Apple TV’s Near-Perfect 2-Part Murder Mystery Is a Genius Weekend Binge

The murder mystery has made a comeback in recent years, though it’s taken somewhat of a humorous turn. Anyone who’s seen Daniel Craig‘s exploits as Benoit Blanc in the Knives Out movies or Only Murders in the Building can attest to this, as those projects perfectly blend a well-crafted mystery with plenty of humor. The fact that the Knives Out trilogy and Only Murders in the Building pack ensemble casts full of highly talented actors doesn’t hurt, either. If fans of those projects want another series in the same vein, they should check out The Afterparty on Apple TV.

True to its name, The Afterparty sets its debut season during the afterparty at a high school reunion, where the guests are shocked by the murder of pop star Xavier (Dave Franco). What makes the series unique is that each episode is set from the perspective of a different character, as homicide detective Danner (Tiffany Haddish) questions them. This approach not only gives viewers the chance to get to know each character better but also offers new clues as the case unfolds. However, that isn’t the only reason why The Afterparty should be on mystery fans’ watchlists.

‘The Afterparty’ Is a Literal Genre-Bending Mystery

Most television shows pride themselves on having unexpected plot twists, but The Afterparty takes it one step further as each episode literally shifts genres, based on the character. The first episode focuses on Aniq (Sam Richardson), an escape room designer who sees his high school reunion as a way to win over his high school crush, Zoë (Zoë Chao). As a result, Aniq’s recollection of events feels structured like a romantic comedy. This continues throughout the first season, with Aniq’s friend Jasper (Ben Schwartz) recounting the events in full-blown musical style, while Zoë’s episode goes fully animated and offers a peek into her thoughts. Even Danner gets the spotlight, with a flashback episode that’s more or less a riff on Law & Order.

This approach is genuinely inventive, while also keeping the mystery element intact by slowly revealing that each person at the party saw or heard something that leads to Xavier’s murder. In the vein of great murder mysteries, The Afterparty also boasts a stellar ensemble cast. The standouts are Richardson and Chao, whose chemistry feels truly electric; Richardson also delivers some of the series’ best laughs, including a running gag in which Aniq tries to figure out who drew a profane image on his face while he was passed out. Season 2 continues to build on that dynamic, as Aniq and Zoë attend the wedding of Zoë’s sister Grace (Poppy Liu), which gets turned sideways when her groom-to-be Edgar (Zach Woods) is murdered. The Afterparty Season 2 boasts a suprisingly better cast than its predecessor, including meaty roles for John Cho and Paul Walter Hauser!

‘The Afterparty’ Was Originally Meant To Be A Movie

Image via Apple TV

While The Afterparty is a fun, well-crafted approach to a murdery mystery story, creator Christopher Miller originally meant for it to hit the silver screen. Miller revealed that he came up with the concept in the early 2010’s, yet could never get The Afterparty off the ground as he and his frequent collaborator Phil Lord were working on 21 Jump Street and The Lego Movie. Following the smash success of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, the duo brushed off the concept and took it to Apple TV, as Miller revealed during an interview with CBR.

“The idea was to take it but have each of the suspects tell their version of the night and have you only be able to solve it by sort of understanding what happened through everybody’s point of view. It was a really interesting, just conceptual idea. Then I went to a high school reunion and realized that that was a really emotional place where there was a lot of old dynamics and history and regrets and feelings, both positive and negative.”

Anyone who’s watched Lord and Miller’s previous works know that the duo has a gift for subverting genre expectations, while also bringing genuine heart to the table. That’s on full display in The Afterparty, as both seasons feature characters wrestling with the reality that their lives aren’t what they expected. Yet it also shows that it’s never too late to take a new path, as Season 2 finds Aniq and Zoë in a relationship while Danner has become a successful novelist.

If you’re looking for a great weekend binge, The Afterparty is right up your alley. You’ll get to see some talented actors in plenty of hilarious situations, and a story that plays out in so many different ways. More murder mysteries could take a page from The Afterparty‘s book.

Release Date

2022 – 2023-00-00

Network

Apple TV

Showrunner

Christopher Miller

Directors

Christopher Miller, Anu Valia, Tamra Davis, Eric Appel

Writers

Justin Shipley, Jordan Shipley, Nicole Delaney, Rachel Smith, Jack Dolgen, Mike Rosolio, Bridger Winegar

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