Everyone’s favourite murderous doll is back, leaving a trail of dead bodies in his wake as he continues to torture the living hell out of his targets. Season two of Chucky picks up where season one’s finale left us, following all our favourite characters, while introducing (or reintroducing) us to some familiar faces.
Season one was a momentous occasion within the Chucky universe – bringing together the OG characters of Child’s Play fame, the more recent “…of Chucky” characters and a collection of new, younger characters who would find themselves also going up against Charles Lee Ray. Despite all of these eras in the Chucky franchise adopting very different tones, the series managed to blend them all together in a way that really worked, ensuring each and every character felt the same as their prior appearances. This season goes even further down that path, incorporating a bit more of that Seed of Chucky vibe, while still retaining a bit of that serious, gruesome horror that sits at the franchise’s core. It’s all masterfully put together by Don Mancini, who hasn’t lost his grasp on the characters and continues to reinvent the franchise in new ways.
Despite the bulk of the season being deliberately limited to a couple of key locations, the narrative feels much broader than in the first season, with more interesting character dynamics and an enormous dose of chaos. That does result in the occasional episode feeling a little too hasty, but for the most part the pacing is executed really well and timed around some fun reveals. As is the case with the first season, all of the content involving the OG characters (Tiffany, Andy, Nica etc.) was definitely the highlight, with the events surrounding Jake and co. playing second fiddle. That’s not to say they were bad, it’s just that the juiciest stuff happens away from that young group. I like the developments made with Jake and Devon’s characters as it really strengthens their place in the series, creating more engagement in their ongoing war with Chucky. When it comes to Lexy, her arc through the season felt a bit contrived. I understand that they’re trying to make her more complex, but it’s more of a burden on the story and her character than it is a plus.
However, if you’re in the market for some thoroughly entertaining character arcs that are as ridiculous as they are fantastic, there’s heaps of that too. Tiffany/Jennifer Tilly has a much larger presence (at least it feels that way), and the character is more unhinged than ever. Her every interaction with other characters is an absolute joy to watch, and clearly an absolute joy for Don Mancini to create. Actress Jennifer Tilly is brilliant in the role, taking every insanely silly and ridiculous moment up to an 11, garnering some of the biggest laughs of the season. If the Emmy’s would ever look at this series, I’d want her to be nominated purely for how blatantly insane her performance is. Nica doesn’t have a tonne to do this time around (as expected after having all her limbs amputated) but the scenes where she does play a part, she makes a huge impact and commands the screen. Having the talents of Fiona Dourif is such a blessing, I couldn’t see this series working without her.
The big newcomer(s) to Chucky, but not newcomers to the franchise, are Glen and Glenda, both portrayed by Lachlan Watson. These two characters are a very welcome breath of fresh air, bringing a fun and lightly chaotic vibe to the series. I loved every scene in which either Glen, Glenda or the two of them are on screen. Their clashing personalities create a fun dynamic, and the dual performance from Lachlan is effortlessly great.
As great as everyone else is, the man of the hour is absolutely Brad Dourif. It sounds ridiculous to say that Brad has a lot to do in this season (because no duh), but it’s very true when considering the journey Chucky takes in here. I love seeing Brad be able to have even more fun with the character of Chucky and all its iterations. He leans into the mayhem more than ever, bringing a fresh and new experience that allows for big laughs and genuine chills. His voice alone is enough to send shivers down your spine, so every time Chucky speaks you know you’re about to hear another glorious line of comedic dialogue.
I want to take this time to specifically highlight how Don Mancini uses his seemingly limitless creative freedom to explore some wild and absolutely bonkers narrative arcs. The fourth episode is an absolute work of art, leaning fully into the silliness of the franchise to produce a self-contained story that’s wild beyond belief. Then there’s the finale, which is quite possibly the most perfect way to end to the season. It’s entirely unpredictable and sets the franchise up for an even more exciting future. These two episodes capture just how inventive this season is in comparison to the first, never afraid to undercut expectations for the sake of making a comedic beat work.
In the end, this second season continues to prove why Chucky is and always will be a horror-genre staple. Fans are guaranteed to be delighted by what’s on offer in here. Despite some shaky pacing and one very average character arc, this season really lets loose and embraces the cheesiness more than ever. Backed by great performances and plenty of comedy, this is a thoroughly enjoyable, twist-filled narrative – an absolute must-watch for any and every horror-comedy fan.
9.1/10
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