TV Editor Sian Allen reviews the Apple TV+ mystery-comedy, praising its cast of comedy all-stars and killer plot
Great news for all you murder fans – the mystery-comedy genre revival is in full swing. With Knives Out 2 set to release later this year and a second season of Only Murders in the Building on the horizon, there is plenty to look forward to. However, if you’re dying to devour another clever contemporary Whodunnit in the meantime, look no further than The Afterparty. Created by one of the brains behind The Lego Movie, 21 Jump Street, Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse and The Mitchells Vs. The Machines, The Afterparty is a witty and intriguing addition to Chris Miller and Phil Lord’s back catalogue.
The Afterparty manages to pull off such an ambitious and compelling murder mystery while being consistently funny
On the night of his fifteen-year high-school reunion, rising pop superstar Xavier (Dave Franco) is murdered while hosting an exclusive afterparty. Detective Danner (Tiffany Haddish) investigates each of Xavier’s old classmates one by one, uncovering unknown connections, rivalries, and potential motives along the way. Everyone has their story to tell – and each recount of the night is told in a different genre, ranging from rom-com to musical to psychological thriller. The result is a genre-hopping, original Whodunnit rich with stand-out characters and a ridiculous level of attention to detail.
The Afterparty manages to pull off such an ambitious and compelling murder mystery while being consistently funny. One of the reasons it works so well is definitely down to its all-star cast. Sam Richardson is wonderfully endearing as prime suspect Aniq, an escape room designer hoping for a second chance at romance with his high school crush, Zoë (Zoë Chao). Haddish is a star as the lead detective – Danner is charismatic, clever, and completely captivating every time she’s on-screen. Stath Lets Flats fans will undoubtedly love Jamie Demetriou as the underappreciated Walt, and Ike Barinholtz and Ilana Glazer are fantastic as hot-head Brett and paranoid Chelsea, respectively.
However, my favourite character has to be Yasper (Ben Schwartz). His musical retelling of the reunion is a series highlight, and his friendship with Aniq throughout the series leads to many of the show’s funniest moments. ‘Two Shots’, in particular, has a distinctly Lonely Island charm, complete with hilarious lyrics, a catchy tune and intricate choreography. Those who are familiar with Schwartz’s improv background or some of his more ridiculous comedy characters (such as the inimitable Jean-Ralphio in Parks and Recreation) know that Yasper is the perfect role for him to show off his talents.
I found the whole show to be dangerously bingeable
Comprised of just eight episodes, The Afterparty is paced extremely well and takes unexpected twists and turns with each new episode. I found the whole show to be dangerously bingeable. In fact, I devoured the last four episodes in one sitting because I was so desperate to know who the killer was. The Afterparty might shock you with some of its revelations, but if you’re paying attention, the final reveal might not surprise you at all. I know when my hunch was proved right I felt vindicated, even though there were many clues that I missed. The show seems to have great rewatch value, and even if it is arguably predictable, it’s in a way that makes it a solid murder mystery.
The Afterparty is my favourite show of the year so far. The genre-hopping is an inventive and exciting way to keep things fresh while also giving a fascinating insight into each character and their unique subjectivity. The series is also brilliantly scored by Spider-Verse’s Daniel Pemberton, who adapts the show’s core sound perfectly for each new genre. Another hit on Lord and Miller’s long list of successes, The Afterparty is funny and clever, with vibrant characters, a killer plot, and a satisfying ending.
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