PEN15: Season 2

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 11 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 36 Ratings

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7.6

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7.6	Your Score
7.6	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 36 Ratings

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Pen15: The Making Of Season 2

Now Playing: Pen15: The Making Of Season 2

Season Details & Credits

HULU | Season Premiere Date: September 18, 2020

Summary: The 14-episode second season split into two halves (the second half will premiere in 2021) finds Anna (Anna Konkle) and Maya (Maya Erskine) back in middle school as they try to fit in while attending parties, school plays and sleepovers.

Creator: Maya Erskine and Anna Konkle and Sam Zvibleman

Genre(s): Comedy

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Season 2 Episodes

tbd
S2:E15. Home
Air Date: December 3, 2021
tbd
S2:E14. Runaway
Air Date: December 3, 2021
tbd
S2:E13. Luminaria
Air Date: December 3, 2021

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Metascore

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Mixed:

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Critic Reviews

100

Hank Stuever

Sep 9, 2020

If one has to choose only one millennial-made TV series that ventures into adolescent angst in the AOL era, please make it this one. “PEN15,” which returns Sept. 18 with seven endearing new episodes (another seven will follow when production can safely resume), could be almost considered an act of communal therapy. ... “PEN15” is both an exquisite wallow in hormonal chaos and a belated act of forgiveness. Read full review

100

Jen Chaney

Sep 17, 2020

Never once, in any episode, is the viewer even temporarily reminded that [Anna and Maya] are adults. Both of them were great in season one, but in this season they have seeped even more deeply into these characters. ... The beauty of PEN15 is that it’s recognizable to everyone because we’ve all been through adolescence. We know how it felt. Sometimes we forget, but PEN15 is here to remind us of every glorious, agonizing, infuriating, beautiful moment. Read full review

100

Allegra Frank

Sep 18, 2020

Its second season (the first seven episodes of which are newly streaming on Hulu) evolves beyond that pretense and looks inward at Maya and Anna. The show becomes more concerned with how strong the bond of friendship can be between young girls, especially as they experience complications on top of what’s already a complicated time of life. And it makes for beautifully relatable stuff, particularly thanks to the show’s increased focus on how puberty strains Maya and Anna’s friendship. Read full review

Allison Keene

Sep 16, 2020

PEN15 is not so much funny as felt, deeply, uncomfortably accessing memories of a time you thought you had moved on from. It’s bold and quite possibly brilliant. Read full review

IndieWire Ben Travers

Sep 18, 2020

Pen15” is a convincing and grand portrayal of friendship. Read full review

Collider Allie Gemmill

Sep 8, 2020

PEN15 Season 2 is very much worth the binge, as well as the wait for the second half, set to premiere in 2021. ... Erskine and Konkle are true delights and they are surrounded by an equally delightful cast of actual kids who showcase a range of talent that keeps the adult leads of this show on their toes. Read full review

Alan Sepinwall

Sep 15, 2020

Pen15 has definitely changed, but in ways that are almost entirely for the better. What was once a gimmick is now a thoroughly excellent and warm show. Read full review

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User Score

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7.6

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User Reviews

jonsauce

Sep 19, 2020

I laughed a lot. There are some "slow" moments, but they serve as much needed downtime from laughing during the constant stream of crazy and hilarious scenes.
These ladies touch on some deep subjects and I found their openness quite brave.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

RGIV

Sep 20, 2020

Absolutely loved the first series and couldn’t wait for this. It somehow managed to exceed my very high expectations. Binged it in one go!

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

JeBjBo

Dec 14, 2022

Season two is as good as season one, perfectly combining comedy and drama once again.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

truerock

Nov 23, 2020

Trying to remember what it was like when I was 13 was too difficult. I had to look at home-movies of my kids when they were 13 in 1998 2000 and 2002 to get a better feel of what it was like to be a young teen in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
My experience as a 13 year old in the 1960'sTrying to remember what it was like when I was 13 was too difficult. I had to look at home-movies of my kids when they were 13 in 1998 2000 and 2002 to get a better feel of what it was like to be a young teen in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
My experience as a 13 year old in the 1960's was more similar to PENU15 where things were not highly controlled by the parents.
But, in the late 1990s and early 2000s, school and church dances were highly controlled by the mothers and youth sports were highly controlled by the fathers (and some mothers in girls sports).
I don't feel PEN15 represents accurately what was going on in 2000 for most 13 year olds.
But, sure - I imagine a lot of 13 year old kids had experiences similar to PEN15.
Likewise, I'm thinking the Maya character was too over the top to be anywhere close to realistic.
So, there is nothing wrong with a series like PEN15 not being extremely realistic. Regardless, my feeling is that the Maya character should have been written, directed and acted in a more realistic way and the other casting could of also have been more realistic. Maya's older brother Shuji (played by Dallas Liu) was a more realistic, better written, directed and acted character and I felt more interesting to watch.
If there is a 3rd season of PEN15, I hope the Maya character is re-written and re-formulated into something better. I've seen Maya in interviews and her natural personality would be closer to what the Maya character should be - in my opinion.
I will say that I thought the Anna Kone (played by Anna Konkle) was stronger in season 2 - so, I upped my rating of 6 for season 1 to 7 for season 2.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

geewah

Jul 5, 2021

Follows in the same vein as the first season.
A show that has an amazing ability to bring up those uncomfortable and awkward moments of growing up and putting a hilarious, weird bent on it all.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Seasons & Episodes

87

Series Overview
Season 2.5

92
- Season 2.5 Overview
  Air Date: December 3, 2021
Season 2

93
- Season 2 Overview
  Air Date: September 18, 2020
- tbd
  S2:E15. Home
  Air Date: December 3, 2021
- tbd
  S2:E14. Runaway
  Air Date: December 3, 2021
- tbd
  S2:E13. Luminaria
  Air Date: December 3, 2021
- tbd
  S2:E12. Grammy
  Air Date: December 3, 2021
- tbd
  S2:E11. Yuki
  Air Date: December 3, 2021
- tbd
  S2:E10. Shadow
  Air Date: December 3, 2021
- tbd
  S2:E9. Bat Mitzvah
  Air Date: December 3, 2021
- tbd
  S2:E8. Jacuzzi
  Air Date: August 27, 2021
- tbd
  S2:E7. Opening Night
  Air Date: September 18, 2020
- tbd
  S2:E6. Play
  Air Date: September 18, 2020
- tbd
  S2:E5. Sleepover
  Air Date: September 18, 2020
- tbd
  S2:E4. Maura
  Air Date: September 18, 2020
- tbd
  S2:E3. Vendy Wiccany
  Air Date: September 18, 2020
- tbd
  S2:E2. Wrestle
  Air Date: September 18, 2020
- tbd
  S2:E1. Pool
  Air Date: September 18, 2020
Season 1

82
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: February 8, 2019