The Afterparty Season 2 Episode 4 Review: Hannah
This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the series being covered here wouldn’t exist.
We learn more about the groom’s adopted sister in the style of a Wes Anderson film on The Afterparty Season 2 Episode 4, “Hannah.”
The homage to films like The Royal Tenenbaums, The Grand Budapest Hotel, and Rushmore is done exquisitely and it is the perfect aesthetic for quirky oddball Hannah. With her collection of typewriters, an interest in morbid horticulture, and a vintage-y wardrobe, Hannah could’ve come from any of those movies.
Gwyneth Paltrow’s Margot Tenenbaum comes to mind.
Anna Konkle’s performance, along with the very specific production design, cinematography, editing, and score, aligns with Anderson’s auteurism in order to tell Hannah’s story.
And boy, does Hannah’s story have a doozy of a reveal.
Hannah confesses to having an affair with her brother’s bride, and Grace confirms it in the present to Zoe. It’s quite an unexpected turn in this murder mystery.
Queer representation is always welcome in my opinion, so I, for one, appreciate the twist. The affair might just be an aesthetically-pleasing detour (or red herring) and not a directional shift of the plot.
Despite the whimsical and eccentric style of the telling of Hannah’s version of events and the big affair reveal, this installment of The Afterparty plays out rather sluggishly.
Perhaps the homage to Anderson’s oeuvre is too on the nose, making this aesthetic feel oversaturated and excessive.
There is a trend going around social media where the challenge is to make a video with yourself acting like you are in a Wes Anderson film. This episode feels a lot like watching one of those videos but on a larger scale.
Anderson was asked in an interview by The Daily Beast what he thought of these viral video tributes. “I don’t want to see a version of me, even if it’s good,” the writer-director said.
While Anderson himself might not be interested in the trend inspired by him, there’s a lot to love about his style.
The signature pastel color scheme and symmetry in framing is objectively attractive to the eye. Additions of things like text on the screen and insert shots help the audience get to know this mysterious character and her backstory all the better.
At the conclusion of Hannah’s tale, I’m convinced she is not the murderer. In fact, it sets up the next person about to be in the hot seat, and the one I most suspect at this point in the investigation.
Sebastian is super shady and seems to not have a moral compass, so he probably wouldn’t have any qualms with killing someone if it meant there was a fortune to be had. This is where the very boring bit about cryptocurrency comes into play.
His version of events is teased as being told in the manner of “a slick and suspenseful heist movie,” which reminds me of Brett’s mind movie from The Afterparty Season 1 Episode 2, “Brett.”
Hopefully, it’s not too similar as that episode was one of my least favorite on the first season.
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 Wednesdays 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.