Welcome to Palm Beach, 1969, where the sun is bright, the money is old, and the secrets are even older.
Apple TV+’s Palm Royale, a whirlwind of period comedy-drama, introduced us to a world where social climbing is a blood sport and no one is who they appear to be. As the series’ second season just dropped on Apple TV, let’s dive back into the scandalous, hilarious, and shocking events that left everyone talking. Whether you need a refresher or are jumping in for the first time, this is your complete guide to the chaos of Season 1.
The Audacious Ascent of Maxine Simmons
The story begins with Maxine Dellacorte-Simmons (Kristen Wiig), a former beauty queen from Chattanooga with big dreams and an empty bank account. She arrives in Palm Beach with her husband, Douglas (Josh Lucas), pinning their hopes on inheriting the vast fortune of his aunt, the formidable Norma Dellacorte (Carol Burnett). When Norma suffers an embolism and slips into a coma, Maxine sees her golden ticket.
What follows is a masterclass in audacity. Maxine moves into Norma’s mansion, pilfers her legendary wardrobe, and uses a combination of charm, cunning, and sheer nerve to infiltrate the most exclusive club in town: the Palm Royale. Her goal is to be accepted by the “top tier” of society, led by the icy queen bee Evelyn Rollins (Allison Janney) and her sharp-tongued cohort, Dinah Donohue (Leslie Bibb).
A Web of Lies, Alliances, and Rivalries
Maxine’s journey is anything but smooth. She fakes friendships, sells off Norma’s heirlooms to fund her new lifestyle, and even orchestrates a disastrous charity auction where she bids a staggering $75,000 she doesn’t have. Her saving grace comes from an unlikely ally: Linda Shaw (Laura Dern), a radical feminist and activist who also happens to be Douglas’s former fiancée. Their relationship is a complex dance of rivalry and reluctant sisterhood, built on the shared understanding of what it means to be an outsider in Palm Beach.
Throughout her ascent, Maxine’s primary confidant and moral compass is Robert Diaz (Ricky Martin), Norma’s handsome and loyal bartender/caretaker. Robert sees through Maxine’s facade but is often reluctantly pulled into her schemes, forming a bond that becomes one of the season’s most heartfelt storylines.
The Beach Ball Bombshell: Unpacking the Season 1 Finale
The entire season builds toward the social event of the year: the 50th Anniversary Beach Ball, co-chaired by a newly triumphant Maxine and a begrudging Evelyn. The gala, attended by astronauts and even President Richard Nixon, becomes a pressure cooker where every secret is forced into the open.
- Maxine’s Heartbreak: Just as Maxine takes the stage to perform a poignant rendition of Peggy Lee’s “Is That All There Is?,” her world shatters. She spots her husband, Douglas, whispering with the young, innocent Mitzi (Kaia Gerber). It’s revealed that Mitzi is pregnant, and Douglas is the father. Maxine’s performance devolves into a spectacular, tear-streaked public meltdown where she roasts the entire hypocritical crowd.
- Norma’s Ultimate Secret: In the season’s most jaw-dropping twist, Robert pieces together the truth about Norma. After a conversation with her old flame, Axel, he learns that the real Norma Dellacorte’s boarding school roommate, a diabetic girl named Agnes, died under mysterious circumstances. Robert confronts the woman in the wheelchair, calling her “Agnes.” Her shocked reaction confirms his suspicion: “Norma” is an imposter who stole her wealthy friend’s identity decades ago. This makes the woman who judged Maxine as a social-climbing fraud the biggest fraud of all.
- The Assassination Attempt: The chaos escalates when Mary, one of the Palm Royale ladies, pulls a gun from her hairpiece in an attempt to assassinate President Nixon. A struggle ensues, and a stray bullet strikes Robert, who is left bleeding on the floor as the finale cuts to black.
- Linda’s Dilemma: Meanwhile, Linda and the activist Virginia (Amber Chardae Robinson) find themselves locked in a library by Mary. While they escape, Linda is discovered at the scene of the shooting with the gun nearby, potentially making her the prime suspect.
Where We Left Every Major Character
- Maxine: She achieved her dream of being at the center of Palm Beach society, only to have her personal life explode in the most public way possible. She is left sobbing over Robert’s body, her social standing and marriage in simultaneous ruins.
- Robert: He uncovered the truth about Norma/Agnes but was shot before he could expose her. His fate is the season’s biggest cliffhanger, though creators have hinted he may survive.
- Norma/Agnes: The villainous matriarch is exposed (to the audience, at least) as a murderous imposter. Fully recovered from her coma, she is now free to wield her power and protect her secret, potentially at any cost.
- Douglas: His affair with Mitzi is publicly revealed, destroying his marriage to Maxine. He is poised to become a father, tying him to Mitzi and complicating any potential reconciliation.
- Linda: Having just rebuilt her life, she is now in the wrong place at the wrong time and may take the fall for the attempted assassination.
- Evelyn & Dinah: Their reign over the Palm Royale has been successfully challenged by Maxine, but with Maxine’s downfall, the power vacuum is now wide open.
As the curtain fell on Season 1, the stage was set for an even more dramatic second act. With identities exposed, relationships shattered, and a potential death on the dance floor, the quest for a spot at the top table in Palm Beach has never been more dangerous. The question for Season 2 is no longer who will get in, but who will survive the fallout.
