In a world where people are seeking to escape, resorting to conventionalities has ironically become the norm. It is preternaturally manifest in the culture of mass consumption where everyone is watching what’s trending. In this world of trending series, (although we are not judging if you like to watch them), certain dramas have created their own niche as they address the issues which are considered to be eldritch, taboo and “too controversial.” P-Valley is one of them.
A Starz Original that premiered in 2020, P-Valley is spatially set in Pynk, which is a world-renowned strip club in Mississippi. It is praised for portraying the lives of the employees and their clients realistically. The first season of the show included veteran dancer Mercedes Woodbine, club owner Uncle Clifford Sayles, and dancers Miss Mississippi, Autumn Night and Gidget.
One of the most unique selling points of this show was its portrayal of the personal as well as professional conjuncture of the employees. Currently, the second season of P-Valley is airing and its popularity like its progenitor is exponentially increasing, so much so, that the show has also been renewed for a third season. Be that as it may, Starz has not disclosed the release date of the third season as of yet.
Based upon Katerine Hall’s play Pussy Valley, the American drama television series is a must-watch, especially for fans who are constantly seeking plays with complex characters and intricate plotlines. That being said, here’s a comprehensive guide to the third season of P-Valley.
When was P-Valley officially renewed for a third season?
The show’s renewal for the third season dropped in October 2022. The announcement came through showrunner Katori Hall, who said:
“With its complex, dynamic, and beautifully flawed characters, this show is a love letter to marginalized communities in the American South who rarely see themselves reflected on screen, and it brings me immense joy to know that it has been embraced by folx worldwide. We wouldn’t be getting back up on that pony, without our fiercely devoted Pynk Posse. Y’all are our fire. And special thanks to the fuel: everyone who laid hands on this show. From the writers and producers to the cast to the crew to the executives, this show is made with great love, grit and glitter. It’s gonna take us a Mississippi minute before we’re back on your screens again, but best believe it’ll be well worth the wait.”
In August 2022, Hall expressed that her characters are “constantly talking to me” while speaking of the season two finale with Collider. Hall said, “We delved into some dark stuff. We explored some caves and crevices this season. We cracked open people’s souls. There is light at the end of the tunnel for our Pynk family, and the audience is ready to laugh again. The season finale is really special. People who have been rooting for our Pynk family for so long are really going to love where we land everybody.”
What can we expect to happen in P-Valley season 3?
Before the renewal of the third season encapsulated the fans with its bright sunshine, they speculated that the second season finale will also be the series finale owing to the closure that most of the characters experienced by the end of the second season. Uncle Clifford advised Mercedes to “dream new dreams”, which appears to inspire everyone else as well. This manifests visibly when Lil’Murda and Uncle Clifford are learning new ways to love each other openly while Mercedes is attempting to embrace retirement. Not to mention Autumn who left Chucalissa for embracing a completely new life.
When it comes to Lil’Murda and Uncle Clifford’s public romance, the consequences of the same could determine the tangent that the third season could take. The third season will also likely explore the ramifications of Autumn stealing $40,000 from the business. With Mercedes retiring, the question remains what will she do now with so much time on her hands?
In conversation with Elle, showrunner Hall explicated her ideas about Mercedes’ future, saying, “I want her to have everything. I want her to have a wonderful relationship with her daughter. I want her to have a wonderful relationship with her mother. They probably need to go to therapy. They need to do all the things.”
Who are the expected cast members of P-Valley Season 3?
Although we don’t have confirmed information regarding all the cast members of the show, we expect the following to return in the third season:
• Brandee Evans as Mercedes Woodbine
• Nicco Annan as Uncle Clifford Sayles
• Shannon Thornton as Keyshawn Harris/Miss Mississippi
• Skyler Joy as Gidget
• J Alphonse Nicholson as LaMarques/Lil Murda
• Parker Sawyers as Andre Watkins
• Harriett D. Foy as Patrice Woodbine
• Dan J Johnson as Corbin Kyle
• Tyler Lepley as Diamond
• Morocco Omari as Big L
• Dominic DeVore as Duffy
• Jordan M. Cox as Derrick Wright
• Psalms Salazar as Whisper
In the above-mentioned list, as you can see, Hailey Colton aka Autumn Night is not mentioned. This is because Elarica Johnson, who plays Autumn Night, has confirmed, according to Digital Spy, that she will not be returning for the third season. In addition to that, in conversation with EW, showrunner Hall announced, following season two’s finale that it will be the last we see of Elarica. She said:
“It’s so clear that the strip club is a revolving door. For Autumn Hailey Lakeisha Savage, The Pynk has been a place where she has dealt with a lot of trauma, has found friends and lost friends. She was a woman who came in on the wind and her leaving on the wind. She saved The Pynk, she did something that Uncle Clifford could not at the time. She changed The Pynk, but she was changed by The Pynk and her relationship with Mercedes [because] she was able to, for the first time in her life, feel like a sister… The fact that she is leaving with not one, but maybe two babies in her belly is a sign of hope.”
The Chameleon” turns to us, her hair now blonde. Plastic bag of clothes in one hand and hope in her belly. She did not leave Chucalissa with what she wanted but with what she needed. Life. pic.twitter.com/rcCJxhQhUr
— Katori Hall (@KatoriHall) August 15, 2022
But why did Johnson decide to leave the show just after two seasons?
In conversation with EW, Elarica Johnson unravelled the reason why she chose to leave the show after two seasons, saying, “Looking at the scripts this season, and the journeys of the characters and where The Pynk was going, Autumn’s journey felt like it was coming to an end. She has done what she needed to do and it was time for her to move on.”
Be that as it may, several actors are thrilled to be reprising their roles in the third season. Speaking to Digital Spy, Nicco Annan expressed his excitement to come back with a resounding yes. He said, “This ride, as an actor, is astronomical. I am very well aware of the blessed space that I’m in. It’s been a lot of hard work to get here. It’s been a long time. And so I’m happy. I’m happy. It feels like: let’s go. It feels like the beginning, to be honest.”
Corroborating his vibe, Brandee Evans who plays Mercedes in the show, said, “Oh, I’m up for seasons 3, 4, 5, 6. Keep me going. I am so here for it, and I just hope that you know, the audience receives it well, and the networks see that, and we’re able to keep going.”
When can we expect P-Valley Season 3 to air?
P-Valley observed a long two-year gap between the first and the second instalment, with the former premiering on July 12, 2022, and the latter, on June 3, 2022, due to COVID. Nevertheless, we expect the wait for season three to be a lot shorter than the first two. According to Digital Spy, “New episodes could arrive as early as summer 2023, but only if the network gets a move on and makes it rain on this beloved show.”
On a scale of 1-10, how excited are you to watch the third season of P-Valley on Starz? Drop your answers in the comment section given below.