Review: Did Search Party just redefine post-modern noir?

 

 Modern drama is all about grit and comedy about the cheap laughs, so it's no wonder that a cast led by Ali Shawcat as Dory (Maeby Fünke from cult classic Arrested Development) should so easily break these generic moulds by creating a show that has a little more depth and a whole lot of originality. What seems a pretty standard trope, girl goes missing, nobody cares but our Scooby Doo crew, it manages to subvert this trope in every way- nothing is quite what it appears. The show takes place in Brooklyn yet the self-absorbed attitudes and existential questioning of the group of friends Search Party centers on is easily recognizable to any millennial or acquaintance of one. 

 

Between philosophical navel gazing, detached bitchiness and constant attempts at self-refinement and definition, the writers have truly captured the zeitgeist of the times.Dory and her friends look for their old college classmate just as much out of boredom as concern and this lackadaisical approach is what makes the shows meandering atmosphere.  The cast is fantastic treading a perfect line between hilarity and ham acting and all inhabit their roles perfectly: you really feel like this could be your friendship group just slightly better dressed. The show is self-referential in the most unpretentious manner and the darkness comes not from the crime they investigate, but the characters themselves and their demons. 

It's been a couple of years of good thrillers and Search Party holds it's own against shows like How to Get Away with Murder while remaining fun, not easily achieved in ten twenty minute segments. UK viewers can watch the whole first season on 4od and fans can rest easy knowing TBS has just renewed it for a second season!