Dead to Me, a fan-favorite series on Netflix, is bringing back its flair for dark comedy for a third season. Fans of the series have been waiting since March 2020, when season 2 was released on the streaming platform for new episodes. Within its first month of season 1 released on Netflix, over thirty million viewers tuned in to binge-watch the show, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Since then, Dead to Me has gotten nods from awards circuits and critics alike.
The series follows Judy (Linda Cardellini) and Jen (Christina Applegate), two women who become friends through a grief support group after each suffering tragic losses. Jen is there to mourn the loss of her husband, Ted, in a hit-and-run accident, and Judy is there because she was the driver in the accident, though she pretends her (ex-)fiancé died of a heart attack. The two become good friends, but everything unravels as Jen figures out what actually happened to her husband.
Before returning to previous episodes in anticipation, here’s a breakdown of what to expect in season 3.
Updated October 2022 by Liz Young: If you’re looking for more details about the third season of Dead to Me, you’ll be happy to know that we’ve updated this article with more information, including the release date and teaser trailer.
Dead to Me Season 3: The Plot
In tradition to the previous season’s ending, season 2 also left viewers on a pretty big cliffhanger. Immediately before the screen cuts to black, Jen and Judy get into a car accident, but this isn’t a coincidence. It’s parallel to the incident that Jen and Judy meet because of: the death of Jen’s husband in a hit-and-run accident, one under which the circumstances aren’t clear to Jen. But in the season 2 finale, viewers are left with the uncertainty that Jen is even alive after this accident.
And if that isn’t enough, trouble is brewing elsewhere for these leading ladies. A dog has sniffed out Steve’s buried body in the forest with its owner, implying the remains will be identified and an investigation underway. But what will Ben do next? Will he follow in the footsteps of Judy, or will he try to get back in the good graces of our protagonists out of guilt?
Another question viewers have is about the letter that Charlie, Jen’s son, discovered. Jen had written three letters: one for Judy, one for Charlie, and a final one for Henry. She had planned to turn herself over to the police for what she had done, so she wrote these letters. The actual content of the letter isn’t read aloud or visually shown, but it can be safely assumed it was a confession. Did Charlie read the letter? And if he did, how did he react?
Based on the teaser, Judy finds her letter and reacts accordingly. It also shows where Judy and Jen are after the accident, which includes Jen in a neck brace and Judy walking around, repeatedly pressing a call button to get a doctor's attention, though for what isn't clear. The teaser also doesn't disclose if Charlie read his letter.
Dead to Me Season 3: The Cast
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While there are no updates for any new faces on the show, the beloved lead duo of Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini will be reprising their roles as Jen and Judy, respectively, one last time. Although season 2 ended on a cliffhanger, leaving many questions about whether they can or would proceed, it has been confirmed that both will return for the new season. The show could not go on without them and their messy, sometimes fatal antics.
One of the twists in the show is a classic one: the appearance of a twin. James Marsden, who had previously played Steve, reappears as Steve’s twin brother Ben. With Steve now out of the picture in this story, season 3 will most likely be Ben’s turn to shine. And, based on how season 2 ended, it seems Ben is here to stay.
Other beloved characters will be appearing and reprising their roles as well. Sam McCarthy (The Blacklist) as Charlie, Luke Roessler (It Chapter Two) as Henry, Diana-Maria Riva (Man with a Plan) as Detective Ana Perez, and Keong Sim (Glee) as Pastor Wayne are all going to return.
Unfortunately, fans of Judy and Michelle’s relationship and dynamic won’t be seeing Michelle on the show anymore. Judy’s mother, Eleanor, is a recent introduction and plays a pivotal role in explaining why Judy is the way she is. Viewers learned that Judy’s childhood wasn’t a happy one and the impact of it. It’s uncertain if Eleanor will come back again.
Release Date
The final season will be available to stream starting November 17, 2022.
Everything Else We Know
Season 1 of Dead to Me came out in May 2019, while season 2 dropped a year later in May 2020. The previous two seasons came out almost a year after each other, so many assumed season 3 would release in May 2021. And that was the plan until the COVID-19 pandemic quickly changed that. Instead of a new season, in May 2020, fans were able to see the cast reunite virtually on Zoom for a table read.
Perhaps Netflix had an optimistic outlook when production resumed in the spring of 2021. This was short-lived; within three months, it was paused again. Christina Applegate announced on Twitter that she had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Applegate’s health and well-being were now priorities, so the show was again on a hiatus.
There’s one definite thing: season 3 will be the final season of Dead to Me, based on information from TV Line. The showrunner, Liz Feldman, will remain with Netflix to produce new content for the streaming platform, but there won’t be any new episodes of Dead to Me. She's been very involved, tweeting in April 2022 that filming was finished and editing had started. Though Dead to Me is ending, she is working with the streamer on a second dark comedy series.
With a release date finally revealed, viewers can only hope their lingering questions are answered after the massive cliffhangers within season 2.