Search Party (TV series)

Search Party is an American dark comedy television series created by Sarah-Violet Bliss, Charles Rogers, and Michael Showalter. Primarily set in New York City, the series follows a group of friends who become involved in the search for a missing young woman and the events that result from their involvement.

The series premiered on TBS on November 21, 2016. After being renewed for a third season in 2018, it was announced the series would be moving to WarnerMedia's HBO Max streaming service. The fourth season premiered on January 14, 2021, and a fifth and final season premiered on January 7, 2022.

Outside of the U.S., the BBC bought the UK rights to Search Party. The entire series aired on BBC iPlayer, its streaming platform, beginning January 1, 2023.

Plot
Search Party depicts the lives of Brooklyn resident Dory Sief, her passive boyfriend Drew Gardner, flamboyant show-off Elliott Goss, and flighty actress Portia Davenport. Serving as a contrast to the group is Dory's ex-boyfriend Julian Marcus, a journalist whose blunt nature frequently puts him into conflict with others.

The first season focuses on the disappearance of Dory's college acquaintance Chantal Witherbottom, whom Dory sets out to find, with Drew, Elliott, and Portia reluctantly joining her investigation. While her friends also deal with difficulties in their own lives, Dory obsessively focuses on her pursuit of Chantal, believing her to be in danger.

The second season focuses on the death of Keith Powell, a private investigator who was killed by Drew when he saw Keith fighting Dory at the end of the first season. As the group struggles to return to their normal lives, they also attempt to cover up Keith's death, which affects them in various ways.

The third season focuses on Dory and Drew being tried for murdering Keith, which Dory denies any involvement in, forcing them to battle against the evidence suggesting they caused his death. A media circus soon circles around the trial, while the friends have their relationships tested and Dory's sanity gradually deteriorates.

The fourth season focuses on Dory's abduction at the hands of Chip Wreck, a highly manipulative man who is obsessed with her. The abduction sends Drew, Elliott, and Portia searching for Dory as Chip attempts to manipulate Dory against her friends.

The fifth season follows Dory's transformation into a cult leader. Supported by a Big Tech Pharma company and flanked by a group of social media influencer disciples, Dory and her friends attempt to achieve a transcendent state of enlightenment.

Main

 * Alia Shawkat as Dory Sief
 * John Reynolds as Andrew "Drew" Gardner
 * John Early as Elliott Goss (né Eldad Tupper)
 * Meredith Hagner as Portia Davenport

Recurring

 * Clare McNulty as Chantal Witherbottom
 * Brandon Micheal Hall as Julian Marcus (seasons 1–2; guest seasons 3–4)
 * Jeffery Self as Marc, Elliott's on and off boyfriend
 * Ron Livingston as Keith Powell (seasons 1–4)
 * Phoebe Tyers as April, Dory and Drew's neighbor (seasons 1–4)
 * Claire Tyers as June, April's twin sister (seasons 2–4)
 * Christine Taylor as Gail, Dory's wealthy boss
 * Cole Escola as Chip Wreck, Dory's stalker (seasons 3–4)
 * Shalita Grant as Cassidy Diamond, Dory's rookie defense attorney (season 3)
 * Jay Duplass as Elijah (seasons 2–3)
 * J. Smith-Cameron as Mary Ferguson (seasons 2–3)
 * Grace Kuhlenschmidt as Pepper, an influencer and Dory's follower (season 5)
 * Michaela Watkins as Polly Danzinger, a prosecutor in Drew's and Dory's murder trial (season 3)
 * Tymberlee Hill as Joy Hartman, a police detective (seasons 2–3)
 * Chloe Fineman as Charlie Reeny, Elliot's co-worker (seasons 3–4)
 * Jeff Goldblum as Tunnel Quinn, a billionaire tech mogul (season 5)
 * Aparna Nancherla as Benny Balthazar, a doctor working in the Lyte pill's formula (season 5)
 * Kathy Griffin as Liquorice Montague (season 5)
 * Louie Anderson as Bob Lunch (season 3)

Guest stars

 * Alysia Reiner as Trina (season 1)
 * Sunita Mani as Pia (season 1)
 * Rosie Perez as Lorraine De Coss (seasons 1-5)
 * Wallace Shawn as William Badpastor (season 3)
 * Susan Sarandon as Lylah (season 4)
 * Christopher McDonald as Bill (season 4)
 * Ann Dowd as Paula Jo Bridgewater (season 4)
 * Rosemary Harris as Beatrice Hamsdale (season 5)
 * Tunde Adebimpe as Edwin (season 1)
 * Chelsea Peretti as Patsy Monahan (season 3)
 * Busy Philipps as Donna DiMarco (season 4)
 * R. L. Stine as himself (season 4)

