What's difficult to swallow in the second season is how essentially shallow Amy and Ben continue to be. They are teenagers in love, but with the complication of Amy expecting someone else's child. Ken Baumann, a ringer for a young Bob Saget, has some decent moments as he tries to deal with the prospect of being a father to a child he did not conceive. Shailene Woodley does what she can as Amy, but ultimately the part seems extremely underwritten. It's hard to really tell how Amy feels about her impending motherhood, and floats a lot of bad ideas. At least when she starts getting the notion that the federal government should help her financially, her mom steps in to put the kibosh on it. Woodley best moments occur when she gets the chance to convey Amy's displeasure at having to join the workforce in preparation for the immense costs associated with having a child.
It would be unfair of me to reveal whether Amy has the baby in this season, and if so what she decides to do with it. Suffice to say, season three is now airing on ABC Family, so the saga continues. The Secret Life of the American Teenager: Season Two is worth watching if you're already hooked on the show. Just don't expect a high level of realism or sensitivity in the way it deals with serious subject matter.
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