Maxine Dellacorte-Simmons, the ambitious climber at the heart of Apple TV's Palm Royale, pulls off a last-minute wedding in the Season 2 finale that flips her fortunes. The episode, 'Maxine Does Something Good,' aired recently and wraps up a season full of murders, cover-ups, and social schemes in 1970s Palm Beach. Showrunner Abe Sylvia and actress Kristen Wiig, who plays Maxine, spoke about the twist and its impact on the series.
Background
Palm Royale follows Maxine as she fights to join Palm Beach's elite circle. Set against the backdrop of 1970, the show mixes comedy with drama, showing the lengths people go to for status and money. Maxine starts as an outsider, using lies and tricks to get close to rich families like the Dellacortes.
Over two seasons, her story involves old secrets, like a gun tied to past shootings and blackmail. Characters like Evelyn, a sharp socialite, and Norma, a powerful figure who vanishes by the end, shape the world Maxine wants to conquer. The finale builds on close calls and deals, leading to a wedding no one saw coming.
The series draws from a novel but expands into wild plots. Maxine hides bodies, brokers immunity for spies, and navigates family betrayals. By the end, alliances shift, and money flows in unexpected ways.
Key Details
The finale kicks off with Maxine and Evelyn dragging Jed's frozen body through tunnels to avoid detection before a wedding. They dodge Eddie, who almost spots them, and Mary, who admits hitting a bootlegger. Rafael and others pop up, adding tension as they near the surface.
Douglas, Maxine's husband, plans to marry Mitzi but backs out after learning the baby isn't his. Maxine stands up to him, refusing to return to her old life. Instead, she marries Robert, a Dellacorte, to help him gain custody of Rafael. Norma hands over a special ring for the ceremony, and an imagined song plays as side stories wrap up.
Body Cover-Up and Spy Takedown
Meanwhile, Pinky and Raquel set a trap at the Shiny Sheet newspaper. They lure Perry, dressed in antlers for a fake award, into a setup. Maxine and friends chloroform him and pose Jed's body with antlers. Tom shoots it, thinking he nabbed a mole. Virginia backs the story, boosting Tom's career and granting immunity to Pinky and Raquel.
Back at the wedding site, Maxine realizes a loophole: Robert's prior marriage to Rafael's mother unlocks the baby trust. This makes Maxine and Robert rich. They celebrate with a big song and dance. Maxine shares wealth with Mitzi and her new baby with Eddie. Evelyn dumps Eddie for independence, Dinah secures Perry as mayor, and the Palm Royale club reopens under Maxine and Evelyn.
Rafael makes a shady call, hinting at tricks ahead. In Paris, Linda thanks Maxine in a letter, now free with Norma, signing off that she found love.
"Maxine did something good, but that wedding was her way out of the mess she made." – Abe Sylvia, showrunner
Wiig described filming the wedding as chaotic but fun, with last-minute changes to capture Maxine's shift from schemer to winner.
What This Means
The wedding twist hands Maxine power she chased all season. She goes from hiding bodies to owning the club with Evelyn, now top players in Palm Beach. Robert's new status secures family ties and cash, closing loops on trusts and custody.
Loose ends linger. Rafael's call suggests he played everyone. Madge Post ties to the mole plot, and Norma's note says she finished her role. Perry's mayor gig and Tom's promotion reshape local power.
For the show, Sylvia and Wiig left doors open. The finale packs resolutions but plants seeds like Rafael's scheme and Linda's new life. Viewers wonder if Maxine's riches bring peace or more fights. Apple TV has not announced Season 3, but the ending avoids a hard stop. Cast changes could happen, with Norma's exit and Evelyn's independence.
Maxine's arc shows growth. She starts desperate, ends wealthy and bold. The satire on class and secrets peaks here, questioning if high society ever changes. Fans point to the Ouija board message from Jed's ghost as a nod to loose ends. Paris scenes hint at global ties expanding beyond Florida.
