Netflix’s guilty pleasure soap opera Tyler Perry’s Beauty in Black is back with a vengeance. The second season of this Chicago-based drama premiered on September 11, 2025, and it’s already climbing the streaming charts faster than you can say “family drama.” Created, directed, and executive produced by Tyler Perry himself, this series continues to follow the explosive collision between two very different worlds: the wealthy, dysfunctional Bellarie cosmetics dynasty and the street-smart strippers who get caught in their web of lies.
For those just tuning in, Beauty in Black centers around Kimmie (Taylor Polidore Williams), a stripper whose life takes a dramatic turn when she becomes entangled with the Bellarie family empire. Season 2 picks up right where we left off—with patriarch Horace Bellarie on his deathbed, having just married Kimmie in a shocking power play that’s about to turn his greedy family’s world upside down.
The show has been a massive hit for Netflix since its October 2024 debut, ranking as the platform’s fourth-most-watched series during its premiere week and pulling in over 136.9 million global viewing hours. Now with Season 2 Part 1 already streaming (Part 2 is expected in early 2026), it’s clear Tyler Perry has struck streaming gold once again.
Popularity & Cultural Impact
Let’s be real—Beauty in Black is having a moment. The show has been dominating Netflix’s Top 10 lists across multiple countries, and social media is absolutely buzzing with reactions. TikTok is flooded with clips of viewers gasping at plot twists, Twitter is full of heated debates about character motivations, and Reddit threads are dissecting every single Bellarie family betrayal.
What makes this show particularly fascinating is how it’s filling the Succession-sized hole in our hearts, but with a distinctly Black American perspective and Tyler Perry’s signature over-the-top storytelling style. Where Succession was cold and calculating, Beauty in Black is hot-blooded and emotional. It’s soap opera television at its finest—unapologetically messy and absolutely addictive.
The cultural conversation around the show has been intense, with viewers praising its representation of different socioeconomic levels within the Black community while also critiquing some of Perry’s more traditional storytelling approaches. But love it or hate it, people can’t stop talking about it.
Who Might Like It
If you’re a fan of shows like Empire, Power, or classic soap operas like Dynasty, this one should definitely be on your watchlist. Beauty in Black is perfect for viewers who love:
- Family dynasty dramas with high stakes and higher drama
- Stories that explore class differences and social mobility
- Tyler Perry’s specific brand of storytelling (you know what you’re getting into)
- Binge-worthy guilty pleasure TV that you’ll want to discuss with friends
The show appeals to a broad audience, particularly viewers who enjoy serialized drama with ongoing storylines and complex character relationships. If you love shows where every episode ends with a cliffhanger that makes you immediately want to watch the next one, you’re going to eat this up.
Age-wise, it’s definitely aimed at adult audiences (there’s plenty of mature content), and it particularly resonates with viewers who appreciate seeing diverse Black characters across different economic backgrounds sharing the same narrative space.
Why Now?
September 2025 has been the perfect time for Beauty in Black Season 2 to drop. We’re in peak streaming season as people settle back into fall routines, and there’s been a notable gap in the high-drama, family empire shows that dominated TV a few years ago. With Succession wrapped up and Empire long gone, audiences have been hungry for this type of ruthless family business drama.
Plus, Tyler Perry’s brand has been particularly strong on Netflix lately, and the platform has been investing heavily in content that appeals to diverse audiences. The timing also works perfectly for binge-watching—dropping just as the weather starts to cool down and people are looking for their next streaming obsession.
The show’s release strategy is smart too: giving us Part 1 now and making us wait until 2026 for Part 2 creates the kind of anticipation and social media buzz that keeps shows in the cultural conversation.
Is It Worth Watching?
Here’s the honest truth: Beauty in Black Season 2 delivers exactly what it promises—high-stakes family drama with more twists than a pretzel factory. The story picks up seamlessly from Season 1, diving deeper into the power struggle between Kimmie and the Bellarie family as she suddenly finds herself holding all the cards (thanks to her deathbed marriage to Horace).
The Strengths:
- Taylor Polidore Williams continues to shine as Kimmie, bringing both vulnerability and strength to a character who’s learning to navigate an entirely new world
- The pacing is relentless—every episode packs in enough drama for a full season of most shows
- The production values are solid, with beautiful cinematography that makes the wealthy Bellarie world feel appropriately glamorous
- The supporting cast, particularly Steven G. Norfleet as Charles, brings moments of humor that balance out the intensity
The Weaknesses:
- Some storylines still rely on outdated tropes, particularly around LGBTQ+ characters and sex work
- The writing can sometimes feel heavy-handed, lacking the subtlety that elevates soap opera into prestige TV
- Character motivations occasionally feel more plot-driven than emotionally authentic
- Tyler Perry’s signature style isn’t for everyone—it’s very much love-it-or-hate-it territory
The show doesn’t pretend to be anything other than what it is: a fast-paced, emotionally charged soap opera that prioritizes entertainment over realism. If you go in with the right expectations, you’ll probably find yourself hitting “next episode” before the credits finish rolling.
What People Are Saying Online
Social media reaction has been… a lot. And I mean that in the best possible way.
Every step has led to this. BEAUTY IN BLACK. SEASON 2. COMING SOON. pic.twitter.com/CzOv1zB9Sd
— Netflix (@netflix) March 12, 2025
Twitter is split between people absolutely living for the drama (“Kimmie really said ‘I’m the captain now’ and I am HERE for it 🔥”) and others critiquing the show’s handling of certain themes. The hashtag #BeautyInBlack has been trending consistently since the premiere.
TikTok is where the show really shines socially—viewers are creating reaction videos, breaking down plot theories, and turning the most dramatic moments into viral soundbites. The “Varney and Charles” storyline in particular has spawned countless TikToks analyzing their relationship dynamics.
Reddit discussions are more nuanced, with fans dissecting character arcs and sharing theories about where the story is heading. The general consensus seems to be that while the show has its flaws, it’s filling a specific entertainment niche that viewers didn’t realize they were missing.
Review sites have been mixed but generally positive, with critics praising the show’s entertainment value while noting its limitations. Most professional reviews echo the sentiment that this isn’t prestige television, but it doesn’t need to be—it’s successful at being exactly what it’s trying to be.
The overall viewer sentiment seems to be: “This show is messy, dramatic, and completely addictive, and I’m not sorry about binge-watching the entire thing in one sitting.”
Final Thoughts
Should you watch Beauty in Black Season 2? If you’re looking for your next binge-worthy guilty pleasure, absolutely yes. This isn’t the show you’re going to analyze in film school, but it’s the show you’re going to text your group chat about at 2 AM because you can’t believe what just happened.
Tyler Perry has created something that fills a very specific niche in the streaming landscape—a soap opera that doesn’t apologize for being a soap opera. It’s melodramatic, over-the-top, and completely shameless about prioritizing entertainment over realism. Sometimes that’s exactly what we need.
My personal recommendation? Watch it with friends or family members who appreciate good dramatic television. It’s the kind of show that benefits from having people to gasp and theorize with. And honestly, in a world full of heavy, “important” television, sometimes you just want to watch beautiful people in expensive clothes make terrible decisions for eight episodes straight.
Verdict: Stream it. Just clear your schedule first, because once you start, you’re probably not stopping until Part 1 is finished.
