‘P-Valley’: Starz Renewed the Series so Quickly for 1 Reason
Starz’s P-Valley is unlike anything ever seen before on television. The drama series gives its audience a bird’s eye view into the world of exotic dancers in Chucalissa, Mississippi. However, unlike many other series or movies that have sexualized these women, P-Valley showcases them in all of their nuances and humanity.
Created by Katori Hall, P-Valley centers Uncle Clifford (Nicco Annan), the vibrant and no-nonsense owner of the popular strip club, The Pynk, and the women who work for her. In addition to Uncle Clifford, the series leads include Mercedes (Brandee Evans), the club’s headliner who is on the verge of retirement, Autumn (Elarica Johnson), a stone-faced newcomer running from her past, as well as several other women who stand at the center of the series.
Almost immediately after it debuted in July 2020, P-Valley was renewed for Season 2, but there is a reason why Starz renewed the show for Season 2 so quickly.
When will ‘P-Valley’ Season 2 premiere?
Though Season 1 of P-Valley debuted in July 2020, fans will have to wait more than a year to return to The Pynk. Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, filming for Season 2 has not yet begun. However, there is a production date for the forthcoming season.
In March 2021, Hall tweeted a casting call for Season 2 of P-Valley asking for men, women, and non-binary actors and dancers who are conformable with nudity and sexual scenes.
According to the casting call, filming for the new season will take place in Atlanta for the duration of Summer 2021. This means that P-Valley is likely to return to our screens in late 2021 or early 2022.
What will ‘P-Valley’ Season 2 be about?
P-Valley Season 2 will be fast-paced and full of drama and dancing, just as we witnessed in Season 1. At the end of Season 1, we watched Mercedes’ dream of retirement get stripped away from her by her greedy mother, Patrice (Harriett D. Foy). Also, Autumn stepped in to save The Pynk from being sold and eventually demolished by a corporation.
Hall has all kinds of plans for the sophomore season of her show. “[Autumn/Hailey} came in getting her a** smacked on the dance floor and now, she has some ownership in the club,” Hall explained to ELLE. “The power dynamics at the club have completely changed and to see Uncle Clifford and Hailey fight over the throne will be stuff of legends.”
Why did Starz renew ‘P-Valley’ so quickly?
Though networks are typically confident in their shows, they rarely renew a new series as quickly as Starz greenlit Season 2 of P-Valley. However, the show was a ratings hit from the beginning.
According to Deadline, P-Valley set a record on the Starz App for the most-viewed series premiere. Over the first three episodes, the viewership grew by 37%. It is ranked as one of the top five programs in Black households.
“Katori has delivered a provocative drama that looks beyond the glitz and into the hearts and minds of these fully realized and compelling characters, exploring them through a female gaze that invites the audience to take a walk in their stilettos,” President of Original Programming, Christina Davis said in a statement. “We know Katori has a lot of incredible stories to tell and a lot in store for these women in a second season.”
