If you’ve recently started sporting mismatched earrings, attending spiritual healing sessions, or taking your calls on a Claudia Kishi-approved Etsy landline, I must inform you: You might have Baby-Sitters Club syndrome.
It only follows that you’d develop these symptoms after watching the fantastic Netflix adaptation of Ann M. Martin’s beloved chapter books. Really, don’t be concerned: Everyone wants to join the club.
Problem is, there’s only so many times you can relive your childhood watching (and, uh, re-watching) the same 10 episodes of the Stoneybrook crew and their adventures. The good news: Season 2 of The Baby-Sitters Club is officially headed our way. Here’s everything we know about what’s next.
When will season 2 debut?
On October 28, 2020, the Netflix Australia and New Zealand Twitter account confirmed BSC would return for season 2. The video announcement featured the show's original stars—Malia Baker (Mary Anne), Momona Tamada (Claudia), Xochitl Gomez (Dawn), Jessi (Anais Lee), Vivian Watson (Mallory), Shay Rudolph (Stacey), and Sophie Grace (Kristy) —lip-syncing to the theme song from the original HBO series, which aired in 1990.
Emergency meeting of #TheBabySittersClub is now in session because SEASON 2 IS CONFIRMED. pic.twitter.com/sePYOKad5X
— Netflix ANZ (@NetflixANZ) October 28, 2020
Then, in August 2021, Netflix finally revealed first-look images and a release date: October 11. The sneak peek has us eagerly anticipating Claudia's return to the (middle school bedroom) runway.
What will season 2 be about?
The official Netflix synopsis for season 2 reads: “As demand for their club continues to grow, founders Kristy Thomas, Mary-Anne Spier, Claudia Kishi, Stacey McGill, and Dawn Schafer have now welcomed Mallory Pike and Jessi Ramsey to their ranks. With the new school year comes booming business, new relationships, personal journeys, and important lessons, but through it all the club is there for each other every step of the way.”
The most important nugget from that paragraph? Fan favorites Mallory Pike and Jessi Ramsey are officially part of the BSC. When the series first premiered on Netflix, series creator Rachel Shukert took to Twitter to announce that Jessi would be “a big part of season 2,” despite her relatively small presence in the first season, and she shared the same sentiment in an interview with Variety, telling the outlet, “Jessi moves in even later. She’s a really important character, but she’s more of a season 2 character.”
No word yet on exactly how Jessi and Mallory will shape season 2, but it's exciting to see their worlds expanding within the Stoneybrook-verse.
As Netflix ramps up for the release, Shukert shared her excitement via press release: “In Season 2, we really get to see a maturation of the club, and of the girls. There are two new members, they're all a year older and have more experience running a business, deeper friendships and are growing into a deeper understanding of themselves as people. We also wanted to continue exploring themes that allow all young viewers to see themselves represented on screen, while also dealing obliquely with many of the things we've all been through in the past year: loss, change, responsibility, and trying to find joy and meaning in unexpected places.”
Will the cast return?
All of the season 1 cast will return, with the unfortunate exception of Gomez. The young actress, who played Dawn in the first season, was forced to drop out due to conflicts with her production schedule for the upcoming Marvel film Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. In season 2, Finding 'Ohana actress Kyndra Sanchez will fill the role.
Multiple BSC members have spoken out about their hopes for season 2, given the more than 200 books they can draw ideas from. Rudolph, who plays Stacey, told Pop Sugar she hopes Stacey doesn’t move back to New York City, as she does in the books. “I want to stay with the other BSC girls and have fun babysitting adventures,” she said. Grace, who plays Kristy, added that she hopes Kristy coaches Kristy’s Krushers, the softball team she leads in the books.
There was initially some question whether Clueless star Alicia Silverstone, who plays Kristy’s mom, Elizabeth, would return for a second chapter. Thankfully, there's no need to fret—her name is on the official cast list for season 2. She told EW, “Mainly I was just really excited to read a script that was female-driven and that was super positive and modern, and based on a story that so many people love. The show makes my heart so happy when I watch it.”