Mormon wives gone wild: season 2 of 'The Secret Lives' brings even more scandals and surprises

Mormons have been low-key dominating the reality TV scene, and we’ve all been here for the unexpected drama.

From "Sister Wives" to Salt Lake City’s snowflake-wielding "Real Housewives", and even "Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey" on Netflix (a dark dive into the FLDS), there’s something about the intersection of strict religious rules and modern chaos that’s just too juicy to ignore.

But when "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" hit our screens, even the most seasoned reality TV junkies were foaming at the mouth.

Season one gave us TikTok’s wildest Mormon moms: Taylor Frankie Paul, Demi Engemann, Jen Affleck, Jessi Ngatikaura, Layla Taylor, Mayci Neeley, Mikayla Matthews, and Whitney Leavitt.

Serving up chaos, cocktails, and a little bit of “soft swinging” on the side. Forget the stereotype of wholesome housewives in pastel cardigans, these women brought mess, mood swings, and major Mormon mayhem.

Let’s pause here for the uninitiated: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) encourages a strict code of conduct. That means no coffee, no tea, no alcohol, and certainly no partner-swapping.

But hey, some of these ladies apparently missed that memo or just swiped left on it.

According to the LDS Word of Wisdom health code, members are advised to avoid "hot drinks" (interpreted as tea and coffee), alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drugs.

Modesty and chastity are also non-negotiable. So, when a few cast members casually sipped rosé and experimented with “soft swinging” (yep, it's a thing), it made headlines, TikToks, and therapist appointments.

For the curious (and confused), soft swinging is a term that’s been floating around #MomTok—and no, it’s not a new Pilates class. It generally refers to couples who engage in non-penetrative sexual activity with other couples or simply flirt and kiss without “going all the way”.

In other words, it’s swapping partners with ... boundaries.

Now, Hulu is giving the people what they want with a second season, 20 fresh episodes of confessionals, confrontations, and questionable choices.

Can MomTok survive round two of the swinging scandal that broke the internet and (temporarily) broke their sisterhood? That’s the question posed in the season two trailer.

Mayci sets the tone with her teary admission: “I never imagined for everything to blow up like this… but it’s a double-edged sword.”

You know it’s bad when your reality show causes actual emotional whiplash. Meanwhile, Taylor - ever the main character - warns: “It’s gonna get messy, for sure.” And baby, we believe her.

Demi’s back, too, chatting to police and possibly flirting on a cast trip to Italy, where they also pop into Vanderpump Villa. Yes, it’s giving crossover episode.

“You're opening yourself and your family up to a lot of drama,” she tells the camera, casually confirming what we already knew: these women are deep in it.

And just when you think it couldn’t get wilder, enter new cast member Miranda McWhorter. The girl swinging with Taylor? Yes, that one.

“Wait, that’s the girl that was swinging with Taylor,” someone gasps in the trailer, and that soundbite alone is enough to secure our viewing commitment. Miranda’s arrival is set to rattle the already-shaky social circle. 

Season one flirted with the #MomTok scandal, where Taylor admitted to "crossing boundaries" in her marriage while participating in what she claimed was consensual non-monogamy within their friend group.

The fallout caused divorce, broken friendships, and the internet spiralling into chaos. It's no surprise Hulu doubled down for round two. Drama sells.

This season, the drama splits the squad into two camps: Team Taylor vs Team Whitney. Whitney, who exited the group after being confronted, returns from Hawaii with a fresh tan and even fresher perspective, hoping to revive MomTok and “focus on what it’s really about.

But, judging by the side-eyes and dramatic pauses, not everyone’s buying what she’s selling.

So are these women genuinely trying to rebuild their lives, or just living out a perfectly chaotic storyline for our viewing pleasure? Maybe a bit of both.

What’s clear is they’re not hiding behind scripture anymore. They’re out here sipping, swinging, and serving savage side-eyes, faith and all.