Stream on Apple TV
Based on 2 seasons, 18 episodes · through September 5, 2023
The Afterparty is a comedy murder mystery show about a group of people trying to solve a crime. Each episode shows the same night from a different suspect's view using a unique movie style. While the mystery is mostly light and playful, the second season introduces a major romantic relationship between two female characters. This secret romance becomes a key plot point and is shown in a positive, central way.
Why 47%? See the score breakdownBreakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for The Afterparty.
Woke representation / casting
The show features a highly diverse cast across both seasons. In Season 2, the show introduces a prominent queer romance between Grace and Hannah. Because of industry patterns, LGBTQ+ elements receive stronger weighting in our system. This visible queer representation boosts the casting score significantly, though the diverse casting otherwise fits the modern California setting naturally.
45%
Woke political dialogue
The dialogue is mostly focused on comedy and solving the murder mystery. There are no heavy political lectures or activist speeches. There are only very minor, light comments about female representation, and some standard banter about gender dynamics in the police department during Detective Danner's flashbacks.
15%
Production
Identity-driven story themes
In the first season, identity themes are kept to basic high school archetypes. In the second season, the secret queer romance between Grace and Hannah becomes a key plot point and a potential motive for the murder. The show treats their romance as a sweet and important subplot that is resolved happily.
55%
Western institutional / cultural critique
The show has some mild, generic satire of bumbling police officers and wealthy tech billionaires, which are standard mystery tropes. Detective Danner's career struggles deal lightly with standard male-dominated workplace tropes, but the show does not use these elements to push a deeper systemic critique of Western institutions.
10%
Woke character or canon changes
Not relevant
0%
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
The show did not receive any notable backlash or complaints from viewers accusing it of being too woke or pushing a political agenda. It was widely accepted as a standard, lighthearted mystery comedy.
0%
Creator track record context
Main creators Christopher Miller and Phil Lord have a very low-woke track record centered on broad comedy. However, the wider writing staff includes several writers with stronger histories of progressive activism and queer-inclusive projects, leading to a mild score overall.
25%
