Palm Royale Review: There is no upper limit to aspirations, and once you want something with every fibre of being, dreams might just come true. However, when do aspirations and dreams get more than that and become obsessions, a way to find life’s meaning instead of cultivating it? Well, Kristen Wiig’s Maxine faces something similar in Palm Royale as she tries to fit in with the rich ladies of the “ton” against all odds and any means necessary.
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Palm Royale Apple TV+ Cast
Kristen Wiig, Ricky Martin, Josh Lucas, Leslie Bibb, Amber Chardae Robinson, Mindy Cohn, Julia Duffy, Kaia Gerber, Laura Dern, Allison Janney, Bruce Dern, Carol Burnett
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Palm Royale Series Directors
Tate Taylor, Abe Sylvia, Claire Scanlon, Stephanie Laing
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Palm Royale 2024 Writer
Abe Sylvia
– No Spoilers –

Maxine’s struggles are a little bit self-made as she tries to insert herself into a society that is vicious and unforgiving, but one that also doesn’t want her at all. They know who she is from a mile away, which makes Maxine even more desperate to belong. Palm Royale is an interesting and engaging watch that is humorous and, at times, thrilling and the slow and steady way in which the character arcs progress is extremely well done.
It’s good that the series is releasing one episode every week because, at 1 hour per episode, it’s too long to binge. However, watching it over a few days does the trick and gives you the time to mull over the characters, their motivations and the situations well. The thrilling way in which Maxine goes up the ranks and fights off people left and right is nothing short of shocking and amusing, and will keep you invested and entertained.

There’s something desperate and consistent about Maxine’s dreams that makes you root for her. She is a force to be reckoned with, but her twisted ways are sometimes shocking to watch and wretched to witness. The interesting thing is how clear she is in her mind that she does all of these things without a second thought, oftentimes patting herself on the back for not giving up. The storyline is engaging because of these twisted morals, and you wonder what Maxine will end up doing next in order to realise her dreams.
Of course, there are layered emotions and stories here that bubble to the surface as time progresses. There’s the feminist showcase in the background of Maxine’s story that makes us think of and see her life differently. It frankly makes us pity not only her but the others around her as well. As the storyline progresses, the characters get deeper and the mystery gets larger. The relationship between the women is testy and a total thrill to watch throughout.

When it comes to story progression, I really enjoyed the pace and the storylines that Palm Royale focuses on. It’s intriguing, insane enough to be shocking but still holds its ground in reality, making us believe that people like these could exist. The drama is also humorous in places and makes you chuckle, using its colourful characters who are nothing short of interesting and kooky. It’s the way the drama uses these characters that is just so entertaining that you can’t help but burst out laughing at odd moments! At one moment, people are talking about committing heinous crimes, and at the next, there’s an emotional conversation about love lives. Wild.
Although I will acknowledge right now that the series can get a little over the top sometimes with some of its minor plotlines, and would really have made a difference if the series had cut down on the runtime a bit. But still, over the course of many weeks, the series sort of makes up for that.
Conclusion

Boasting an impressive cast, this drama is a fun and twisted watch with some of the most insane characters that keep things moving at a great pace. Although there are some unbelievable portions, its protagonist is so delightful that you forget the minor inconveniences. Considering it’s going to be released weekly, the plots make sense, and it’s humorous enough to move things forward with ease.
Palm Royale will stream on Apple TV+ from March 20, 2024.

