Overcompensating Season 2: What to Expect if it is Renewed?

Prime’s ‘Overcompensating’ charts an engrossing path as it follows Benny and Carmen’s trainwreck-esque foray into college. Throughout season 1, we get to see the pair’s many exploits as the former tries to explore his sexuality while staying firmly locked inside the closet. Meanwhile, although the latter tries her best to be a “supportive straight friend,” the chaos of her own life frequently overtakes things. The finale presents a great example of this as a wedge is driven between the two, newly christened best friends, on the heels of Carmen’s inadvertent kiss with Miles.

Worse yet, in the argument that follows, Benny ends up accidentally outed, at least to some degree. Consequently, should the show branch out to a season 2, a whole new world of madness is bound to await the two friends and the rest of the students at Yates! Even though no firm announcement about a renewal has yet arrived, past patterns suggest a development stage of around a year and a half, pitching late 2026 as a potential release date for season 2.

Overcompensating Season 2 Will Likely Pick Up in the Aftermath of Benny’s Outing

‘Overcompensating’ season 1 ends on a cliffhanger as Carmen, in the midst of a charged argument, accidentally outs Benny at the climactic party. Emotions have been running high all night, especially after the latter sees his best friend kissing the boy he has been crushing on since the first day of college. Naturally, the fallout from this incident, which is followed by Carmen blurting out the truth about his attraction to men, puts the duo in an uneasy spot. To make matters worse, while the other partygoers seem too distracted to overhear this revelation about Benny’s sexuality, his sister, Grace, and Miles present a different case. As such, it is highly likely that if the show gets renewed for another season, the narrative will pick up either in the immediate aftermath of this event or a little ways down the road from it. Off the bat, we can expect certain hostility in the pair’s friendship in the future.

A little friction is nothing new for Benny and Carmen, who tend to fall in and out of each other’s favor like a platonic will-they-won’t-they couple. Still, the repercussions of such a monumental mishap might result in a disagreement of yet-unseen magnitude. Furthermore, depending on the level of miscommunication the two commit to going forward, it’s also possible that Benny may hold a grudge against Carmen for the kiss she shares with Miles. On the other hand, due to the lack of a bigger reaction at the party, it seems unlikely that the rest of Yates will be privy to Benny’s outing. This should allow the narrative to continue playing with elements of overcompensational put-upon heterosexuality at which his character excels. Therefore, the basic structure of the show should remain the same in a potential season 2, with plenty of opportunity for exciting new storylines.

Benny and Carmen Could Unlock New Friendships in Season 2

While the relationship between Benny and Carmen might get off to a rough start in season 2, other dynamics have the potential to blossom into something new. Now that Grace is finally in on her brother’s big secret, the siblings might have a chance of getting closer to one another. The older sister’s recent exit from a toxic relationship will also create more room for the duo to value each other’s company and friendship. This would allow for the creator/lead actor Benito Skinner and actress Mary Beth Barone to explore their chemistry through their characters’ relationship. Since the two artists happen to be best friends and co-hosts of a podcast, ‘Ride with Benito Skinner and Mary Beth Barone,’ in real life, a blossoming bond between the on-screen siblings would be something to look forward to.

On the other hand, it would also be interesting to see how Benny’s outing affects his relationship with Miles. Even though the idea of a romantic connection between the two will remain uncertain, it’s possible that Miles may try to rekindle a friendship between him and Benny. Similarly, after Carmen has burned a bridge or two with her best friend, at least for now, we can expect her to fall back on her friendship with her roommate, Hailee. The frenzied upheaval Holmes’ on-screen character brings to the story is always delightful, so a season 2 will only benefit from more of her presence. Therefore, fans can expect the central gang’s narrative going forward to mold itself around the jarring aftershocks of the finale’s climax.

Overcompensating Season 2 Might Introduce New Love Interests to the Story

While ‘Overcompensating’ is certainly centered around Benny and Carmen’s friendship and their coming-of-age experiences, romantic subplots also remain a crucial aspect of the tale. Carmen’s love life has been a disaster from the start, from trying to date a gay guy to having sex with the boyfriend of her best friend’s sister, and now to getting kissed by the same friend’s crush. Therefore, depending on how much more chaos she’s open to inviting, she might finally find a more stable romance or end up in another catastrophic situationship. Of the existing characters, Peter, her infernal ex, and ill-advised Miles present existing romantic prospects for her. Thus, we might see a dive into actress Wally Baram’s chemistry with Adam DiMarco and Rish Shah.

Meanwhile, there are many possibilities for where love might take Benny. Despite confirming Miles’ attraction toward women, the show has yet to solidly establish him as a straight character. Therefore, there’s always a chance that he might also be attracted to men, which will open up the prospect of a much-awaited romance between him and Benny. Yet, there are a multitude of other ways things might work out for Benny. Over the course of the first season, he develops a short-lived fling with Sammy, his friend from high school. Therefore, it’s possible that actor Lukas Gage might transition from a recurring to a central role if the show decides to pursue the Benny/Sammy romance.

Similarly, if Benny decides to dip his toes outside of the closet, he could also win back a place in George’s good books. Whether this will pan out into a closer friendship for the duo or something more will remain to be seen. Still, despite any romantic developments in his life, it seems unlikely that Benny will be ready to fully come out from the get-go. Benito Skinner modelled much of the show after his own experiences. Therefore, the idea that Benny may follow in his creator’s footsteps and refrain from coming out until his senior year could be a strong possibility. Either way, wherever the next semester of college takes these disorderly students, it’s promised to be a wild ride.