively or thematically, but it's still a delightful pastiche of classic musicals from creators Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio. The loving homage to musical theater is so funny and creative that it's easy to ignore the weaker storytelling and character arcs in the second season.
Cecily Strong and Keegan-Michael Key return as main characters Melissa Gimble and Josh Skinner, a pair of doctors whose relationship hit a rough patch at the beginning of Schmigadoon!'s first season. They rekindled their love for each other while trapped in the mystical town of Schmigadoon, where life was modeled after the colorful, wholesome musicals of the 1940s and '50s. The first episode of the new season opens with a montage of the couple's happiness as they get married, enjoy romantic picnics, and derive satisfaction from helping people in their work. Unfortunately, that happiness quickly turns to drudgery, especially in their thwarted efforts to conceive a child via IVF.
Within a few minutes of the first episode, two years have gone by, and Melissa and Josh are back in a rut, although their devotion to each other seems just as strong. Since their first visit to Schmigadoon was so revitalizing, they decide to return. They dress in silly old-timey outfits and head into the woods, hoping to find the magical entrance to Schmigadoon again. Instead, they wander aimlessly, eventually giving up and getting back in their car. But when the car breaks down over another fog-shrouded bridge, they end up in a different mystical land of musicals, Schmicago.
As the title implies, the second season of Schmigadoon! moves its musical references ahead a couple of decades, focusing on the darker, grittier, often city-based musicals from the late 1960s to the early 1980s. Right when they walk into Schmicago, Melissa name-checks Chicago, Cabaret, Pippin, and Sweeney Todd. The season also incorporates elements from Annie, Godspell, and Hair -- with brief references to other productions. While musical-theater geek Melissa felt right at home in Schmigadoon, with its feel-good homages to shows like Oklahoma! and The Music Man, she admits that she's less of a fan of these later musicals, so she's often just as confused as non-fan Josh.
That loses one of the most entertaining elements of Schmigadoon!'s first season, the contrast between Melissa's enthusiasm and Josh's exasperation. Although it's refreshing that the creators didn't see the need to break up their main characters again just after getting them back together, the second season of Schmigadoon! lacks a compelling central conflict, instead throwing Melissa and Josh into various types of peril from episode to episode. The six-episode season is unevenly paced, completely switching its narrative focus halfway through, and the final catharsis is muddled.
As Melissa notes, the musicals from this period were often morally ambiguous and challenging for audiences, so that lack of cohesion may be part of the point. It's still frustrating, though, especially when Schmigadoon! remains so absurdly packed with talent. Nearly every member of the supporting cast returns from the first season, playing different characters in the world of Schmicago, just as a theater's repertory company would. Melissa and Josh even recognize the players from the previous season, often pointing out the differences between their characters.
Dove Cameron is the clear standout as a fast-talking showgirl inspired by Sally Bowles from Cabaret, perfectly capturing the mixture of sexual allure and wide-eyed enthusiasm. Jane Krakowski also shines as a gender-swapped take on suave lawyer Billy Flynn from Chicago, and Alan Cumming and Kristin Chenoweth really dig into the grotesquerie of their Sweeney Todd-inspired characters. Musical veteran Tituss Burgess (Central Park, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt) makes a perfect addition as the often snide Narrator who tries to keep Melissa and Josh on track to learn the requisite life lessons.
As before, the songs written by co-creator Paul are impeccable recreations of a variety of styles, functioning as both amusing parodies and fantastic, catchy standalone numbers. While everything about Schmigadoon!'s first season was a throwback to an earlier era, the second season finds itself in a sometimes muddled middle ground since three of its main inspirations (Chicago, Sweeney Todd, Annie) have been made into popular movies in the past two decades. Director Barry Sonnenfeld brought a clear vintage aesthetic to the first season, while directors Alice Mathias and Robert Luketic, who split the second-season episodes, opt for a more modern feel. "What year is this supposed to be?" Josh asks at one point, and his confusion is justified.
Even with a slightly more scattered vision, Schmigadoon!'s second season is consistently enjoyable, clearly a labor of love for everyone involved. The cast of musical theater pros put their full effort into every ridiculous set piece, and it's pretty much impossible to watch the show without a smile on your face. If Melissa and Josh are going to continue their tour of musical decades -- perhaps next to Schment or Schmicked -- it'll be worth following them all the way.
The first two episodes of Schmigadoon!'s second season premiere Wednesday, April 5, on Apple TV+, with subsequent episodes debuting each Wednesday.