Put on your cowboy boots because Netflix’s hit show My Life With The Walter Boys has returned with its second season. Leaving fans in suspense at the end of season one, Jackie Howard—played by Nikki Rodriguez—starts this new season back in her home state of New York.
After barely arriving home, Howard is persuaded by Katherine Walter, her late mother’s best friend, to go back to Silver Falls; however, she is still torn by the question of which Walter brother she loves more: Cole, played by Noah LaLonde, or Alex, played by Ashby Gentry.
Season one recap:
This teen drama began with an unexpected family tragedy, forcing Howard to move to Colorado and settle in at the Walter home. Adjusting to the countryside was not effortless for Howard, with big dreams of going to Princeton. To add more conflict to her situation, Howard faces hardships in meeting new friends and is introduced to a fast-approaching love life with Alex.
Besides Howard’s tricky romance status, fans also got to witness the chaos that ensued in the Walter household with 13 family members.
The Walter family ranch had financial struggles after Katherine’s husband, George, discovered pests in his crops. Towards the end of the season, the oldest Walter brother, Will, talks to Howard’s Uncle, Richard, to ask if he is interested in buying the ranch and adding a resort to the property.
Season two recap:
This season set a higher standard for many of these characters. For starters, Alex had a drastic transformation and was heavily involved with bronc riding. As for Cole, he had immense character development after becoming a football coach for Silver Falls High School. He also started to take his schoolwork seriously to ensure he has a successful future.
Howard, this time, focuses on setting boundaries, finding her true identity, and keeping her family’s legacy alive. Howard reflected major growth since season one after agreeing to celebrate Día de los Muertos alongside uncle Richard to honor her family’s death. On another note, she made it clear that her complicated relationship with Cole had to end for the sake of the Walter family.
As the episodes unfold, an unexpected love triangle appears for Nathan Walter, Skylar Summerhill, and the new student in the newspaper club, Zach. Zach instantly catches feelings for Nathan, and the two soon become a couple, leaving Nathan’s previous boyfriend, Summerhill, jealous.
Continuing with the ranch issues that stemmed from season one, Will creates a plan for the town’s approval of the resort. The idea was quickly resisted by the public, influencing George to cancel the development. He later reveals to Will that he is willing to lease the land to a local vineyard to reduce his stress.
My opinion:
Similar to The Summer I Turned Pretty, this show draws most of its attention to Team Cole and Team Alex. To me, Cole is the better option for Howard because he goes out of his way to help her when needed and constantly demonstrates acts of love. In season one, he fixed Howard’s treasured teapot, and he took her out into a field to pick precious flowers for Will’s wedding.
This time around, Cole recognizes his love for Howard. Despite his obvious desire to be with her, Howard denies her feelings towards him. The two often engaged in long stares and flirty conversations, which made my heart burst every time. Cole was also quite a gentleman, offering to dance with her at the winter formal and helping Howard practice driving for her license test.
Unlike Alex, who is snarky and loves the idea of Howard, Cole can relate to her grief. The pair’s natural chemistry is truly undeniable. This finale has to be one of my overall favorites since Howard and Cole finally confessed their love to each other.
Although Alex overheard their confessions, I still believe that Howard might give Cole a chance next season. On top of that, the song “Fire On Fire” by Sam Smith was the perfect background tune for this scene. The lyrics represent Howard and Cole’s bond so well.
For me, the final scene was unexpected. All the last-minute plot twists, especially when an ambulance rushed to pick up George, who had collapsed, left me wanting more from the series.
Considering the ending to the show, I, along with many other supporters, want to see Howard and Cole together in season three, which is scheduled to air in 2026.
