Last year's surprise new Apple TV hit crime dramedy Your Friends and Neighbors returns with its second season, and it's simply better than ever. The series continues to do what it does best, but leans even further into its strengths, which is its ensemble cast surrounding Jon Hamm. In the season 2 premiere, shocking twists arise for what's sure to be an unpredictable season.
The episode titled "We're Here Until We're Not" opens with an extended sequence of Coop on a beachside vacation, enjoying the ocean, the beach, and his resort's outdoor shower. He meets with Mel at the bar, and it's revealed that they are on a Cooper family vacation in Mexico. While they aren't together but remain friends, Mel and Coop's conversation turns confusingly tense.
Coop's confused about how he soured their interaction, but he's still soaking up his freedom since he could be in jail. Lest we forget, Sam attempted to frame him for murder, after she staged her husband Paul's suicide as a homicide to collect his life insurance. But he rejected returning to his old job to maintain his newfound passion for robbing his rich neighbors and making cash.
He's living it up and gotten his life back on track, but what happened to Sam? She received a large fine and community service charge, and while she's been cast out by the women in town, she's reinvented herself as a real estate agent. Sam's responsible for the listing of her old home, which she attempts to sell to the town's mega-rich newcomer Owen Ashe, played by James Marsden.
Ashe buys a $20 million house and Barney learns Coop's secret
Unfortunately, Sam's old house is "too small" for the wealthy and very particular Ashe. When he learns that Sam's husband died by suicide in the house, he reveals that his wife also died eight years ago (though he doesn't say how). He knows about Sam's case, but isn't turned off that she was arrested. Sam's honesty endears her to Ashe, and she basically steals Ashe as a client right out from under Reenie, his actual broker. She takes him to the Bisbee estate, which he buys.
During Tori's Princeton interview, she's expecting to get right in since both her mother and father attended the university, but her blunt candor about the fact that it should be enough seems to tank the interview. As mentioned, brutal honesty (more like vulnerability) works for Sam. Ashe buys the estate for its $20 million asking price, on the spot, in cash. That's sure to make quite the splash around the Westmont Village rumor mill.
Later that night, Coop and Elena embark on their latest heist, which includes swiping an expensive pen. Once Coop finally finds the pen, he drops it on the ground. When he reaches for it, he throws out his back and is unable to move, even after Elena comes inside and tries to help. They are forced to call Barney for help, and he pieces the truth together. Back at Coop's house, Barney confronts Coop about his secret life of crime, realizing it almost killed him.
Barney's understandably angry that Coop's theft caused his attack and can't believe that his best friend went down this route. But Coop's not shaken by Barney's big reaction. As he tells Elena, Barney learning the truth went better than he was expecting. Meanwhile, Mel goes on a date and their conversation seems to be going well. However, when they get intimate in his car, she ends the sexual encounter before it gets too far, but what's holding her back?
During a heated conversation with his father-in-law, Barney gets a stern talking to about expectations and the flaws in his career plans in wealth management. His father-in-law pushes Barney to find a more stable job, and he bites back. The option for Barney to work with his father-in-law is on the table, and it's a tempting offer. Even though they don't like each other, it would give Barney a chance to get out of a world that's connected to Coop and danger.
Coop gets an unexpected offer from Barney
In the steam room, Coop and his friends complain about getting older and gossip about Ashe's real estate sale, which gave Sam a million-dollar commission, and his impending housewarming party. As Barney mentioned, Nick accepted a new job as an on-air sports commentator, which gave his career a second act. Like Mel, Barney also struggles to get intimate when Grace initiates sex. He tells her not to set up meetings for him with her father.
Mel attends Ali's latest performance and they chat about Mel's thwarted hookup and her perimenopause after. (Mel doesn't want Coop to find out, but he's feeling his age, too.) Mel also presents Ali with a music teacher job offer at Mayfield. Ali's hesitant to take on that position, but Mel pushes her to be confident and lean into her independence. The next day, Ali lands an interview for the position despite her lack of teaching experience.
Ashe's grand bash announcing his arrival in Westmont begins and isn't anything like a normal housewarming party you'd expect. No one's bringing him a blender and Bed, Bath & Beyond gift cards. Ashe charms everyone, disarming them with blunt humor, and makes an amazing first impression. Sam makes a brief appearance for Ashe's sake, and he begs her to stay as his only friend, but she refuses his plea. On her way out, she literally runs into Coop.
Grace reveals to Barney that she's pregnant, expecting him to be stressed, but he's excited. Coop pulls Mel aside to talk to Mel about the music teacher gig, fearing that it could negatively impact her mental health. The interaction doesn't end well but leads into Coop's introduction with Ashe. We also learn that Ashe apparently has a teenage daughter that doesn't seem to like him very much. But at least Coop and Ashe appear to be getting along.
Ashe approaches Nick and Barney about investing in and expanding his gym franchise. He sure knows exactly what to say, when to say it, and to whom. Coop takes the opportunity to wander around the mansion and peek around at Ashe's belongings. When one of the partygoers falls into the pool with a metal sculpture, everyone awaits Ashe's anger, but he chooses whimsy and turns the evening into a pool party. Coop pushes Mel in the pool and jumps in after her.
When the swimming fun has concluded, Coop and Barney sit by the fire and have a drink. Coop explains why he didn't take his job back. Something unexpected happened inside of him, which was the fear that his life would go back to the way it was and not in a good way. Surprisingly, Barney wants to join his robbery crew with Elena as a way to defy his father-in-law. While Coop think it's a bad idea, he's actually excited about the future. Don't get ahead of yourself, Coop!