New Characters in Season 3 of the Show
The new season brings along new cast members and characters, and already, we’ve seen some intriguing additions in the first two episodes.
Season 3 of Apple TV’s critically acclaimed sad comedy kicked off with a notable premiere featuring Michael J. Fox. He portrays Jerry, a Parkinson’s patient who strikes up a friendship with Harrison Ford’s character, Paul. In the second episode, “Happiness Mission,” a new character named Maya, played by Cherie Cola, enters the scene.
**Spoiler Alert for Season 3, Episode 2.**
You might be wondering about Maya. Who is she, and why is she important? If you think Shelly Cora, who stars in Season 3, looks familiar, you’re not alone; there’s a good chance you’ve seen her elsewhere!
Here’s the lowdown on Gabby’s (played by Jessica Williams) new patient Maya, some background on Cherie Cola, and what to expect as Season 3 unfolds.
Meet Maya: Gabby’s New Patient
This season, Gabby is on a quest for a more meaningful profession, wanting to engage with patients who face serious issues. In episode 2, she shares with two of her current patients that she’s planning to meet with Maya, who is, in her own words, “struggling” and not a fan of therapists. Seems like an opportunity for Gabby to step up! However, the session with Maya doesn’t go as smoothly as expected, as Gabby grapples with her grief over Tia (Rylan Borden) and the dynamics with Louis (Brett Goldstein) in her friends’ lives.
Considering Gabby’s known for working with “people who hate therapists,” Maya expresses her hesitance, saying, “I never pictured myself in therapy, but here I am.” When Gabby inquires about Maya’s reasons for attending, she opens up a bit about feeling that “a dark cloud” has been looming over her. Gabby’s first impression is that Maya seems someone who avoids talking about herself. Rather than diving into her own life, Maya turns the conversation back to Gabby’s desk lamp — a detail that brings up memories of Tia from earlier episodes.
As their session continues, Maya’s frustration layers intensity as she confronts Gabby multiple times about Shushu. Eventually, Gabby, feeling overwhelmed from her day, reacts sharply, prompting a surprise response from Maya: “Amazing.” Gabby quickly apologizes but Maya isn’t interested in giving it another shot; she leaves with a remark about it being worse than she expected.
We’ll certainly be seeing more from Maya in Season 3, but I’ll leave the rest for you to discover.
Why Choose to Play Maya? Meet Sherry Cola
As mentioned, Maya in Season 3 is portrayed by Shelly Cora, a 36-year-old actor, author, and comedian. Starting her on-screen journey in 2017, she has already appeared in nearly 50 movies and TV shows. Cora has featured in various popular series such as I Love Dick, Good Trouble, and Freaky Friday. Additionally, she holds several voice acting roles in shows like Crapopolis and The SpongeBob Movie: Find Squarepants.
Cora’s background is quite interesting too. She was born in Shanghai, China, and moved to the U.S. when she was just four. After studying entertainment and tourism at California State University, Fullerton, she gained valuable early career experience working with Carson Daly in radio.
Keep your eyes peeled for more of Cora’s character, Maya, this season. And, if you’re interested in following her journey off-screen, check her out on Instagram at @shrrycola.
Stay tuned for more updates as Season 3 continues!
