Dark Side of the 90's: Season 2
Season 2 Lore Primer
Key plot threads, lore context, and character stakes you need to remember before diving into this season.
- Directly follows the overarching narrative developments of Dark Side of the 90's Season 1.
- Faction dynamics and core character alliances shift under escalating external stakes.
- Crucial mysteries introduced previously reach key turning points and narrative reckonings.
- Sets up serialized story arcs that build directly toward the climactic season finale.
Episode Guide
Season 2 Progress Shield
Arseniooo Hall!
Jun 14, 2022
Arsenio carves out a niche in the white, late-night world by showcasing hip hop artists and emerging talent. Despite his success, Arsenio becomes a casualty in the late-night wars.
MTV & The Real World
Jun 21, 2022
MTV’s The Real World is television with something to say--with a soap opera twist. But when MTV gets rich from reality TV, they trade in realness for fart jokes and hot tubs.
Cops: Bad Boys, Bad Boys
Jun 28, 2022
When COPS hits the airwaves, the gritty reality of police work becomes a phenomenon. Despite being the longest-running prime-time live-action series, COPS is mired in controversy.
UFC Pt. 1: No Holds Barred
Jul 5, 2022
Ken Shamrock and the UFC are joined at the knuckle. Dubbed "human cockfighting," the UFC will fight senators and scandals in a battle that almost ends the sport before it begins.
UFC Pt. 2: To Live or Die in the Octagon
Jul 5, 2022
36 states have banned "no holds barred" fighting, and the UFC’s future is grim. Star fighter Ken Shamrock is also in trouble and needs a guardian angel to get him back on his feet.
Tabloid TV
Jul 12, 2022
With sex, attempted murder and betrayal, nothing personifies the tabloidification of ’90s America better than the story of how Amy Fisher shot Mary Jo Buttafuoco in the head.
Black Sitcoms' Last Laugh
Jul 19, 2022
Black comedies explode in the 90s, with sitcoms written and produced by Black creators, featuring Black casts. But no culture is immune to the toxicity of fame and power.
The Rise of Rush Limbaugh
Jul 26, 2022
Rush Limbaugh is conservative radio’s first megastar, claiming to have "talent on loan from God." He creates a divide in America that we see unfolding today.
Y2K: Paranoia Will Destroy Ya
Aug 2, 2022
At the end of the decade, the fear of an apocalypse looms. Two men become the stars of the real-life action thriller known as the Y2K scare.
Morning Show Wars
Aug 9, 2022
Morning TV is the profit center of the news divisions that produce them. Today and Good Morning America battle for dominance where there’s no room for failure.