Summary
“Pussyland” is a nice reminder of how underrated a show P-Valley is, as the effects of the pandemic cause new problems for the Pynk.
This recap of P-Valley season 2, episode 1, “Pussyland”, contains spoilers.
The P in P-Valley stands for “pussy”, but in Season 2, it could just as easily stand for “pandemic”. That’s what’s on everyone’s minds in this premiere, in one way or another. While it would have been logical to assume we’d pick things up directly after the first season finale, in which “Murda Night” lived up to its name by resulting in the death of Hailey’s abusive ex and the use of his money to save the Pynk under the new joint ownership of Hailey and Uncle Clifford, we instead pick up a while after, with Covid-19 having done a number on the new venture, as well as many others in and around Chucalissa.
P-Valley season 2, episode 1 recap
The Pynk is still around, it just took its services outside, masquerading as an X-rated car wash providing services that may or may not be deemed essential. But it’s hemorrhaging money, its staff – especially Mercedes, who still headlines the experience every night – are overworked, and its clientele is hesitant to step outside the confines of their homes and cars, especially for reasons so difficult to justify. Mercedes herself is paying two mortgages on both her home and her gym, which currently sits empty since so many of her students’ parents are unwilling or unable to send the kids back to classes.
After putting $250,000 into the Pynk for an 85% ownership share, the responsibility is on Hailey to keep the place afloat, which includes completely renovating the Paradise Room since bloodstains keep bleeding through the paint on the walls. Her bright idea is to audition new talent to take the strain off the current workers, but Mercedes isn’t keen on the idea, both because she remains territorial and also because she needs as much money as she can get for herself.
The pandemic also cost the life of Chucalissa mayor Tydell Ruffin, which leads to a number of plot movements, including the return of Andre, who arrives in P-Valley to help bury his godfather, and the appointment of Wayne Kyle as interim mayor. With Wayne angling for a partnership with Andre, this at least keeps him local, but it’s pretty likely that the mayoral race will form an important backbone to this second season, with both Andre and Uncle Clifford, who is the valley’s unofficial mayor already, potential candidates.
Keyshawn, meanwhile, has left the Pynk to become a video vixen and is making a name for herself in Lil Murda’s latest hit. But her weird baby daddy Derrick continues to control her life, so the potential of going on tour with Lil Murda will doubtlessly cause problems for her down the line. And she doesn’t have the allies she once did thanks to her new isolation. Diamond, the answer to the question of what would happen if Drake spent all his time in the gym, is working as mask security at the dollar store and won’t even let Keyshawn inside as a favor. And none of the girls seem to have much of a relationship with her anymore. The final shot of “Pussyland” is a reminder that Keyshawn’s life is currently as much of a prison as her child’s crib. And one can’t get out unless the other does first.
You can catch P-Valley season 2, episode 1, “Pussyland”, exclusively on Starz.
