The Comeback Season 3 Stabilizes Valerie Cherish’s Return After Season 2’s Missed Opportunity

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Be warned – this article contains spoilers for the first episode of The Comeback season 3, titled “Valerie Gets a New Chapter.” The new season brings viewers back to the world of Valerie Cherish (Lisa Kudrow), and smartly addresses an issue left unresolved in the previous season. Valerie, known for taking on questionable projects, returns for more comedic adventures, this time navigating the increasingly tricky world of artificial intelligence.

The new season of The Comeback starts by catching viewers up on what’s happened in Valerie’s life since the last season in 2014. Now, Valerie is mostly filming things herself, with just her social media manager, Patience (Ella Stiller), helping out. After so many years, the show finally addresses some long-standing questions fans have been waiting for.

The Comeback Season 3 Addresses Its 10 Year Absence Quickly

While it’s understandable why The Comeback was off the air for ten years from the audience’s point of view, the show needs to explain what’s been going on within its own story. The first episode quickly fills viewers in on Valerie’s life and what’s happened since the end of the second season and her Emmy win.

At the end of season 2 of The Comeback, Valerie seemed ready for anything, leaving Mickey in the hospital while holding her husband Mark’s hand. However, at the start of the new season, we see she’s actually struggling. The season opens with Valerie filming social media content as she prepares for her role in the Broadway production of Chicago: The Musical in 2023.

The Comeback Character Actor
Valerie Cherish Lisa Kudrow
Mark Berman Damian Young
Jane Benson Laura Silverman
Patience Ella Stiller
Billy Stanton Dan Bucatinsky

The film quickly establishes Patience, and introduces Valerie, who also mentions Jane Benson (played by Laura Silverman) – though Jane seems unenthusiastic, even while being filmed for another documentary. As rehearsals for Valerie’s musical, Chicago, become increasingly challenging, Jane stops supporting her. Valerie then decides to leave the musical, using the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes as the official reason, rather than admitting she’s struggling with the demanding choreography.

The show jumps to Valerie protesting in Los Angeles with other actors and writers during the strikes. She asks Patience to film her for social media and manages to get a picture with Fran Drescher, which annoys the former SAG president and sitcom star. As the scene ends, it becomes clear that even after working hard to earn respect, Valerie still has a lot to learn.

Valerie Cherish’s Tongue-In-Cheek Chicago Rehearsal Provides A Pivotal Shift

WB Press Room

Starting season 3 of The Comeback with Valerie struggling isn’t a huge surprise, but her short stint in the Chicago musical on Broadway is a compelling way to begin. Valerie is desperately seeking guidance, as she often falters when directed, but she seems to be sabotaging her own efforts.

Valerie is starting a new chapter, one that really begins after the problems with her last job in Chicago. She’s now urgently looking for work, hoping to find something fulfilling. After leaving Chicago and returning to Los Angeles, Valerie mostly isolates herself, only staying in contact with Mark and Patience.

Although not her strongest performance, the Chicago rehearsal offers a glimpse into a more private and reserved side of the actress, reflecting a shift in her life away from traditional television work.

The Comeback Is Deliberate In Season 3 To Avoid Repeating Past Mistakes

WB Discovery Press

The first episode of The Comeback season 3 sets up what promises to be a compelling season, and it makes a conscious effort to address the passage of time more effectively than previous seasons. Season 2 unexpectedly began and didn’t adequately explain the decade-long gap since the first season, forcing the show to re-establish itself in a changed landscape.

Season 3 of The Comeback takes a more measured approach, giving viewers time to get reacquainted with the show. Instead of immediately jumping back into Valerie Cherish’s world, the season allows audiences to settle in and remember what’s been happening. Clever jokes about Chicago, the entertainment industry strikes, and Valerie’s recent experiences help viewers quickly feel comfortable and re-engaged with the series.

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2026-03-23 06:30