Kristen Wiig, showcasing her versatile talents beyond comedy, takes on the role of Maxine, a former beauty queen from Chattanooga. Her aspiration? To infiltrate the exclusive Palm Beach high society and join the coveted club: Palm Royale. Maxine's initial approach is straightforward: she uses sheer determination to breach the unguarded back wall, quite literally embodying the concept of a social climber.
Swiftly, she inserts herself into the private discussions of the elite, including the assertively philanthropic Evelyn Rollins, portrayed with intimidating energy by Allison Janney. Additionally, there's Dinah Donahue, second-in-command and spouse to an ambassador, engaged in an affair with her tennis instructor (played by Leslie Bibb), and the widowed Mary Jones Davidsoul, played by Julia Duffy.
Maxine, whose husband Douglas Simmons (played by Josh Lucas) also possesses the prestigious surname of D'ellacourt, which acts as a symbol of wealth and lineage within Palm Royale's elite circle. Maxine continues to steadily gain social influence. Her repeated successes prompt those around her to question their initial assessments of her.
Wiig, a revered figure in comedy, adeptly navigates scenes such as these. However, it speaks volumes about the immense talent pool of this show and its unfortunate underutilization of the woman first seen in a comatose state on the bed is Norma D'ellacourt, played by none other than Carol Burnett. Thankfully, Norma's comatose state is not permanent.
Completing the social landscape of 1969 Palm Beach is Laura Dern's character Linda, Evelyn's stepdaughter. Linda, an antiwar activist, rejects the superficial world of her stepmother, opting instead to establish a feminist bookstore alongside her friend Virginia (played by Amber Chardae Robinson). Together, they focus on raising awareness and fostering a sense of community.
Nearly everyone, except those excessively privileged, will recognize that Maxine's aspirations are misguided, revealing a fundamental misunderstanding of success. Interestingly, none of the women she admires truly experience happiness; the narrative suggests that the pursuit of wealth is inherently detrimental. Nevertheless, Maxine is a decent person. Her actions and transgressions are not easily forgiven, but they are somewhat excused with the hope for future redemption.
Over the span of 10 episodes, Maxine's motivations become clearer. The series delights in its numerous plot twists. The exceptional ensemble cast skillfully portrays characters who are both extravagantly comedic and deeply relatable. As Maxine's journey progresses from a cunning scam artist to a woman determined to carve out her place in the world, Palm Royale evolves alongside her. Blending elements of dramatic soap opera with exaggerated satire, Wiig's creation operates on multiple levels, showcasing proficiency in some aspects and exceptional brilliance in others, ultimately emerging as a bright, enjoyable dramedy.
The first three episodes of Palm Royale are available now on AppleTV+, with episodes following weekly.
