‘The Afterparty’ Recap – ‘Aniq 2: The Sequel’ & ‘Grace’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Sam Richardson and Zoë Chao as Aniq and Zoë in Episode 201 of ‘The Afterparty’ – ‘Aniq 2: The Sequel’. (Photo Courtesy of Apple.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the Season Two Premiere of ‘The Afterparty’.

There are few things more daunting in the creative world, than bringing to life a sequel that holds a flame to the perfect story that came before it. Because it’s near impossible really, since one has to replicate what made the original successful, all while creating something new and exciting that surpasses the foundation, and that difficult reality, is often why we see sequel stories… stumble and/or outright fail. Since they collapse under the weight of what they are tasked with. But not all sequels suffer from this. For now, and again we have been treated to follow-up stories that wow us and there are some… that actually manage to surpass the original. Which are of the course, the rarest sequels of all, but they do happen, and believe it or not… Apple TV+ is now host… to a sequel in that vein. 
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For earlier today, season two of The Afterparty debuted on the network and well, ‘Aniq 2: The Sequel’ and ‘Grace’, wasted little time in informing the audience that we are in the presence of a follow-up story that is bigger and better than what came before it, and those stories accomplished such feats… by offering a pair of stories that first… immerse us perfectly back within this universe. Courtesy of a lovely and smooth reunion with Aniq and Zoë. Wherein we learn that they are still going strong after that harrowing night, to the point where Aniq receives an invite to meet Zoë’s family at her sister Grace’s wedding and well… that is a plot that truly does allow for us to comfortably welcome ourselves back into this universe, right before murder most foul returns to the forefront of the story.

Because after an awkward rehearsal dinner and equally as awkward wedding, it isn’t long before Grace’s husband, Edgar, is found dead and just like that… Aniq and Zoë are once again plunged into a fascinating murder mystery. One that only Detective Danner can help solve, and that is precisely why Aniq calls her first and well, at a quick glance… that plot makes it seem as though The Afterparty season two is a by-the-numbers sequel. Where all the same things happen… so there’s no way this new season can be that innovative. But that would be incorrect. For this time around, there are no police involved. Since Danner has left the force to focus on her career as a novelist, and that is exciting and new, and this time… she and Aniq are squaring off against people with gobs and gobs of money. Which can never go well and that leads… to storytelling that exceeds what season one brought to the table.

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Poppy Liu and Zach Woods as Grace and Edgar in Episode 202 of ‘The Afterparty’ – ‘Grace’. (Photo Courtesy of Apple.)

For now, we are surrounded by a case that has no rules, no laws to abide by. Just morality and a quest for knowledge and that brings forth wild accusations early on, and an independence for Zoë that brings about a wildly unsettling investigation of her own. To prove that her sister didn’t do it. Plus, this time around… there seems to be far more suspects present in the household. Since again, rich people do stupid things without reproach in this life, and one of them could easily be responsible for the end of Edgar. Not to mention, there are exes in the house since Grace invited them to see her head off into matrimony, and jealousy is always a great motivator of murder. So, there is a real ‘wild west’ feel to this season, and that really does add a fresh perspective and new scope to this story, and that is a big reason as to why this season surpasses the original.
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The other reasons, however, relate to what we love about the show in the first place. Simply because the creative brain-trust behind this series… have perfected the ambitious nature of this story in season two, and that allows for the multi-genre format of storytelling present here… to really exceed our expectations and feel grander and more enchanting in scope. To the point where you actually forget at times that you’re watching this series and that you’re instead immersed in a respectful send up of the genre in question. Not to mention, the humor is truly at its best here. In fact, every joke told in this story plays to the strengths of the cast and that means we get peak comedy, the kind that truly forces one to pause the story as it plays out to get every last bit of laughter out. To ensure one can keep up with the case and to ensure… one can catch their breath because the jokes are that good.

All of which really does make for a bigger and better season, and that’s saying something since season one of this show really was complete and utter perfection. But it’s obvious now that Executive Producers Christopher Miller, Phil Lord, and Anthony King, really wanted to challenge themselves this season and put together a story that is more ambitious and grander and the end result… is that superior sequel and a season of storytelling… that engages us deeply and puts a grand smile on our faces. Because it’s fun, it’s enthralling and above all, it’s just good storytelling. The kind that really does whisk us away into the various genres of film we love and truly… it will be interesting to see what new homages to the wonder of film await us, and of course… learn who killed Edgar, as season two of this incredible show continues along. Until next time.  

To learn more about what season two means to Executive Producers Christopher Miller, Phil Lord, and Anthony King, check out our interview with them, here.

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