Cassie Bowden is back, but would we have been better off imagining her next adventures rather than joining her on them? Season 2 of “The Flight Attendant” didn’t exactly seem necessary. The darkly comedic HBO Max thriller felt rather complete after its critically acclaimed debut run. Despite some missteps, namely too many subplots that contribute too little, “The Flight Attendant’s” sophomore season justifies its existence based on Cassie’s arc alone. It would’ve been a shame to wrap Emmy-nominated “Big Bang Theory” alumna Kaley Cuoco’s career-best performance prematurely. Season 2 sees her soaring to even greater heights in her portrayal of a fabulous and floundering flight attendant who is now moonlighting as a CIA asset after helping crack the murder case she was a suspect in.

We reunite with Cassie 363 days into her sobriety. “I’ve been making better choices,” she announces at an AA meeting. In her own words, she’s “turning into this whole new person” after moving to LA and finding love in a committed, stable relationship. Cassie’s getting her shit together, but witnessing a murder abroad by a woman who appears to be disguised as her sets her on a dangerous, destabilizing journey that jeopardizes her sobriety, safety, and relationships.

Season 2’s central mystery is less compelling than its first, and the show loses momentum whenever Cassie’s off-screen, but with her as a travel companion, any journey is worth taking. Besides continuing to bring laughs and thrills, Cuoco gets the chance to dig deeper into Cassie’s childhood trauma, adding even more dimension to this character and her story.

If Season 3 gets greenlit, and that seems likely, I’ll gladly hop aboard — I’m just hopeful that the next trip Cassie takes us on is more worthy of having her as a guide.

“The Flight Attendant” Season 2 is now streaming on HBO Max.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8sEO07n7wg