We Are Lady Parts season 2 review: A pitch-perfect return

Nida Manzoor has crafted a flawless TV show in We Are Lady Parts, a British comedy revolving around a Muslim punk rock band, Lady Parts. Season one launched in 2021 and garnered some well-deserved acclaim, proving the series creator/director/writer’s ability to execute her singular vision. Those six half-hour episodes are full of humor, heartfelt chemistry, catchy original songs, and, most importantly, astute commentary about the community it portrays. And thankfully, all these elements shine brightly once again in the second season.

After three long years, We Are Lady Parts returns to Peacock (Channel 4 in the U.K.) on May 30 with six more breezy episodes. And reader, they are a pure delight. Manzoor maintains the same levity and poignance as Lady Parts evolves and deals with the pros and cons of fame. There’s now more focus on all the band members instead of primarily on guitarist Amina (Anjana Vasan) and singer/songwriter Saira (Sarah Kameela Impey). Both actors proved to be MVPs last time, but WALP throws the spotlight on its ensemble this time, and it really pays off.

It’s refreshing to witness five female Muslim leads with distinctive, beautifully fleshed-out internal lives. Their coming-of-age stories are layered with romance, sisterhood, music, culture, and self-expression, and they embrace and topple stereotypes at the same time. WALP lets them experiment with their fashion, beliefs, love stories, and art, which frankly adds a level of narrative richness that is rare to find onscreen these days.

Thanks to the fresh voices behind the camera, the series is equipped to tell myriad specific stories about the diaspora. Manzoor teams up with her siblings Shez and Sania (along with Benjamin Fregin) for original songs that are impossible to get out of your head. If season one’s “Voldemort Under My Headscarf” and “Bashir With The Good Beard” didn’t hook you, season two’s earworms like “Malala Made Me Do It” and “The Villain Anthem” surely will. The lyrics are, as the genre demands, brutally honest and quite fun.

Meanwhile, the show’s writers’ room is comprised of several Muslim women from different backgrounds, lending authenticity as the group deals with serious topics like Ayesha’s (Juliet Motamed) queer relationship or Bisma (Faith Omole) coming to terms with her Blackness. (Prepare yourself for Omole’s mind-blowing solo number in episode four.) The sharp comedy ensures WALP doesn’t get preachy while still sparking thoughtful discussions. It smartly disarms viewers with its one-liners, Amina’s voiceovers, and tons of banter. This sunny disposition is balanced with bold, necessary statements about the importance of diversity. And much like Lady Parts stands for their underrepresented fans, We Are Lady Parts illustrates rarely-seen stories in consequential, tender ways.

In season two, the band gets increasingly popular, paving the way for a career milestone: recording their first album. But should they stick with their manager Momtaz (Lucie Shorthouse) or try to break new ground with a studio that doesn’t fully understand their passion? The season slowly builds up to a timely corporate-versus-culture clash. Amina, Saira, Bisma, Ayesha, and Momtaz reckon with what matters most. Is it success and money or sticking to one’s scruples? Can it be possible to have both in an industry that’s eager to put all Muslim women under a single umbrella?

We Are Lady Parts tackles these heavy questions with aplomb, presenting both sides of the argument as the ladies figure out how to make art that reflects their personalities. Saira gets to meet her idol, a fellow punk-rock musician (played by Meera Syal), who inspires her to write a song that speaks to their niche experience. This leads to “Glass Ceiling Feeling,” the show’s best original track so far that boasts an accompanying music video that’s equally stellar.

Amid all this heavy lifting, season two has sweet subplots like Amina’s rom-com-esque trajectory with Ahsan (Zaqi Ismail). (There may be a love triangle brewing.) And then there’s Amina’s supportive mother, Seema (Shobu Kapoor), who’s a proper Lady Parts groupie with a streak in her hair and everything. It’s exhilarating to see a South Asian parent-child relationship free of unnecessary arguments, pressures of marriage, and other common tropes. (Selfishly, this writer hoped to see more of it.)

Season two features a couple more covers, including a Britney Spears song. Manzoor throws in a dose of surrealism for good measure as well, possibly inspired by her wonderful 2023 action film Polite Society. It’s a credit to the whole team that WALP can cover so much ground in three hours without feeling overstuffed. The show hits all the right notes—it’s potent, touching, and laugh-out-loud funny—and, like a good gig, leaves you wanting more.

We Are Lady Parts season 2 premieres May 30 on Peacock