The Devil Wears Prada 2, the long-awaited sequel to the 2006 classic, has arrived in cinemas, but it brings with it a significant plothole: Andy Sachs's new boyfriend, Peter. Played by Australian actor Patrick Brammall, Peter is arguably the most criminally tedious heterosexual male to ever appear in a mainstream movie. The original film famously eschewed a conventional romantic ending, with Andy choosing her career over a relationship. Yet the sequel inexplicably pairs her with a man who offers little charm, wit, or narrative purpose.
Who is Peter?
Peter is a real estate contractor who enters Andy's life just as she returns to Runway magazine as features editor. Their relationship is barely developed; a single dinner scene devoid of chemistry is all we get. The film skips any genuine courtship, leaving viewers to wonder why Andy would be attracted to someone so bland. Even a reported dance sequence filmed for the movie was cut, further diminishing their connection.
A Throwback to Outdated Tropes
The original Devil Wears Prada was praised for its progressive take on romance, with Andy ending the film single and fulfilled. Adrian Grenier's Nate was the nagging, unsupportive boyfriend, a role screenwriter Aline Brosh McKenna described as a male version of the 'naggy wife' trope. The sequel's Peter, however, is a regression. He exists merely as a 'supportive guy,' a relic of an era where women in comedies needed a romantic happily-ever-after, even if no one asked for it.
Peter's inclusion feels forced. He doesn't challenge Andy, clash with Miranda Priestly, or provide any real dramatic tension. Instead, he serves as a hollow statement that straight men can be nice too, a message that clashes with the film's otherwise sharp focus on fashion, ambition, and female rivalry.
While Brammall is genuinely funny in the Australian comedy Colin from Accounts, his talents are wasted here. The script gives him nothing to work with, making Peter a forgettable addition to an otherwise entertaining sequel. The real love story remains between Andy and Miranda, and Peter's presence only distracts from it.
