Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist: Did Zoey make her choice too soon?

Was Zoey’s choice at the end of Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist too soon?

Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist has returned for Season 2 on NBC. Get ready for more heart songs and more tugs at your heartstrings since this show always brings the fun and the emotion.

Picking up after the death of Zoey’s father Mitch, we follow Zoey several weeks later as she continues struggling through the grief process. Re-entering the world isn’t easy for Zoey and she hasn’t heard a heart song since her dad’s passing.

Zoey makes a big romantic choice

One of the big storylines of Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist has been the love triangle between Max, Zoey, and Simon. But in a surprise move, Zoey seems to have made her romantic choice by the end of the Season 2 premiere.

After having avoided both Max and Simon for weeks Zoey rejoins the world only to find that Max and Simon have become friends in her absence and, along with Mo, have formed their own friend group without her. Both Max and Simon try to be there for Zoey, with Simon offering her words of comfort and Max giving her a ring with a shield bearing a musical note. Very sweet.

Zoey struggles with all the changes around her, and she is clearly still grieving. But by the end of the episode, after watching some recorded videos her dad left behind for her, she hears her family sing “Carry On” and Zoey realizes it’s time to move forward with her life. So she makes her big romantic decision.

After Max comes to visit her at her family’s house, Zoey kisses him and so it looks like Zoey has made her choice and she and Max are headed toward a potential relationship. I am 100% Team Max so I’m not gonna lie, I was thrilled. Plus, I really hate love triangles that drag on forever. But is having Zoey make her big romantic choice right now too soon?

https://twitter.com/ZoeysWriters/status/1346639315871395841

After all, Zoey is still in the midst of her grieving process and it’s probably not the wisest move to make big life decisions while still grieving. Also, the fact that the choice was made so early on, in the first episode of Season 2, tells me that it won’t be smooth sailing. This shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone who has ever watched a television show because we all know TV shows love to bring the drama.

Does this spell doom for Max and Zoey? Possibly, but not necessarily. They will hit some bumps to be sure, it is television after all, but it’s possible that Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist has done what few TV shows are brave enough to do and they’ve actually ended their love triangle with a firm choice.

It certainly seems like this may be the case. Speaking with TVLine showrunner Austin Winsberg had this to say about the big decision:

"I felt like we had to make some choices in terms of the love triangle. I just feel like Zoey, herself, feels like, “I can’t keep being flip-floppy with both of these guys. I need to make the choice.” And so she makes the choice."

Clearly, it was a hot topic in the writers’ room as love triangles can be touchy subjects. Speaking about the writers’ discussions on the love triangle Winsberg goes on to say:

"how much time did we want to go back and forth between, “Should it be this guy, or should it be that guy?” There were a lot of strong feelings in the room that Zoey is turning 30 this year on the show, and that a lot of that kind of behavior could feel very young. And also, just sort of reading the Twitter boards and all that, there’s definitely a faction of people out there that don’t like love triangles.[…] So I just felt like it was a bolder choice to make the choice than to keep living in the indecision."

Personally, I am hugely relieved. Love triangles that go on forever can ruin a show. They take away from other storylines because the only topic of discussion becomes who the protagonist should be with. Ending the love triangle allows them to really develop one particular relationship and give fans something to root for instead of flip-flopping constantly between love interests. Just because there isn’t a love triangle doesn’t mean a relationship can’t be interesting.

Reading the words from the showrunner also gives me hope that this choice is really permanent, that even if Max and Zoey hit rough waters soon (which they undoubtedly will) that it won’t mean a return to Zoey constantly switching between guys. I applaud them for making the bold choice, it was the right one and I hope other shows learn to follow suit from Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist.

For those on Team Simon, don’t worry. In the same interview the Winsberg says that Simon has been going through a lot of his own self-growth and while he may not be thrilled, he’s supportive of Zoey. They’re even discussing him potentially getting his own love interest. So it sounds like Simon will be just fine, and I’d be very happy for him to get his own romantic storyline.

Next. Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist: Best season 1 moments. dark

Were you happy with Zoey’s choice? Are you Team Max or Team Simon? Let us know!

Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist airs Tuesdays at 8/7c on NBC.

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Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist Season 2 premiere: Did Zoey make her choice too soon?

By Neda Mostafavi | Jan 6, 2021

Was Zoey’s choice at the end of Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist too soon?

Zoey makes a big romantic choice