The Afterparty premieres with three episodes on Apple TV+ on Jan. 28.
Murder mysteries have long been a TV staple, from Columbo’s feature-length episodes to Jessica Fletcher’s amateur sleuthing on Murder, She Wrote. Now, Apple TV+ has thrown its hat into the crime-solving ring with The Afterparty, and this addition to the streamer’s growing library offers a playful twist on an all-too-familiar genre. Showrunner Chris Miller (creative partner Phil Lord is an executive producer) has assembled a cast packed with performers equipped to hit the hilarious and emotional beats of a whodunnit told from multiple perspectives. The three-episode premiere avoids repetition thanks to the genre-blending set-up and leaves you wanting more.
The Hillmount High School’s 15-year reunion provides the initial setting, but the murder itself occurs at the lavish afterparty hosted by Xavier (Dave Franco). The world-famous pop star and actor is beloved by the public, but his old classmates harbor resentments dating back to adolescence, and the list of potential suspects is long. A limited time to solve the case — in part, because of the high-profile victim — means Detective Danner (Tiffany Haddish) and her partner Detective Culp (John Early) have to think outside the box to catch the killer. Toggling between the scene of the crime and events leading up to the tragic end of the evening helps keep the momentum and intrigue going.
“The same thing could happen but you see it in a different way. I want to hear your mind movie,” Danner explains to the remaining guests at Xavier’s residence. It is from Danner’s unusual evidence-gathering technique that the genre-mashing conceit is born, but it isn’t the first time individual perspective has been wielded to raise doubt. Akira Kurosawa’s 1950 psychological thriller Rashomon is still the definitive example of how different perspectives can lead to contradictory recollections of a crime, but there have been different attempts over the years to play with this idea of memory. More recently, Showtime’s The Affair used this approach to explore infidelity and a hit-and-run killing to depict an unreliable narrator. Nevertheless, the “mind movie” framing is a fun spin on gathering evidence that taps into recognizable tropes.
Establishing the rules and comedic tone early in the first episode helps set the mood. Cameos from some Lord and Miller regulars (who we won’t spoil here) flesh out Xavier’s level of fame and Franco effectively dials up the insufferable celebrity levels in a flashy purple suit worn without a shirt. No one seems too sad about his demise and his home is largely dedicated to images of himself. Because so much time is spent in this one location (as well as the high school), it helps that production designer Tina Tholke has decked out Xavier’s abode with an array of focus-pulling decor.
Cycling through the same night using this framework means we get to see the same locations using a different lens, which includes different lighting schemes, color palettes, music, and camera techniques. Even if you aren’t a rom-com fan, the major beats are recognizable, and The Afterparty is successful as both a whodunnit and genre study. It is more playful than, say, last year’s Kevin Can F*** Himself, which combined comedy and gritty drama to varying results. While some jokes do fall flat in The Afterparty (particularly the second episode), they are typically followed by a punchier line.
The reunion backdrop is a familiar one, which has featured in comedies like Romy & Michele’s High School Reunion and Grosse Pointe Blank, as well as current TV obsession Yellowjackets. Several explanations point to why writers keep turning to this event as a backdrop, and there are few things more relatable than anxiety attached to revisiting high school. Plus, the pre-existing history between former classmates provides a strong foundation of grudges, regrets, and even unrequited love. It is also why it is a rich landscape for a murder mystery with a format twist.
Aliq (Sam Richardson) leads the ensemble as he is driving the story, which takes him on a romantic roller coaster amid the obstacles thrown up by the murder. The idea of second chances is another major theme, and the literal portrayal of this through the medium of song in Episode 3 is quite the earworm — I have already rewatched this episode multiple times. Ben Schwartz as Yasper is as if Jean-Ralphio Saperstein from Parks and Recreation had more self-awareness but the same desire to bust out a tune. It is an infectious, scene-stealing performance and his chemistry with Richardson is part of the overall charm.
Another standout is Zoë Chao, who is finally getting to break out of the “best friend of the main character” box, which includes her role on the recent HBO Max comedy Love Life. Meanwhile, Haddish gets some terrific one-liners and proves she is equally funny in the straight-man role as when she is leaning into the outlandish.
There is a risk, of course, that watching the same night unfold multiple times could get boring awfully fast. Thankfully, there are enough competing elements in the first three episodes to suggest this story still has enough steam left for the remaining five installments. The premiere is longer by 15 minutes than the following chapters, but this covers the necessary initial set-up before launching into the “mind movies” of each witness (and potential suspect). Recurring jokes and repeat touchstones mean that while the storyteller’s perspective changes, there are also necessary anchors that help maintain the overall threads.
The opening credits tap into a Saul Bass aesthetic, which immediately sets the tone, and Miller’s grasp of the various tropes and familiar beats is more than a corny gimmick. Caring about the murder mystery plot doesn’t come as an afterthought and this series will likely benefit from a repeat watch to assess the various clues that have been dished out. The Afterparty joins Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building and Rian Johnson whodunnit hit Knives Out as a satisfying contemporary spin on the beloved detective formula. Without going into the various twists and turns, it also isn’t clear cut as to who the killer is, and while it is impossible to say whether The Afterparty will stick the landing, it is certainly off to a good start.
from IGN Reviews https://ift.tt/3IKiAWO
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