The production story behind Minx Season 2 extended beyond the show’s success into a commentary on the content struggle at Warner Bros. Discovery. Many shows left their streaming service in the months leading up to rebranding as Max, but this series had almost concluded filming its second season upon cancellation. Luckily, it found a new home at Starz, but not without some changes in Season 2.
Warning: spoilers ahead.
Plot of Minx
Premiering in 2022, Minx stars Ophelia Lovibond and Jake Johnson (New Girl) as the head of a new adult-oriented magazine entitled “Minx,” which attempts to blend the main character’s feminist ideology into the world’s first female-targeted erotic magazine. Vulgar and funny with an overload of nudity and female empowerment, Minx also allowed creator Ellen Rapoport to imbue a sentimental character dynamic between the central group, filled out by lower-level TV actors Jessica Lowe, Oscar Montoya, and Idara Victor. Season 1 received positive reviews, praising the cast, writing, and ’70s atmosphere.
During the dramatic final episodes of the first season, the control and image of Minx shift drastically as Joyce (Lovibond) and Doug (Johnson) have a falling out. However, a last-minute partial reconciliation finds Doug giving it all up to Joyce, even though his insurmountable debt and ruined reputation leave him broke and alone. This sweet finale, plus the good reviews, led to a quick renewal in May 2022, but Warner Bros. would cancel Minx seven months later, regardless.
Production Troubles and “Bad” Press
Despite the show’s content, Minx is relatively harmless, just a bubbly fictional period piece that fits perfectly as lighter fare among the serious shows on a primarily adult-focused network. The cancellation instantly struck the audience and showrunners alike as a case of wrong place, wrong time over at HBO Max. While it certainly shocked the Minx crew, they continued to work while the production company found a new home for the series.
Jake Johnson and Ophelia Lovibond of ‘Minx’
Ironically, this kind of bad press, which can sink a show going into its second season, heightened support for Minx‘s unjust removal. Like the titular magazine of the series, the unfounded negativity against Minx only brought it more attention, and quickly, the series got back on track to continue for a 2023 release.
Changes to Season 2
The significant thing to remember here is that Rapoport had nearly completed Season 2 when the cancellation drama happened. Jake Johnson’s Instagram confirmed in December 2022 that the cast and crew were about a week away from wrapping filming, and in the first half of Season 2, we have yet to see a negative impact from switching to Starz. Two producers, including director Rachel Lee Goldenberg, have replacements, but Rapoport still has the legendary comedy producer Paul Feig and Emmy winner Ben Karlin on her side. Nothing seems out of the ordinary in these behind-the-scenes adjustments, and Goldenberg’s magnificent energy in Minx‘s opening episodes will return for an upcoming episode of Season 2.
On the surface, the new Minx is more of the same in a positive light, still just as focused on character-based comedy as before. All the notable differences in the second season are confident creative choices, diving deeper into character interplay and growth as opposed to cheap laughs. More than ever, Minx doubles down on engagement outside of Joyce and Doug’s back-and-forth dynamic, expanding to focus on Bambi (Jessica Lowe), Joyce’s sister (Lennon Parham), and a new character Constance (Elizabeth Perkins). If you are looking for an easy, no-investment comedy to watch, this may not be the best choice, but those looking for touching stories and character development amid jokes and nudity should find something pleasing in Minx.
Minx is streaming now on Starz.
