Nine Perfect Strangers season two
“Wellness” has been the buzzword of the post-pandemic West. Essentially a rebranded version of New Ageism, there are inherent dangers to eschewing science in favour of gimmicky detoxes and pseudo-psychiatry. This is explored in the second season of Nine Perfect Strangers, the wellness retreat-set drama based on Liane Moriarty’s eponymous novel.
The first season ended with Nicole Kidman’s Masha subjecting her guests to increasingly extreme psychological torture (and drugging) in the name of wellness. Following an explosive best-selling tell-all by former guest Frances (Melissa McCarthy), Masha is determined to continue her journey as a cult leader-lite figure. Accordingly, season two begins with nine more wealthy strangers gathering at Masha’s frosty resort for their supposed treatments. All the while, Masha and BFF Helena (Lena Olin) spy on the guests, seemingly as part of the ominous mind games that are to follow.
The guests include mother-daughter duo Victoria (Christine Baranski) and Imogen (Annie Murphy), whose relationship is almost as toxic as Masha’s healing methods. There’s Tina (King Princess), who thinks she’s off to a spa, only to be confronted by the grim reality that she has been duped by her partner, Wolfe (Maisie Richardson-Sellers). Mark Strong plays elusive billionaire David; though he’s there to bond with his son, Peter (Henry Golding), it seems that he and Masha share a past.
Kidman is perfectly cast as the formidable ice queen Masha, whose true intentions are hidden behind her stoicism. To what extent she is a grifter or herself a victim of toxic influencer culture remains shrouded in mystery, not unlike the fog of her resort. She works well with Olin, who almost matches her glacial delivery. Meanwhile, Baranski is a fun and flamboyant presence, her performance recalling her work in camp classics such as The Birdcage.
However, it’s all a bit soapy and therefore lacking a tad in dramatic tension. Given the number of new characters and the limited time to introduce them, there’s an over-reliance on clunky exposition. As such, the titular strangers come across as caricatures on occasion, though the talented ensemble cast undoubtedly does their best to mitigate this.
An intriguing rumination on the pitfalls of wellness, Nine Perfect Strangers may be patchy at times, but Kidman’s performance and the web of mystery nonetheless make it compelling viewing. If anything, it’s a timely reminder of the dangers of pseudoscience and influencer gurus.
Antonia Georgiou
Nine Perfect Strangers season two is released on Prime Video on 22nd May 2025.
Watch the trailer for Nine Perfect Strangers season two here:
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