The Netflix series Dead to Me premiered in May 2019 and its second season was released one year later. The dark comedy focuses on two grieving women, Jen (Christina Applegate) and Judy (Linda Cardellini), who were brought together through tragedy and Judy’s dark secret. The show also co-starred James Marden as Judy’s ex-fiance Steve and brother-in-law Ben.
Since its release, Dead to Me was critically hailed and it ranks with an overall score of 8.1 on IMDb. It’s been praised for its tongue-in-cheek hilarity, poignant writing, and stirring performances from Applegate, Cardellini, and Marsden. Acting legends, such as Frances Conroy, Katey Segal, and Ed Asner, have also appeared on the program and gave riveting performances.
“Oh My God” – 8.2/10
In season one of episode six, things got interesting. Judy’s love interest, Nick, offered to talk to the local police about Jen’s husband’s murder. Meanwhile, Jen’s oldest son, Charlie, was found with drugs and when she tried to “scare” him with reality, she realized how truly far gone he was.
Applegate and Cardellini continued to impress audiences with their range and portrayals of their characters. The scene where Charlie was visited by the “police” was executed brilliantly and featured great acting, writing, and tension.
“Try To Stop Me” – 8.2/10
This episode of season one had Jen, Judy, and Nick hot on the tail on whoever drove the car that killed Jen’s husband. Judy was understandably anxious and pondered whether to keep up the charade or finally confess to Jen what happened that night.
Viewers could sense Judy’s overwhelming stress and the weight of her guilt from Cardellini’s acting and the writing’s rising tension. Meanwhile, Nick discovered another puzzle piece to the crime and this meant impending trouble for Judy and her ex-fiance.
“It Had To Be You” – 8.2/10
Towards the end of season two, Jen was stressing over a real estate deal and dealing with the damage of Charlie’s joyride.
Viewers felt the episode provided some intriguing drama, with Judy confronting Jen on her hypocrisy (she kissed Ben but forbade Judy from seeing Michelle as Michelle’s ex-girlfriend was an investigator) and Jen struggling with the knowledge of her hand in Steve’s death.
“I Can’t Go Back” – 8.3/10
Jen realized there was more to her husband than she expected. Determined to get some information, she and Judy went to a local restaurant where they met a waitress who happened to be his mistress.
The episode was incredibly funny, with Jen trying to find answers and the naive waitress being grilled. However, the episode took a somber turn when they realized what was actually happening and that Jen’s husband had a private life she knew nothing about. This contributed to Jen’s insecurity about her husband and her thinking she drove him away.
“You Don’t Have To” – 8.3/10
In season two episode six, Jen’s faced with covering up Charlie’s actions, meanwhile, her youngest son was dealing with stage fright.
While somewhat light-hearted, there were some tense scenes in this episode, including the investigator playing back Steve’s violent voice messages to Judy, which provided insight into just how abusive he was to her and how she was coming around to realize the abuse. Cardellini reacting to Steve screaming was heartbreaking to witness.
“It’s All My Fault” – 8.4/10
Jen realized Ted’s 50th birthday passed and she was perplexed about how to react. The audience was introduced to Lorna, Jen’s frosty mother-in-law and boss who never liked Jen and criticized her parenting and relator skills.
When it was decided that a birthday/memorial celebration would take place, things went downhill. Viewers felt one of the highlights of the episode was Jen and the kids taking out their frustrations on the cake. This was a somber but funny moment, especially after witnessing how tortured Judy felt about accidentally killing Ted.
“I Have To Be Honest” – 8.8/10
The second to last episode of season one had many viewers on the edge of their seats. Judy had been hiding for the majority of the season that she accidentally killed Ted. The guilt weighed heavily on her emotional and mental health. When she finally confessed to Jen what she did, it went as well as one could imagine (which was bad).
While it was hard to see Jen and Judy’s worlds crumble in front of them and Judy hit her bottom, it was a necessary action and the pay off was appropriate. With just one episode left in the season, viewers were left wondering how they’d mend things.
“You Have To Go” – 8.8/10
The last episode of season one hit all the right notes and went out on a bang. After revealing her big secret, Judy was promptly kicked out of the house and Jen destroyed nearly all of her possessions.
Judy felt hopeless and almost went out the same way Ted did. When Steve went to find Judy, he found Jen instead and he accidentally revealed his knowledge and part in the accident. After insulting Jen about her husband and proposing that she was responsible, Jen attacked him in the heat of the moment. She got carried away and he died. Jen was now in Judy’s shoes. Viewers thought it was a brilliant switcheroo and the proper season finale.
“It’s Not You, It’s Me” – 8.9/10
The second to last episode of season two dealt with many emotions and it paid off beautifully. Jen was having trouble concealing the fact that she was responsible for Steve’s death, especially when it meant that Judy or Charlie could go to jail for a crime they didn’t commit.
When Jen finally confessed to Judy, it was a profoundly melancholy moment. The two friends had been through thick and thin in the past two seasons, and it built up to this mesmerizing scene in which Judy broke down and they both held each other. Both women have been in each other’s shoes and now both knew the pain and guilt each other was experiencing.
“Where Do We Go From Here” – 8.9/10
The finale of season two and where viewers last left off with these characters was appropriately shocking, as things came full circle. Jen tried to confess what she did to others, but life had other plans. Many revelations came to the floor as Charlie discovered his mother’s note to Judy.
Overall, the finale capped off by featuring the amazing progression of Judy’s character, Jen’s guilt being released, and the twist about Michelle.
