When a series is so good in its first season, I worry that it’ll go through a sophomore slump. Can good writing continue after such a solid freshman season? Writer-director Nida Manzoor proves that it most certainly can with We Are Lady Parts season 2. The Peacock series — which follows five Muslim women who start a punk band — builds on everything that happened at the end of season 1, developing its characters personally and as a band. The songs, including “Glass Ceiling Feeling,” are still excellent, if not better than in season 1, and the comedy remains genuinely funny.

We Are Lady Parts season 2 finds Saira (Sarah Kameela Impey), Amina (Anjana Vasan), Ayesha (Juliette Motamed), and Bisma (Faith Omole) ready to record their debut album after months spent playing gigs across the UK. Their manager, Momtaz (Lucie Shorthouse), is trying to get them studio time, but it’s expensive and they have no money. The future of Lady Parts hangs in the balance, and the introduction of another band — one that takes inspiration from Lady Parts — forces the characters to look inward, to face their own music, and what they’re willing to give up to succeed.

We Are Lady Parts Season 2 Is Exceptional Viewing

It balances humor and heart with nuanced storytelling

There aren’t many series that can balance character growth and inner exploration without things getting wildly dramatic. Above all else, We Are Lady Parts is hilarious; it’s so funny that I nearly choked on my own coffee because I couldn’t keep from laughing at a few parts. Amina, who began as the show’s central focus in season 1, is still adorably melodramatic. Her attempts at dating former crush Ahsan’s (Zaqi Ismail) friend are deliciously cringe-worthy in the most affectionate way possible. Amina’s “villain era,” in which she’s more confident and draws boundaries, suits her.

Manzoor deftly balances the characters’ evolution with depth and a good amount of humor. There is also no issue that is off-limits, whether it’s Bisma’s next phase of self-exploration and what that means for her family and faith, Ayesha debating whether to come out to her family to save her relationship, or how Saira’s desire to succeed affects her friendship with Momtaz. As Lady Parts has developed, so, too, have the characters. It’s a strength of the series that everyone feels like a well-rounded person who exists outside the band.

Manzoor isn’t afraid to cause a bit of conflict so long as it adds layers and moves things forward. She’s really created something special with We Are Lady Parts. The series is full of comedy, heart, and it’s stylish and edgy without ever losing sight of its own personality and what’s important to its narrative and characters. Each song is lovingly crafted from a piece of the characters’ lives and experiences, connecting nicely to the season as a whole. They’re unique and specific and relatable.

We Are Lady Parts Season 2 Could’ve Used More Episodes To Tell Its Story

But season 2 is still strong despite a small episode count

With only six episodes, however, We Are Lady Parts would have benefited from another couple of episodes, if only to flesh out certain story points that don’t get enough focus. Saira is evicted from her home, but it’s unclear whether she’ll find another one or if she’ll continue staying at Bisma’s place. That’s just one element that gets dusted under the rug for the time being (here’s hoping there’s a season 3 to explore more of the band’s journey).

Despite We Are Lady Parts season 2 feeling short, it’s remarkable how much Manzoor manages to pack into the six half-hour episodes. Each member of Lady Parts gets her own story arc, and they all grapple with their identity or parts of themselves they have been too afraid to contend with before. It’s empowering to watch them get angry about things, frustrated when life doesn’t go their way, or aggravated at their own inability to express what exactly it is that they’re feeling and going through.

These are women with rage and something to say, and it’s a breath of fresh air to watch them deal with the anger that comes with navigating life, faith, and their own sense of self. They are also women who contain multitudes. Being in Lady Parts allows Amina, Bisma, Saira, and Amina to work out their feelings together as well. Just when I start to think things will go a certain way, We Are Lady Parts surprises me with nuanced takes, humor, and compassion. The series remains top-tier viewing, and Manzoor hasn’t lost any momentum despite a three-year absence.

We Are Lady Parts is the kind of show that gets better with time, with intricate and layered stories that are executed in a way that feels true to the characters. Season 2 explores friendships and the obstacles that threaten to get in the way, blooming love, repressed emotions, and changes that feel inevitable but are intrinsic to growing up.

The fact that the show centers on Muslim women from various ethnic backgrounds is the kind of representation other media should take note of, and is something Manzoor absolutely nails. Season 2 is honest and fun and emotional. You’ll laugh and get teary and want to sing along to the songs. And if you loved “Bashir With the Good Beard,” We Are Lady Parts season 2 has so much more in store and I can’t wait for more.