Certainly one of Apple TV Plus’ greatest hidden gems is again for season 2

One of many greatest issues with fashionable streaming providers is how simple it’s to overlook stuff. There’s simply a lot that even the great reveals can move proper by you. And it’s simply as true for a platform like Apple TV Plus as it’s for extra stuffed providers like Netflix. With the entire deal with huge, splashy initiatives like Basis or Severance or the most recent film from Martin Scorsese, it’s not arduous for one thing like The Afterparty — a unusual homicide thriller that performs round with movie historical past — to fly underneath the radar.

Effectively, excellent news should you did miss it: season 2 kicks off immediately, making it a good time to leap in.

Season 1 came about 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 fascinating, although, wasn’t essentially the thriller itself however the present’s construction. As Detective Danner (Tiffany Haddish) interviewed every witness, viewers had been capable of see how occasions unfold from totally different views.

The twist is that every episode shouldn’t be solely centered on a particular character’s tackle the night but additionally portrayed in a special type, suiting their character. 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’s a particularly enjoyable gimmick and lends the present — which is ostensibly a few tragic homicide — some levity. What was stunning 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 marriage ceremony, when — shock — the groom, a tech genius, is discovered lifeless. Ultimately, they pull Danner in for some assist. This setup mimics the perfect detective tales — suppose Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, or relative newcomer Benoit Blanc — in order that we’ve the identical heroes however are put in a brand-new state of affairs.

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 is rarely 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’s 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’s 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, don’t get me incorrect: this isn’t some extraordinarily advanced homicide thriller that may hold 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’s half-hour each week the place you’ll be able to simply have some enjoyable whereas additionally retaining an eye fixed out for clues. I’ve seen the entire new season (except for the finale) and, whereas there are some apparent moments, there are additionally genuinely stunning twists that stored me guessing — and curious the place this oddball crime-fighting staff is headed subsequent.

Season 2 of The Afterparty is on Apple TV Plus now, with new episodes on Wednesdays.