The second season of Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist‘s just finished airing on NBC, wrapping up its sophomore run with a jaw-dropping cliffhanger that nobody saw coming. Season 1 revolved around Zoey Clarke (Jane Levy) as she navigated her newfound musical powers and dealt with her father’s terminal illness.
Season 2 saw the aftermath of her father’s death and the toll it took on her, as well as her budding friendships and romances with other characters. Each season ended up having its own special moments that made the show worth tuning in for but one had to be the best.
Season 1: Zoey Establishing Relationships With Everyone
When viewers first met Zoey, she was an introverted coder working at SPRQ Point with a very limited knowledge of music.
As season 1 went on, they watched as she became a pseudo-superhero, helping people through hearing their innermost thoughts. It was great to see her friendship with Mo develop, and the connection she and Simon shared as they bonded over family grief.
Season 2: The Love Triangle Being Tackled Head On
At the end of Season 1, it’s unclear whether or not Simon or Max has Zoey’s heart, but Season 2 made sure to let the titular character explore her options.
She briefly dated Max, though it was too soon for her to be in a relationship. She moved on to Simon on her birthday but came to the conclusion that her heart was always where Max was. It was nice to see the love triangle tackled directly and not dragged out for another couple of seasons.
Season 1: Zoey’s Boss, Joan
Lauren Graham starred as Zoey’s boss, Joan in season 1 before getting promoted and leaving the office. That made it so she wasn’t a part of season 2.
Joan was a shoulder for Zoey to cry on, and vice versa with the two developing a mentorship/friendship that was mutually beneficial. Zoey helped Joan realize she deserved better than her failing marriage, and Joan assured Zoey that she was made to be in charge.
Season 2: The Introduction of New Characters
With Peter Gallagher’s absence for much of Season 2 due to the death of his character, Mitch, it was nice to get some new faces in Zoey’s world.
Among the newcomers were Zoey’s hot neighbor Aiden, Emily’s impulsive sister Jenna, the sweet but unqualified for his job George, and Max’s old camp fling, Rose. The new characters added to the storylines and created emotional depth for the existing characters, amplifying the success of Season 2.
Season 1: Zoey’s First Glitch
Season 1’s Episode 8, “Zoey’s Extraordinary Glitch,” featured Zoey losing control of her powers and becoming the one singing the heart songs instead of hearing them.
The episode featured some of the best musical numbers, including Zoey uncontrollably singing and dancing to Billy Joel’s “Pressure” during an important work meeting, prompting Max to join in and save her from total embarrassment.
Season 2: Zoey’s Second Glitch
Season 2 had another glitchy episode, this time with everyone’s heart songs being mixed up leading to Zoey and Mo solving the mystery of ‘which song belongs to who.’
The results caused Zoey to realize that her sister-in-law Emily was struggling with postpartum depression and felt like she had no one to turn to. She ran to be by her side and due to Zoey’s help, Emily got the care and attention she needed, giving the character an important storyline.
Season 1: Lots of Zoey/Mitch Moments
Zoey’s relationship with her father is one of the biggest strengths of the series, and her ability to communicate with him through song in season 1 resulted in some of the most touching scenes.
Zoey was able to find herself and get closure with her dad as the first season went on, and his heart songs to her let her know that she was going to be okay even after he was gone. Their relationship was something special, and a part of what made Zoey grow as a person.
Season 2: Supporting Characters Getting More Screen Time
A lot of the first season was centered around Zoey, but Season 2 allowed for the exploration of the supporting characters and gave them a chance to grow.
Leif’s dating life post-Joan was explored, David and Emily had their baby and dealt with career changes, postpartum depression, and marriage hurdles, and Tobin had a love interest in the form of a witty female coder. Tobin was also part of a crucial storyline with Simon regarding the way minorities were treated at SPRQ Point.
Season 1: The Brilliant Finale
Season 1’s finale featured the longest-running musical number in “American Pie,” as all of Zoey’s friends and family sang to her at the funeral for her father.
The finale wrapped up most of the loose ends of the season, with Zoey saying goodbye to her dad and finally developing a sense of self. It was a lovin episode that showed the beauty and heartbreak of grief, and how much music heals and brings people together.
Season 2: The Cliffhanger Finale
The Season 2 finale had big shoes to fill after Season 1’s perfection, yet Zoey’s managed to pull it off. In the last moments of the second season, Max found Zoey by their bench in the park and revealed that he didn’t go with Rose to New York.
This caused Zoey to confess her feelings for Max — only not through words, but song. The heart song heard only by him made fans question whether or not Zoey’s powers had transferred to her best friend or were now a thing the two of them shared, leaving the door open for many possibilities.
