Summary
As far as first episodes go, this is fantastic. Great cast, great characters, and an even better storyline. As the show is crazy, it’s hard to predict where the limited series will take us, but it should be entertaining nonetheless.
This recap of Apple TV+ series The Afterparty season 1, episode 1, “Aniq,” contains spoilers.
As Aniq (Sam Richardson), preps himself for the 16-year class reunion of 2006, he tells himself “nothing can ruin this night”. But then, The Afterparty cuts to A-List Celebrity Xavier (Dave Franco) as he falls to his death.
The Afterparty season 1, episode 1 recap
Detective Danner (Tiffany Haddish) is first on the scene and is desperate to solve the case, despite her superiors telling her that it’s too high profile for her. Regardless, Detective Danner begins to investigate. As Xavier had been punched in the nose, suicide gets ruled out. With her second in command, Detective Culp (John Early), she walks into the penthouse, aka the location of the afterparty. It’s a complete mess!
Meanwhile, Brett (Ike Barinholtz) gets warned by Chelsea (Ilana Glazer) that she knows what he is hiding. With all of the main characters in the penthouse, Detective Danner claims that any one of them could be the murderer. And so, she will be interviewing them all. As for now, they all claim to have not seen Xavier get murdered.
First to provide their version of what occurred is Indigo (Genevieve Angelson). In the style of a weird art movie, Indigo shows herself to be on the lower balcony with the two Jennifers; Jennifer #1 (Tiya Sircar) and Jennifer #2 (Ayden Mayeri), whilst Ned (Kelvin Yu) plays a prank on Aniq, who is now passed out. After Xavier pees over the balcony and onto Jennifer #1, Aniq wakes up. He assumes Xavier is to blame for the prank, and after Indigo hears Aniq shout, “Oh No”, Xavier falls to death.
Next for Detective Danner to interview is Aniq. With more of a rom-com approach, Aniq reveals he came to the reunion for Zoe (Zoë Chao). At the start of the reunion, Aniq learns from his best friend Yasper (Ben Schwartz) that Chelsea had a complete breakdown, just as a fellow classmate Walt (Jamie Demetriou) asks if they remember him. They don’t. Although Walt claims he wants to make sure everyone will remember tonight.
After Xavier makes a grand entrance, Aniq believes that Zoe’s performance of Turn Back Time is for him. But after Aniq’s personal disaster on karaoke, he leaves Xavier and Zoe together. But as Zoe’s ex-husband is Brett, Brett says he will lose it if Xavier goes anywhere near her. And shortly afterward, a presentation of Zoe and Brett begins to play. Horrified, Zoe suggests to Aniq that they leave and go have fun elsewhere.
Zoe reveals to Aniq that Brett cheated on her. Just as Aniq and Zoe almost kiss, her daughter, Maggie (Everly Carganilla), arrives and ruins the mood. Eventually, Aniq invites Zoe for a nightcap. But she reveals that she’s going to Xavier’s place for an afterparty. And it appears that Xavier doesn’t want Aniq to attend.
After Xavier takes Zoe to the afterparty, Yasper accidentally hits Aniq with his rental car. And to make matter worse, Chelsea tells Brett that Aniq is interested in Zoe. What does Brett do? Well, he threatens to kill them all. After accidentally taking an edible, Aniq’s memory is fuzzy, but he does remember that when he was at the afterparty, he saw Brett and Xavier fighting on the balcony.
The ending
After that, the next thing that Xavier remembers is when he wakes up soaking wet. As he assumes Xavier is the one to blame, Aniq claims he will explain to him that it’s not ok to treat people like this. But he is unable to find Xavier, and when he spots his face in the mirror, he starts to scream. (Aka, what Indigo heard). And it’s at the moment that Xavier dies.
With the interview over, Aniq believes that Detective Danner thinks he is the killer. So, Aniq decides that he will solve the murder himself. In the bathroom, he finds a ripped note that partially reads; “This is payback for what you did to me … feel the pain”. The first episode of The Afterparty concludes just as Brett gets caught sneaking into his car, with Detective Danner deciding that it’s time to hear Brett’s side of the story.
My prediction for the killer: Zoe. But as we’ve not properly met some of the characters, I reckon that’ll change. Heck, it might even turn out to be some comedic accident that saw Xavier fall to his death.
What did you think of The Afterparty season 1, episode 1? Comment below.
