Apple TV’s 2-Part Mystery Is One of Its Best Shows To Binge

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Tiffany Haddish sitting on a couch and staring ahead in The Afterparty Season 2, Episode 2.

Published Apr 19, 2026, 5:41 PM EDT

Kendall Myers is a Senior Author with Collider. As part of the TV and Movies Features team, she writes about some of the most popular releases before, during, and after they premiere. In three years, she has written over 900 articles with topics ranging from classic sitcoms to fantasy epics.

Apple TV has been releasing some impressive shows, but one that is too often forgotten is The Afterparty. The murder mystery genre has been growing over the last several years, but in 2021, this series made waves with a unique narrative choice. The anthology series frames each episode in a new genre, covering everything from romcoms to heist thrillers. While this could easily be distracting, it works because the genre shifts represent different characters' perspectives of a single night's events. The contrast between episodes and a hilarious ensemble cast make The Afterparty a compelling mystery that fans won't be able to look away from.

The Afterparty maintains its concept through two loosely connected seasons, revolving around two different murder investigations full of twists and, oddly enough, laughs. Even with so much going on, the series is only 18 episodes long, making it a quick binge-watch that never gets boring. Offering an entirely unpredictable and fascinating ride, The Afterparty holds appeal for fans of every genre while never losing sight of its overarching mystery.

What Is 'The Afterparty' About?

The Afterparty introduces several conflicts, but the central piece is each season's murder. In Season 1, pop icon Xavier (Dave Franco) dies during the afterparty of his high school reunion, making all the remaining guests suspects in his possible murder. When Detective Danner (Tiffany Haddish) arrives to investigate, each person present tells their own version of events, featuring themselves as the main character. As new information comes to light, the audience takes an active part in the investigation, comparing each unreliable version of the night in question.

The primary suspect, Aniq (Sam Richardson), who spent the night competing with Xavier for the attention of his high school crush, Zoë (Zoë Chao), hopes to clear his name by interfering in the investigation with his friend, Yasper (Ben Schwartz), but only makes himself appear more guilty in the process. Throughout Season 1, past drama takes center stage as the once-popular Chelsea (Ilana Glazer) blames Xavier for her ostracization in high school, and Walt (Jamie Demetriou) tries to get one of his former classmates to finally remember him. The investigation brings old grudges and unresolved romances to light, adding intrigue to the events of the night and constantly shifting suspicion.

Meanwhile, Season 2 explores a completely new murder case when a wedding night ends in the groom's death, leading to new involvement from Danner, who is now a private detective. Rather than reopening old wounds from high school, Season 2 revolves around family drama among the bride and groom's guests. While the overall concept remains the same, following a murder investigation that includes a suspect list of people with years of shared history, the unexpected twists in each season ensure that they remain distinct.

Uzo Aduba, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Dan Marino, Randall Park, and other cast of The Residence in a doorway.

'The Afterparty's Unique Style Makes It Perfect for Every Viewer

While many things stand out about The Afterparty, its greatest hook is its format. As each character recounts their version of events, the episodes change genres, allowing the show to experiment with various methods of storytelling while retelling the same event. One episode is formatted like an action movie, another like a hilarious musical, a third like an animated series — and that's just in the first season. The Afterparty gets even more creative in its return for Season 2, retelling its central wedding as a Regency-era romance, a noir crime drama, a heist story, and a documentary, to name a few. With so much variety, the mystery is difficult to turn away from, because even as every episode repeats the same events, it also adds new clues for the audience to pick up on.

The episode styles also reflect the characters, allowing the audience to understand how they see themselves, which is especially important when trying to guess who would be capable of murder. Even with this insight, the story is impossible to predict because it's never just about the murder. The characters are all focused on their own priorities, adding additional, though less lethal, questions for the series to answer in its unpredictable twists. With each installment offering something different, even as it traces a single mystery, The Afterparty is the perfect binge for nearly everyone.