Apple TV+ Original Series Presents The Afterparty Season 2 Review by Ryan Balkwill

Genre: Murder mystery, Comedy

Created by Christopher Miller

Written by Chris MillerPhil LordJack DolgenAnthony KingNicole DelaneyKassia Miller

Starring: Tiffany Haddish, Sam Richardson, Zoë Chao, John Cho, Paul Walter Hauser, Ken Jeong, Anna Konkle, Poppy Liu, Elizabeth Perkins, Jack Whitehall, Zach Woods & Vivian Wu.

Music by David Schweitzer (season 2)

Executive producers: Anthony King, Phil Lord & Christopher Miller

Producers: Michael Cedar, Bridger Winegar, Aubrey Lee

Cinematography: Carl Herse, Ross Riege

Editors: Joel Negron, Nick Olah, Ivan Victor, Marissa Mueller

Production companies: Lord Miller Productions, Sony Pictures Television Studios, TriStar Television

Network: Apple TV+

Plot: Following the murder of a wealthy groom (Woods) at his wedding, a former detective (Haddish) and her unofficial assistant (Richardson) interrogate his friends and family in a bid to catch the killer.

Season 2 of The Afterparty was Really Good. 

Pros: I like they kept the premise the same and used it in a new setting. It keeps you guessing  “Who committed the murder” just like last season. I like how they used many different movie genres & new storytelling styles for each of the suspects and Sam Richardson is a show stealer this season.

Cons: It was a challenge for me to keep up with the mystery taking place & I feel this season wasn’t that memorable compared to season one.  

Casts & Characters:

Main:

  • Tiffany Haddish as Detective Danner, a police detective investigating the murder of Xavier. After leaving the police to become an author and private detective, she returns to help solve the murder of Edgar.
  • Sam Richardson as Aniq Adjaye, an escape room designer and the primary suspect who attempts to use his escape room skills to clear his name after being accused of Xavier’s murder, and later to investigate Edgar’s murder.
  • Zoë Chao as Zoë Zhu, She was Aniq’s high school crush, and following her divorce from Brett, later his girlfriend.

Season 2:

  • John Cho as Ulysses Zhu, Grace and Zoë’s absentee uncle and Feng’s half-brother
  • Paul Walter Hauser as Travis Gladrise, Grace’s ex-boyfriend and a citizen detective
  • Ken Jeong as Feng Zhu, Grace and Zoë’s father, and food truck owner
  • Anna Konkle as Hannah Minnows, Edgar’s adopted sister
  • Poppy Liu as Grace Zhu, Zoë’s newlywed sister who becomes the prime suspect in Edgar’s murder
  • Elizabeth Perkins as Isabel Minnows, Edgar and Hannah’s mother
  • Jack Whitehall as Sebastian Drapewood, Edgar’s childhood friend, business partner, and the best man
  • Zach Woods as Edgar Minnows, Grace’s newlywed billionaire husband who is the murder victim
  • Vivian Wu as Vivian Zhu, Grace and Zoë’s mother

Recurring:

Season 2

  • Will Greenberg as Judson, Sebastian’s cousin who is Jaxon’s brother
  • John Gemberling as Jaxon, Sebastian’s cousin who is Judson’s brother
  • Zack Calderon as Kyler, the wedding videographer
  • Jade Wu as Ruth, an aunt of Grace and Zoë’s

Special guest stars:

  • Gemma Chan as “Zoë” (season 2), an actress cast as Zoë in Danner’s film X Marks the Murder Spot
  • Keke Palmer as “Danner” (season 2), an actress cast as Danner in Danner’s film X Marks the Murder Spot
  • Elijah Wood as “Yasper” (season 2), an actor cast as Yasper in Danner’s film X Marks the Murder Spot
  • Jaleel White as himself/”Aniq” (season 2), cast as Aniq in Danner’s film X Marks the Murder Spot and Danner’s fiancée. White’s casting serves to pay off a recurring gag of characters comparing Aniq to Urkel, whom White played on Family Matters.

I recommend watching this new season only on Apple TV+.

Rating: 8 out of 10 Stars

Ryan Balkwill:

Resident TV reviewer,

Level Best Art Cafe

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