Search Party Series Review: Not Perfect, But a Strong Piece of Serialized Comic Storytelling

This week, TBS released a full season of the new series Search Party all at once. Lesley Coffin reviewed the entire 10 episode series, which stars Alia Shawkat, John Early, John Reynolds and Meredith Hagner.

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The writing-directing team of Sarah-Violet Bliss and Charlie Rogers previous project, Fort Tilden, was a refreshingly self-aware look at millennials in Brooklyn. Young people both entitled and privileged while focusing plenty of their energies on social justice warfare and finding their place in society, the movie provided a bit of satire that shows like Girls too rarely miss. It also had the feeling of being an extended episode for a potential series, which makes Search Party feel like an even better fit for the creators. With 10 episodes to stretch out with the characters, but still focused on a central plot, the show makes excellent use of the medium.

Starring, no stranger to TV, Alia Shawkat (Arrested Development), it’s nice to see the character acting former child star in the spotlight as Dory. Easy to relate to, with her low-key energy, intelligent performance providing a nice anchor for the higher key supporting performances. Dory learns on her way to brunch that her former classmate Chantal has gone missing, and shares the news with her boyfriend Drew (John Reynolds) and best friends, actress Portia (Meredith Hagner) and fame hungry philanthropist Elliot (John Early). Bored with her standing still life, Dory wants to find Chantal. And thus begins the 4+ hour comic mystery the show is wrapped around.

The benefit of the core mystery is the forced structure the show is given. With characters like this, none of whom have regular jobs or family obligations, the show could easily become another rambling Broad City (a show both Shawkat and Early have been on). Serializing the show forces the writers to edit themselves and in this case, it is to the show’s benefit to keep the plot tight so characters can go big. It also allows the rare moments of emotional sincerity to emerge organically at key points in the overarching story. And these moments feel earned for the characters, particularly if you choose to binge watch over Thanksgiving weekend (the best way to watch this series).

Like most TV comedies, the characters are the primary reason to invest your time and attention, and Search Party is blessed with a remarkably strong cast of young actors that makes their roles original. Shawkat has been one of the best of emerging stars of her generation for years, and Dory feels like the perfect fit for her deadpan delivery and sincerity. Few times has she been allowed to feel as exposed as she is here (usually playing tougher younger women) and she’s quick to earn audience empathy despite her deep flaws. Portia is a familiar “type” of supporting female character (pretty, but maybe not very smart), but Hagner is hilarious in a performance Carole Lombard would be proud of and never suffers whiplash when asked to get serious. Although she and Reynolds are at the center of the best scene in the entire show, most of those scenes are between herself and Early, the shows two most exaggerated version of the superficial millennials. Early’s Elliot is completely aware that he’s a narcissist and seems to embrace it as a personality trait with the same delight he takes in being flamboyantly gay. Reynolds may have the hardest role in the series, his almost Ted Bessell quality making him a clear outsider among these hipper friends. In the first four episodes, his part feels a bit small, but episode 5 is a showcase for his comedic skills and after that, his awkward squareness adds nicely to the ensemble’s mix.

The show is also a vehicle for some familiar character actors from the big screen, including Rosie Perez, Parker Posey, and Ron Livingston (great in the later part of the series). Executive Producer Michael Showalter has a funny scene in episode five, and the mix of classic Hollywood genre and generational comedy makes the show feel like a perfect fit for him. Unfortunately, the show isn’t perfect. Brandon Micheal Hall is severely underused as Julian, the journalist friend of the foursome who isn’t involved enough to add enough contrast his character should have. And the ending is severely disappointing for a show with such a nice rhythm throughout. Beyond the simple ease of watching the show, the ending is another reason binge watching is the best way to view Search Party…as a whole, the 10 episodes work even if the last doesn’t come together as well as the 9 others. Disappointing as that may be, the show is collectively a strong piece of serialized comic storytelling.

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