Life & Beth season one was path-breaking as it took the viewers through the life of Beth and the relationship she shares with her family and friends. The show took the realistic route when it came to the direction and writing, and it worked in the show’s favor. Season two was a lukewarm affair in terms of the writing and direction, though a lot more subjects were discussed and expanded upon.
Each episode of the second season discusses each character and their relationship with Beth. The first season was about Beth’s work and the amount of time she spent developing her career with the company that sold wine. The second season was all about her interpersonal relationships and the amount of time she was willing to spend with her family, friends, and her boyfriend.
At the end of season 2, it was revealed that Beth had given birth to a boy through a C-section. There was a lot of commotion in the delivery room, which eventually settled down. John was right by her side when the baby was born. Ann, Beth’s younger sister, showed up at the hospital at the time of the birth. Beth and John initially decided on a home birth and had moved to her employer’s palatial home upstate. A false alarm that panicked the couple made Beth decide to move to the hospital for the birth of her child.
Jen was one of the closest friends of Beth and her group, and she was dealing with painkiller addiction. Jen wondered if everyone had gathered at her home for an intervention. She was in for a surprise when she learned everyone had gathered to celebrate her 41st birthday. Jess, on the other hand, ceased her affair with a New Orleans-based cop for the sake of her family.
Hulu and the makers of Life & Beth have not announced the third season yet. This article will only speculate on how Beth’s life could possibly change now that she has a child to take care of. Life & Beth might have a third season, as it will take Beth’s tale further and help the viewers understand the kind of pain and trauma she dealt with in college.
John and Beth’s first point of concern could be if the child has autism spectrum disorder as well. John lived his life so far with an undiagnosed autism spectrum disorder until Beth saw some peculiarities in his behavior after their wedding. John and Beth would want to consult a child psychologist but it might be too soon to diagnose if their child suffers from autism as well. Since autism spectrum disorder is an inheritable mental health condition, there is a possibility the child might suffer from it too. As parents, they wouldn’t want to conclude before going through thorough tests. Just like the episode that covered 8 months of her pregnancy in a time-lapse montage, John and Beth’s parenthood might receive a similar treatment filmmaking-wise.
The entire season might cover John and Beth as parents whose child is growing up, and the makers would probably cover things up until his teenage phase. The whole point of showcasing Beth as a parent would be to look for parallels between her and her deceased mother’s style of parenting. Beth would not want to be like her mother and would try to emulate a different kind of upbringing for her child, as she would not want her son to have the traumas she faced while growing up. Beth and John’s style of parenting would involve keeping it real and always communicating with the child. John and his father were never on speaking terms; the former would try to make sure this pattern was not repeated. John and Beth would try to break the generational trauma of criticizing the child all the time for not being good enough. Leonard and Jane; Beth and Ann’s parents, were in and out of their lives, which affected their lives while growing up. Beth and Ann had a dysfunctional relationship only because the former had to act as a parent in the absence of Jane and Leonard. Beth and John would not want to repeat the mistakes their parents made. As parents, hopefully, they will not be in denial about everything real, which was the case with Jane and Leonard, who never openly communicated with the girls.
Jess’s abortion probably took a toll on her marriage and mental health. She will feel guilty of crossing the boundary and cheating on her husband. Jess and her spouse were not in a bad space, but their marriage was not smooth sailing either. Jess complained her husband never communicated, which was the reason behind her fling with Beau, the New Orleans-based cop. Jess would try to have a conversation with her husband about their crumbling marriage, followed by her infidelity. Just like John and Beth considered couple’s counseling, Jess might take that route for her peace of mind. Her husband might not agree with it initially, and she will be forced to confess her infidelity. Jess and her relationship with her friends will be stronger than ever. Beth accompanied Jess to the abortion clinic, and this act of support strengthened their bond as best friends. Maya might come around to accepting Jess for her mistakes. Maya and Jess had a fallout over the latter’s affair. Jess might need the whole gang by her side if her husband chooses to separate.
Jen might come back from rehab after accepting the fact that she was dependent on painkillers. LaVar was the one who saw the pattern and tried to help her break the habit. Jen might go through a slight relapse, but this time her friends, including Beth and LaVar, would again be by her side.
Ann and Beth might come closer now that they have a child to take care of. Ann would be more attentive to Beth’s infant boy, and they would bond and showcase some patience and resilience toward each other. As siblings, their arguments over their past has become the norm. They constantly compared each other to their respective parents, which triggered fights. With a child in the picture, Ann will be willing to look beyond her past squabbles and disagreements with her sister and might become a responsible adult figure in her nephew’s life. This could be the season Beth and Ann lose their father as well. Leonard suffered from dementia, and this might cause his eventual demise. Either Beth or Ann will take care of him until his last breath. Both had the guilt of not being with their mother in her last days before she died suddenly in a car accident. As daughters, they wouldn’t want a repeat show. Life & Beth might cease at season three, as the makers would want to end with Beth’s experience as a parent. I look forward to more of Beth and John’s heartfelt love in the next season.
