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P-Valley " is a drama fromStarz , set in the fictional strip club The Pynk in the Mississippi Delta.
- In season one, the club's owner Uncle Clifford struggled to keep afloat in the gentrifying area.
The strip club drama, "P-Valley," was a breakout hit when it premiered on Starz nearly two years ago. Based on the play by Katori Hall, the series took viewers straight into the locker room drama of a small Mississippi club with a big reputation named The Pynk.
The second season, which premieres Friday, promises more Southern-fried drama in the fictional town of Chucalissa, a small city in the Mississippi Delta area, elite pole dancing, and secrets at risk of being exposed with a twist of mysticism.
Need a refresher on last season's storylines before you're ready to lace up your clear heels? We've rounded up the details you need to remember before you head back into The Pynk.
Uncle Clifford tried to save The Pynk by any means necessary
At the start of season one, Uncle Clifford is behind on paying the bills to keep The Pynk, the main strip club in the valley, open. Clifford inherited the club from his grandmother (Loretta Devine).
All the while, the town's mayor, Tydell Ruffin (Isaiah Washington), is at work trying to bring opportunity to the valley and turn the location of The Pynk into a casino.
It is Ruffin's secretary, a former stripper at The Pynk, who got Uncle Clifford the details on the land deal to try to save the club because she knows what it means to people struggling.
Still, The Pynk wasn't safe from being sold to an investment group. Throughout season one, Uncle Clifford tried to get the town — some of whom were put through college by working at his club — to pass a referendum that will disallow gambling and make the property worthless to investors. He also tried many tactics, including selling THC-laced chicken wings to raise the money needed to protect his establishment.
Uncle Clifford's efforts failed and the property still went up for auction. However, the mysterious stripper Hailey Colton (Elarica Johnson) saved the day by being the highest bidder. Season two explores their unlikely partnership.
Uncle Clifford and Lil Murder are through
In season one, Uncle Clifford and local rapper, Lil Murder, developed a romance that the club owner wanted to keep casual due to the rampant homophobia and transphobia in Mississippi.
Lil Murder continued pursuing Uncle Clifford aggressively, ensuring his boo that he is committed to building something solid. But when the industry comes calling, Murder shrugs off his new flame for fear of someone finding out that he is attracted to a gender-fluid person.
The brush-off leaves Uncle Clifford nursing not only an ailing club but a broken heart at the end of the season.
The Pynk has many leading ladies but only one main attraction
The main performer at The Pynk is Mercedes (Brandee Evans), who is as appreciated as much for her athleticism as her sensuality. In season one, she worked alongside the other dancers but frequently stole the show by working her way to the top of the pole and doing gravity-defying tricks.
In season one, Mercedes was planning to hang up her heels and open a gym for young girls in the neighborhood to practice tumbling. But her mother, Patrice Woodbine (Harriett D. Foy) put an end to that when she stole her stash to open up a church for herself.
Mercedes might be broke but she has other options brewing
In the series, viewers learned that successful strippers cultivated a group of regulars, or sugar daddies, to ensure that no matter how well the club is or isn't doing, they are able to maintain their income.
One of Mercedes' regulars, a married football coach whom she referred to simply as "Coach," had been trying to lure her away from the club and into his arms for years.
Keyshawn also known as Miss Mississippi went viral and found fame
In season one, Keyshawn (Shannon Thornton), whose stripper name is Miss Mississippi, teamed up with local rapper Lil Murder to propel them both to social media stardom by filming videos pretending they're a couple. They used their popularity to promote a night at the club called "Murder Night" where a ton of drama popped off.
In season two, expect several strip-club legends to show up as guest stars to congratulate Keyshawn on her hustle, including reality TV star Joseline Hernandez, Memphis rapper Jessica Dime, and dancer-turned-podcast host Gigi MaGuire.
Social Media might love Keyshawn but she has made IRL enemies at The Pynk
In "P-Valley's" first season, "Murder Night" led to mayhem when Keyshawn's abusive boyfriend showed up.
When Diamond (Tyler Lepley), the club's security guard tried to save her by attacking him, Keyshawn grabbed a gun in defense of her boyfriend.
Her actions got her banned from The Pynk and ended her friendships with club owner Uncle Clifford (Nicco Annan) and Mercedes.
After "Murder Night," Diamond opted to walk away from the club.
The Trinity has also broken up
Mercedes, Keyshawn, and Gidget (Skyler Joy) used their skills as the most experienced athletes to form the holy trinity, thrilling clubgoers and stuffing Uncle Clifford's pockets.
But with Keyshawn banned and Gidget getting out of town, the trio has broken up leaving a gap in the line-up at the club.
Starz's "P-Valley" returns for season two on Friday at 9 p.m. ET. Get a sneak peek below: