The Afterparty Review: Zoe (Season 1 Episode 6)
The investigation into who killed Xavier gets animated with Zoe’s version of events on The Afterparty Season 1 Episode 6, “Zoe.”
This fun little adventure that Zoe takes us on shows us the different sides of her character from Fun Zoe to Annoying Stoner Zoe through the artistry of animation. This medium goes naturally with Zoe as she is the artist of the bunch (and, yes, that is including Xavier).
Zoe’s story serves to put her sometimes odd behavior throughout the reunion and afterparty into context as well as allowing us to get to know her better. It further explains some of the events of the night in a way that doesn’t feel redundant or rehashed.
The cartoon versions of the characters are spot on, just as the high school versions were on The Afterparty Season 1 Episode 5, “High School.” Chelsea (Ilana Glazer) and the Jennifers (Tiya Sircar, Ayden Mayeri), particularly, along with the Zoes—each version delightfully voiced by Zoe Chao.
I do feel having an animated version of Tiffany Haddish’s Detective Danner included somehow is an opportunity missed. Especially considering how brilliantly Haddish brings Tuca the Toucan to life on Tuca and Bertie.
Although she’s not animated, Haddish as Detective Danner is, again, great with her interviewee, adorably invested in the romance of Zoe’s story.
As Zoe’s story is strongly related to Aniq’s (Sam Richardson), it’s a romantic comedy in animated form that centers the two of them as the love interests. And what wonderful romcom leads they make. I’ve been rooting for them since Aniq’s version of events on Episode 1.
Aniq was the cute, sweet, funny guy during his romcom retelling and he is the same in Zoe’s, which goes to show he is that lovable cutie in the reality version of life, too. Yasper (Ben Schwartz) affirms this in the present timeline as he and Aniq cleverly listen in on Danner’s questioning of Zoe.
Yasper: This is going incredible. You’re coming across winning. Nerdy but cool.
Zoe’s episode also benefits from getting Aniq and Yasper together in more scenes. Richardson and Schwartz’s comedic stylings play off each other really well—a prime example being when they make up the sound of the music they’re supposedly listening to in the shared air pods.
Many a romcom have the “villains” we see here in Zoe’s animated adventure. Xavier is the sleaze, Brett is the ex, and they both are obstacles getting in the way of the Aniq-Zoe ship.
The episode ends introducing a new “villain,” Detective Culp (John Early), when he shuts down Danner’s investigation after tattling on her to the chief.
It sets up the next episode which will focus on Detective Danner and her past which will be a departure from the format the show has already established, but hopefully Haddish makes it work.
What did you think of this episode of The Afterparty? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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New episodes of The Afterparty stream Fridays on Apple TV+.
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Erin Allen
Erin is a former script supervisor for film and television. She's an avid fan of middle aged actresses, dark dramas, and irreverent comedies. She loves to read actual books and X-Files fan fiction. Her other passions include pointing out feminist issues, shipping Mulder and Scully, and collecting pop culture mugs.