English Teacher Season 2: Stephanie Koenig Hints at Exciting Gwen Drama

English Teacher star Stephanie Koenig is hinting at what’s ahead for Gwen in the show’s upcoming second season, particularly how Markie’s hidden crush will shake things up.

“I would say it just gets juicier,” Koenig, 37, revealed exclusively to Us Weekly before the season 2 premiere on Thursday, September 25. “We definitely delve into it further. … Markie is certainly more candid about his feelings with Evan.”

The first season of the FX/Hulu series, which debuted in 2024, concluded with Coach Markie (Sean Patton) confessing to Evan (Brian Jordan Alvarez) that he has feelings for Gwen (Koenig). Koenig assured that in the upcoming season, “complications” will emerge as Evan grapples with being Markie’s confidant while harboring a significant secret from his best friend.

Gwen also has a serious boyfriend, Nick (Chris Riggi), which adds to the tension. Koenig — who is one of the writers on the show — revealed that Gwen and Nick’s relationship will become “deeper” as viewers get to know the cherished history teacher outside her classroom.

“We’ll see a bit more of her personal life this season,” Koenig assured.

Gwen will continue to be occupied with Evan, who will again be at the center of complex school politics. The duo had their differences in season 1 when Gwen finally confronted Evan about his knack for stirring unnecessary drama. Though they resolved their conflicts, Koenig mentioned that Gwen will still need to call out her friend over his shortcomings — which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

“It’s about being a good friend, right? Someone can be very supportive and loving while also saying, ‘OK, you need to tone this down,’” she explained, highlighting that Gwen won’t be the only one who speaks her mind this season. “Almost every character is able to challenge Evan! … Everyone gives him a really hard time about whatever his ideas are for that episode. I think that’s what makes the show enjoyable.”

One of Evan’s challenges arises in the season 2 premiere, when the students resist performing a play about AIDS in the ‘80s, instead advocating for an original piece concerning teenage life during the COVID-19 era.

Koenig shared with Us that the aftermath of the coronavirus was an idea Alvarez, who also serves as showrunner, has been pondering since the first season — a concept that carried over into season 2. The show is recognized for its ability to find humor in sensitive or contentious topics, a quality Koenig takes pride in.

“The best stories for English Teacher tackle landmine topics,” Koenig admitted, adding that the COVID storyline was an exciting one to develop. “There are so many hypocrisies within everybody’s views. And then there’s the aspect of age, and how much Evan and Markie have to say about that. It’s a sensitive topic, and it’s fantastic.”

Koenig, for her part, took on writing the third episode of season 2, titled “Dinner Party,” after creating one of season 1’s standout hours with “Powderpuff.” That episode addressed the controversial practice of football teams and cheerleading squads swapping uniforms. When the boys find the concept problematic and protest, Evan brings in drag queen Trixie Mattel to teach them how to dress up in “authentic” drag.

For “Dinner Party,” Koenig promised less of a “contained” narrative and more of a slapstick-style episode meant for viewers to kick back and enjoy. “Season 2 is, I think, crazier and funnier. And I feel like my episode is also crazier and funnier,” she noted. “It’s a dinner party farce.”

While English Teacher is a notable critical success — currently boasting a 98 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes — Koenig mentioned that the most meaningful praise comes from real-life teachers who feel represented by the characters.

“One of my favorite experiences is when a teacher, or a mom, approaches me,” she shared. “Both groups of fans really excite me. Moms watch it with their teenagers! I didn’t anticipate we’d bridge the gap between moms and teens. But when teachers express their appreciation, I’m just thrilled that we hit the mark.”

Koenig emphasized that she and the other writers have friends who teach and make sure to “run things by them” to ensure the show feels authentic. “I’m always flattered when teachers feel acknowledged by our show, when they believe it reflects their lives accurately and they can laugh along,” she added.

If any character on English Teacher resonates with viewers, it’s Koenig’s, as Gwen embodies every millennial who promised they wouldn’t grow old but now strives to remain “hip” for as long as possible. When asked what advice she’d give Gwen, Koenig said it would be to stop worrying about others’ opinions — especially teenagers.

“I’d hug her and say, ‘Girl, I love you. Just be yourself.’ Because my first instinct would be to tell her, ‘You don’t need to care what others think, you’re cool just as you are,’” Koenig laughed. “Ultimately, I think she fears that the students don’t consider her cool enough. My pep talk would be, ‘You’re cool, you’re unique, and I love you.’”

The first three episodes of English Teacher season 2 will debut on FX Thursday, September 25, at 8 p.m. ET. All 10 episodes will be available for streaming the next day on Hulu.