The season premiere of the second season of Russian Doll has officially been announced by Netflix. The Emmy-winning comedy-drama series created by Natasha Lyonne, Amy Poehler, and Leslye Headland will return this spring. The series stars Lyonne as Nadia, a software engineer who lives in New York City and is stuck in a time loop that continues reliving her 36th birthday. She dies repeatedly, always restarting at the same moment at her birthday party as she tries to figure out what is happening to her.

She meets Alan, played by Charlie Barnett, who is experiencing the same thing in a different event, and together they try to figure out how to end the time loop. While talking with Thrillist, Lyonne says about the characters,

"Emotionally, Nadia and Alan were two characters who were very self-destructive in very different ways, but sort of find this common ground in each other of a reason to continue to show up for life, if not only for themselves then for each other."

The first season premiered in 2019, with the series immediately getting renewed for a second season. It has received rave reviews from critics and viewers alike, with everyone excitedly waiting for the next season. While production was supposed to begin in March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic forced production to shut down, delaying the premiere of season two. While production resumed a year later, news about the upcoming season has been kept under wraps with only minor teases from Lyonne’s Instagram posts. That is until Netflix announced that season two would release this spring, teasing viewers with first look images. After a three-year hiatus, what can we expect from season two of Russian Doll? Here's everything we know so far.

Where Season One Left Off

Russian Doll season 1 Natasha Lyonne Door
Netflix

In the season one finale, we see Nadia and Alan attempting to find each other in their time-loop but realize they are both in different timelines. Nadia tries to stop Alan from initially dying but realizes he doesn’t know who she is as in his timeline, they have never met, and he hasn’t died yet and vice versa with Alan trying to save Nadia in the same situation. In their respective universes, Alan and Nadia realize they both need to come to terms with their own unhappiness by not avoiding it but instead accepting it. Alan needs to accept that his relationship with his girlfriend isn't healthy, and proposing won't fix any of the problems the two have. And Nadia needs to stop avoiding the pain her mother, played by Chlöe Sevigny, inflicted on her as a child.

The season ends with Alan and Nadia in the two different timelines, walking off together in a parade as friends who will protect each other from death. The final episode also subtly reveals Nadia in both timelines walking past other Nadias in the parade, leaving viewers to wonder if there are additional timelines.

Related: Here Are 5 Shows to Catch Up on Before Their Upcoming Second Season

It was an ending that didn't necessarily end with a cliffhanger or even with a romantic conclusion but instead a to be continued since the two protagonists end in different timelines. Fans anticipate how the next season will move forward, given the surprise ending.

Season 2: The Plot

Russian Doll season 1 Charlie Barnett Natasha Lyonne
Netflix

While viewers may not have all the answers for season two, Lyone did give fans a tease with Entertainment Weekly about this season's upcoming plot saying that it picks up four years after Nadia and Alan escaped a deadly time loop. The story once again explores existential themes as the duo discover a fate even worse than dying over and over when they must sift through their pasts via an unexpected time portal located in one of Manhattan's most iconic locales. Lyonne adds, "We all pushed ourselves to the limit of what we thought we could make happen visually and through the storytelling."

Additionally, we know that all the cast members from season one will be returning for season two. Along with Lyonne and Barnett, including Greta Lee as Maxine, Nadia’s friend from season one who throws her 36th birthday party, and Elizabeth Ashley as Ruth Brenner, Nadia’s therapist and close family friend. Annie Murphy from Schitt's Creek also joins season two as an unexpected ally to Nadia.

Related: Russian Doll Season 2: Questions We Hope to See Answered

Since the following season is set four years after season one, will it be set in the two timelines? Or will it just follow one? Will viewers also get to see more character arcs from the supporting cast? And will the first season's ending answer the question about the additional Nadia's in the two different timelines? With the additional potential universes, will viewers get more Nadia's and Alan's conquering their fear and unhappiness? We'll soon find out.

Expected Release Date

Season two of Russian Doll returns with eight episodes on April 20, 2022, only on Netflix.