World Courant
One of many largest issues with trendy streaming companies is how simple it’s to overlook stuff. There’s simply a lot that even the nice reveals can cross proper by you. And it is simply as true for a platform like Apple TV Plus as it’s for extra stuffed companies like Netflix. With the entire give attention to huge, splashy initiatives like Basis or Severance or the newest film from Martin Scorsese, it is not arduous for one thing like The Afterparty — a unusual homicide thriller that performs round with movie historical past — to fly underneath the radar.
Nicely, excellent news for those who missed it: season 2 kicks off as we speak, making it a good time to leap in.
Season 1 befell within the aftermath of a celebration that adopted a highschool reunion, the place the host — a pop star named Xavier (Dave Franco) — died underneath mysterious circumstances. What made it attention-grabbing, although, wasn’t essentially the thriller itself however the present’s construction. As Detective Danner (Tiffany Haddish) interviewed every witness, viewers have been capable of see how occasions unfolded from totally different views.
The twist is that every episode will not be solely centered on a selected character’s tackle the night but additionally portrayed in a distinct type, suiting their persona. One episode is sort of a Quick & Livid film, one other a poppy musical with annoyingly catchy tunes. There’s even an animated one. It is a particularly enjoyable gimmick and lends the present — which is ostensibly a couple of tragic homicide — some levity. What was shocking about season 1 was the way it managed to steadiness having an intriguing thriller with additionally being a hilarious comedy.
Season 2 tells a brand new story however with some key returning characters. Bumbling escape room designer Aniq (Sam Richardson) and his girlfriend Zoë (Zoë Chao) are attending Zoë’s sister’s wedding ceremony, when — shock — the groom, a tech genius, is discovered lifeless. Ultimately, they pull Danner in for some assist. This setup mimics one of the best detective tales — suppose Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, or relative newcomer Benoit Blanc — in order that we have now the identical heroes however are put in a brand-new scenario.
The second season works for a couple of causes. To start out, the brand new forged is nice. There’s Zach Woods because the eccentric genius who isn’t with out his pet lizard, John Cho because the annoyingly worldly uncle who by no means misses an opportunity to inform you the place he is traveled, Elizabeth Perkins because the groom’s seemingly cold-hearted mom, Ken Jeong as a struggling entrepreneur simply attempting to maintain his household above water, and Anna Konkle because the groom’s misfit adopted sister. That is only a style, they usually slot in effectively with the unique forged, notably Haddish as she delves into every of their tales.
However the present has additionally expanded its scope to embody a higher vary of genres to parody. Issues begin out easy sufficient within the first episode, a rom-com sequel centered on Aniq, however from there, The Afterparty delves into movie noir and Victorian-era romance whereas additionally paying homage to filmmakers like Alfred Hitchcock and Wes Anderson.
Now, do not get me flawed: this is not some extraordinarily complicated homicide thriller that can preserve you up at evening. However The Afterparty’s second season does simply sufficient to be a compelling whodunit whereas additionally being goofy, foolish, and playful. It is half-hour each week the place you possibly can simply have some enjoyable whereas additionally preserving an eye fixed out for clues. I’ve seen the entire new season (excluding the finale) and, whereas there are some apparent moments, there are additionally genuinely shocking twists that preserve me guessing — and curious the place this oddball crime-fighting crew is headed subsequent.
Season 2 of The Afterparty is on Apple TV Plus now, with new episodes on Wednesdays.
One in every of Apple TV Plus’ finest hidden gems is again for season 2
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