CBS’ So Help Me Todd Returns With More Witty Mysteries and Familial Fun in Season 2

So Help Me Todd is finally back, y’all! First of all, if you haven’t watched (and I don’t know why you would be here), you absolutely should be. The lovable and often wild Wright family returns as the second season kicks off with a number of seemingly small changes that certainly set the course for a fun, thrilling, albeit bumpy season. 

So Help Me Todd Season 2 promisingly picks up shortly—roughly five days—after the cliffhanger-filled finale. In which, as you’ll recall, Todd (Skylar Astin) earns back his P.I. license and debates running to the airport to stop Susan (Inga Schlingmann) from eloping with Peter (Desmond Chiam) in Vegas. Allison (Madeline Wise) changes her hair and is told, by her stylist, about a “retreat” of sorts in the woods. Meanwhile, after finally kissing Gus (Jeffrey Nordling) and her divorce being finalized, Margaret (Marcia Gay Harden) is stunned to find her ex-husband Harry (Mark Moses) in her condo, telling her that Iceland was terrible.

Firstly, I want to applaud the So Help Me Todd team for not skipping ahead despite the delay between seasons. Too often, a series jumps right into the changes, like Margaret becoming a name partner, rather than exploring the interim and beginning periods. Usually, we skip over major moments for character growth and story development, but that is not the case here. Five days later, Margaret is just returning to work to step into her new position.

Ultimately, the So Help Me Todd Season 2 premiere is a powerhouse episode showcasing the series’ many strengths. As the official episode description teases, there is a zany, twist-filled murder mystery involving the illustrious guest star (and icon) Lisa Rinna. This essentially takes Margaret and Todd back to basics, using their very different skills to assist in the matter and find the truth, leading to what is arguably the series’ funniest sequence of events.

However, given Margaret’s promotion and Todd officially regaining his license, there’s a certain pressure upon them both that complements the story nicely and refreshingly separates the episode from those in the first season. While it feels like we’re picking up where we left off, the episode skillfully and perfectly depicts the growth each character has had since their introduction, most notably Todd, Margaret, and even Allison. 

In addition to the fun mystery, there’s also plenty of focus on the complexity of the Wright family. After kissing Gus in the first season’s finale and with Harry back in her life, Margaret is now in quite an awkward situation. Pair that with how each of the children have changed and what’s going on in their lives, including the rarely-seen eldest Wright child, Lawrence (Matthew Wilkas), and it’s a recipe for a disastrous family dinner that displays the intensely complicated dynamics present in this wonderful and messy family.

As someone who has watched the first season at least five times, I am still pleasantly surprised by this premiere. Simply put, it manages to capture the essence and demonstrate exactly what makes So Help Me Todd worth watching. The characters feel stronger than ever and the changes only seem to add to the world thus far, though I have little doubt anything will alter my opinion during the season.

Going into this episode, I was very concerned about how the show would stand up given the new directions in both Todd and Margaret’s careers, particularly with Todd determined to restart his own P.I. firm. It seemed like too much for so early on in the show, but after watching, it’s less impactful than I believed (in a good way). The adjustments are subtle, with the premiere easing us into the new normal rather than pushing us over the cliff and running with it right away. (One of the benefits of watching the characters begin the next phase of their lives, for sure.)

All in all, the So Help Me Todd Season 2 premiere is a fantastic episode and an unbelievably strong start to the sophomore season. It captures both the wildness and wit of the show, delivering personal and professional stories that are genuinely impactful and pleasing to watch. One can also appreciate the brilliant irony of Allison’s story, too, though we’ll save that discussion for after the episode airs. 

So Help Me Todd Season 2 premieres on February 15th on CBS.

Jay Snow is a freelance writer. He has published many places on the internet. For more of his thoughts on television and to see his other work (or to simply watch him gush again and again over his love for the original Charmed) follow him @snowyjay.

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