The vibrant essence of Palm Royale is palpable in "Maxine Serves A Swerve," particularly in the second season's psychedelic opening, which, while potentially a bit of a jumbled mess, bursts forth in Episode 2 with a full-throttle display of physical comedy, boundless energy, and impeccably timed line readings. It concludes with a dramatic cliffhanger that underscores the ongoing melodrama with unwavering commitment. The episode is a masterclass in storytelling.
The core of this episode revolves around a plan to spring Linda from custody, a move that feels justified given her interrogation—not for attempting to assassinate President Nixon but for being scapegoated as a radical feminist. In essence, Linda's innocence is irrelevant to those in power, and her release is justified. However, not everyone agrees on her freedom.
Maxine, however, is resolute. This episode solidifies Maxine's position as the leader of the pack, even though she doesn't fit in with Evelyn, Dinah, and their clique. While Evelyn might have rescued Maxine from her own custody, she advises her to simply disappear and return after a few months with a new face and husband—the de facto solution for Palm Beach problems. Maxine is also still feeding Mary, who is hiding out in the bootlegger tunnels and is getting married, albeit in a transactional union of convenience.
But Maxine isn't one to take no for an answer. She proposes to Linda that they create a Rolodex of kompromat on high-ranking government officials that can be used to blackmail them. Linda makes Maxine the conservator of the Rollins estate, irritating Evelyn, and a plan does seem to be taking shape. Predictably, though, it all goes awry when Maxine decides to claim half of Norma's substantial family fortune by divorcing Douglas but hands him the Rolodex instead of the divorce papers. Douglas passes them on to Perry without realizing it, and in a tangled turn of events, he's armed with a pistol and given the instruction to kill Linda to keep her quiet and prevent any further exposure of her knowledge.
Realizing the error, Maxine takes matters into her own hands and devises a creative solution that bypasses the authorities, with the possible exception of Virginia, who hesitates to side with "radical" forces for fear of ruining her own career. In the process, Maxine discovers Mary hiding in the tunnels and finds a way back into the Dellacorte house, where she has been usurped by Mitzi. Mitzi, in a sense, is the antithesis of Maxine; she desires the same cosy, glamorous life that Maxine once yearned for and may still aspire to, but lacks the moral courage to stand up for herself and others. She is far more susceptible to Norma's grooming and manipulation than Maxine would have been.
Linda's escape in Palm Beach Season 2, Episode 2, is the clear highlight. It's a hilarious sequence filled with funny details like Axel's corpse being used as a stand-in for Linda, Dinah wheeling Linda out hidden in a body bag, the radical feminists running interference, Linda sneaking into the Dellacorte house disguised in a model rocket, and Maxine doing the worm across the foyer. But beyond the comedy, it's a heartwarming moment of unity and sisterhood that aligns well with the show's underlying themes, particularly Virginia's agreement to help save the day. This season seems to have a more distinct grasp of who the good guys and bad guys are, giving it a unique vibe compared to the first season.
Douglas finally comes through for Maxine and agrees to spirit Linda away in exchange for Maxine leaving Palm Beach so that he can marry Mitzi. As she disappears back into the tunnels, they lead her to a new revelation - a portrait of Douglas's mother that looks familiar. The camera naturally cuts back to Norma, who, as we know, isn't really Norma but is preoccupied with the syringe she plans to use to kill Robert. Surely not so early in the season? We'll have to wait and see.
