"Aniq" is the series premiere of the American murder mystery comedy-drama television series The Afterparty. The episode was written and directed by series creator Christopher Miller, and co-written by Kassia Miller. It was released on Apple TV+ on January 28, 2022, simultaneously with the second and third episodes.[1][2]
"Aniq" | |
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The Afterparty episode | |
Episode no. | Season 1 Episode 1 |
Directed by | Christopher Miller |
Written by |
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Featured music | Daniel Pemberton |
Cinematography by | Carl Herse |
Editing by |
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Original release date | January 28, 2022 |
Running time | 67 minutes |
Guest appearances | |
| |
The series follows the events following a high school reunion after-party ending in murder, where everyone is a suspect, as Detective Danner interviews the suspects present, having her tell them their "mind-movies" about the night in question/the events leading up to it. The episode follows Danner as she interviews the main suspect, escape room designer Aniq Adjaye, who simultaneously begins his own investigation to clear his name alongside his best friend Yasper.[3]
The episode received a positive critical reception.
Plot
editIn Marin County, California, prominent pop music icon Xavier (Dave Franco) is found dead, having been pushed off of his cliffside home to his death the after-party of his high school reunion, held at his home. Against the advice of her superior, Detective Danner (Tiffany Haddish) takes on the case, questioning Aniq Adjaye (Sam Richardson), an escape room designer and the current main suspect, who tells his story of the night in the style of a romantic comedy: he was in pursuit of his high school crush Zoë Zhu (Zoë Chao) at the reunion, but faced competition from both Xavier and Zoë's ex-husband Brett, ultimately threatening Xavier seemingly seconds before his murder. Following his interview, believing that he will be blamed for the crime, Aniq begins his own investigation alongside his best friend Yasper E. Lennov (Ben Schwartz).
Production
editDevelopment
editChristopher Miller conceived of The Afterparty in the 2010s, wanting to make a murder mystery showing the different perspectives of the murder from its witnesses, inspired by Akira Kurosawa's Rashomon. The high school reunion aspect was added after Miller attended such a reunion himself, thinking it would be a unique setting for such a concept.[4] Miller initially wrote the project as a feature-length film, by June 2013 set to be produced as su at Sony Pictures as The Reunion, with Miller as sole writer and director.[5] However, the film never came to fruition due to commitments with The Lego Movie and 22 Jump Street.[6] Over subsequent years, Miller reworked his screenplay as a mini-series.[7]
On June 24, 2020, it was announced that Apple TV+ had given the production an eight-episode straight-to-series order, now titled The Afterparty, created by Miller, serving as the series' showrunner.[8][9][10]
Casting
editIn November 2020, the cast was announced, including Tiffany Haddish, Sam Richardson, Ben Schwartz, Ike Barinholtz, Ilana Glazer and Dave Franco.[11]
Filming
editOn November 11, 2020, Miller confirmed filming for the series had begun.[12] Miller directed all eight episodes in the series.[13]
Reception
editThis section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (August 2024) |
"Aniq" received a generally positive critical reception,[14][15][16][17][18][19] with Sam Richardson's performance drawing particular highlight.[20][21][22][23]
References
edit- ^ "Apple TV+ sets worldwide premiere of highly anticipated murder-mystery comedy series The Afterparty for January 28". Apple TV+ Press (Press release). November 17, 2021. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
- ^ Kubicek, Joan (January 28, 2022). "The Afterparty Series-Premiere Recap: Meet Cute". The Review Geek. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
- ^ Porter, Rick (June 24, 2020). "Phil Lord, Chris Miller Land Murder-Mystery Comedy at Apple". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
- ^ Meszaros, E.L. (January 19, 2022). "The Afterparty: Lord & Miller's Murder Mystery Comedy Series Was Almost a Movie". CBR.com.
- ^ McNary, Dave (June 27, 2013). "21 Jump Street Directors, Sony Reunite on New Comedy (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved March 19, 2020.
- ^ Sampson, Mike (February 5, 2014). "Block Party: Talking The LEGO Movie With Writer/Directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller". ScreenCrush. Retrieved March 19, 2020.
- ^ Weintraub, Steve (January 29, 2022). "Chris Miller and Phil Lord on The Afterparty and Having Every Episode Tell the Story Using a Different Visual Format and Genre". Collider.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (June 24, 2020). "Apple Picks Up The Afterparty Murder Mystery Comedy Series From Phil Lord & Chris Miller". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
- ^ Otterson, Joe (June 24, 2020). "Chris Miller, Phil Lord Set Murder Mystery Comedy Series at Apple (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
- ^ Nakamura, Reid (June 24, 2020). "Lord and Miller Murder Mystery Comedy The Afterparty Gets Series Order at Apple TV+". TheWrap. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
- ^ Petski, Denise (November 11, 2020). "Tiffany Haddish, Sam Richardson, Zoë Chao Among 9 Cast In Apple's The Afterparty". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
- ^ Miller, Chris [@chrizmillr] (November 11, 2020). "The Afterparty! Been working on this one for a decade. Now it's finally happening, with the best cast imaginable. @tiffanyhaddish @thesamrichardson @zchao @rejectedjokes @ikebarinholtz @ilana @jamiedemetriou @bejohnce Dave Franco and more!". Archived from the original on November 30, 2020. Retrieved November 30, 2020 – via Instagram.
- ^ Miller, Chris [@chrizmillr] (February 17, 2021). "That's a season wrap on The Afterparty. Coming to AppleTV+ soon. Here is a knit version of the film clapper @jamiedemetriou had made for me". Retrieved April 27, 2021 – via Instagram.
- ^ OC Movies (January 20, 2022). "The Afterparty — Episode 1, Aniq Review". OC Movie Reviews. Retrieved January 20, 2022.
- ^ Valero, Richard (January 18, 2022). "The Afterparty Season 1 Episode 1 Recap: Aniq". The Music City Drive-In. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
- ^ Littlejohn, Mary (January 28, 2022). "The Afterparty Season 1 Episode 1 Review: Aniq". The Review Geek. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
- ^ Wheeler, Greg (January 28, 2022). "The Afterparty – Season 1 Episode 1 "Aniq" Recap & Review". TV Fanatic. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
- ^ Caruso, Nick (January 28, 2022). "The Afterparty Premiere Recap: A High School Reunion Hangout Turns Deadly, But Whodunit? Plus, Grade It!". TVLine. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
- ^ Fraser, Emma (January 28, 2022). "The Afterparty Premiere Review – "Aniq," "Brett," and "Yasper"". IGN. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
- ^ Hubbard, Christian (January 27, 2022). "'The Afterparty' Ep. 1–3 Recap/Review: "A Modern Day 'Clue' Featuring The Clueless"". Full Circle Cinema. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
- ^ Welch, Alex (January 27, 2022). "The Afterparty Review: You've Never Seen A Whodunnit Like This". Inverse. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
- ^ Tayshete, Shirley (January 28, 2022). "'The Afterparty' Episode 1–3 Review: Mix of genres and cast make a great comedic stew". Meaww. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
- ^ Allen, Erin (January 29, 2022). "The Afterparty Review: Aniq, Brett, and Yasper (Season 1 Episodes 1–3)". IGN. Retrieved January 29, 2022.