Production
In June 2015, it was announced Alia Shawkat, John Early, John Reynolds, and Meredith Hagner had all been cast in the pilot, with Sarah-Violet Bliss and Charles Rogers directing and writing alongside Michael Showalter, Lilly Burns, Tony Hernandez, John Skidmore, Brittany Segal serving as executive producers and producers respectively. In November 2015, TBS ordered the series and in December 2016, the series was renewed for a second season, which premiered on November 19, 2017. In April 2018, a third season was ordered, however in October 2019 it was announced the series would move to HBO Max, where the third season would premiere at the service's Spring 2020 launch. A fourth season was also ordered, which premiered in 2021. On February 9, 2021, HBO Max renewed the series for a fifth season. On November 9, 2021, the fifth season was given a premiere date of January 7, 2022, revealed to be its last.

Filming
The shooting of the first season began in the summer of 2015 in Brooklyn, New York, including locations in Greenpoint, Williamsburg, Gowanus, Windsor Terrace, and Park Slope. For the filming of the second season the production returned to New York. Filming for season 3 began in September 2018 and wrapped that November. Production on Season 4 began in December 2019 and wrapped in late February 2020.

Themes
While the show is a dark comedy, Search Party has undergone various shifts of tone and genres in each season. The first season is a mystery, revolving around the disappearance of Chantal Witherbottom and the story nods to classic detective stories such as Nancy Drew Mystery Stories, as underlined by the promotional art designed by Sam Hadley. It also includes comedy-drama elements, since the mystery plot is echoed by Dory's search for meaning and purpose. The creator Charles Rogers stated that the show explores "what it means to be "a good person"" and "the difference between wanting to be seen as a good person and being an actual one". The first three seasons also have a running theme around the toxic nature of deception, both deceiving others and self-deception. Télérama labeled the first series as an existential quest. According to Charles Rogers, the title highlights this multiplicity:"We wanted a title that conveys this blend of comedy and drama, but all our propositions were incongruous or far-fetched. Until we figured out that the most simple phrase used to talk about organized searches when a person's missing, 'search party', was perfect : 'search' represents mystery and 'party' is the fun part. The heroes of the show don't really know what they're doing. For them, it's a light and entertaining thing. They shouldn't get involved in such detective work..."The second season features psychological thriller elements, as underlined by the Alfred Hitchcock-inspired promotional art. Alia Shawkat asserted that the main theme of the season is "Hitchcock's paranoia".

Dory and Drew's trial in the third series introduces a "courtroom drama" narrative, influenced by the works of John Grisham. Charles Rogers stated that the legal plot was inspired by the real-life trial of Amanda Knox, who was convicted of murder in 2007. Moreover, the satire is mostly focused on fame and the media, with Rogers referencing the satirical crime film The Bling Ring and the cult dark comedy film To Die For, whose postmodern style is echoed throughout the season thanks to the inclusion of fictional true-crime shows and interviews of the main characters.

The fourth season was described by Sarah-Violet Bliss as "being the kind of 'captive' genre" and drew comparisons to Misery.

Critics described the fifth season as surreal science fiction and zombie horror.

Reception
The first season received positive reviews from television critics. Los Angeles Times wrote that it was "tightly made and effective on multiple levels". GQ wrote that it is "a flawless oddity, a once-in-a-lifetime piece of art. It's not the weekend's best show, it's the year's best." It holds a 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The site's critical consensus reads "Search Party is an engaging, weird, dark, funny mystery elevated by exceptional performances throughout." On Metacritic, the season holds a rating of 81 out of 100, indicating "universal acclaim".

The second season of Search Party received positive reviews from television critics. It holds a 96% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The site's critical consensus reads "With a never-better Alia Shawkat in the lead, Search Party's second season delves deeper into the deliciously dark dramedy that makes the show so addictively entertaining." On Metacritic, the season holds a rating of 78 out of 100, indicating "generally favorable reviews".

The third season of Search Party received positive reviews from television critics. It holds a 93% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The site's critical consensus reads "Search Party 's third season changes the satirical scenery without losing any of its bite, while giving its capable cast plenty of moments to shine." On Metacritic, the season holds a rating of 78 out of 100, indicating "generally favorable reviews".