by Mike Hilty, Contributing Writer
Shows that are canceled before their time often find more of an audience through physical media sales or streaming services. I know in my heyday of collecting physical media, I bought a lot of shows that lasted one or two seasons which became classics for savvy TV watchers who wanted to broaden their taste. At first, it became a completionist mission to have as many of these shows as possible, but it slowly became a way to expand what I watched. It eventually became a badge of honor to know about shows that other people found out about down the road, or to know the answer to a random trivia question if it were to ever come up. One of my all-time favorites in this category is Party Down.
I bought Season One of Party Down when Season Two was airing on Starz. I watched Season Two in real time, and was heartbroken when the show was canceled. The premise was great, and the characters were relatable people who were trying to figure out their place in the world, while still trying to make ends meet. It really resonated with me because this was post-undergrad life for me, when I was working in retail and attempting to figure out the next steps.
When they announced the return of Party Down, I had a few thoughts. First, this is probably a show that translates well regardless of when it actually streams or airs. It’s about a catering business and there are a ton of different opportunities to have a different party come up week-to-week. Second, all the actors are still doing relatively well and nobody has unfortunately reached superstar level. So having them come back won’t feel like a step down for anybody.
As it turns out, they were able to recapture the magic from the original series in a different landscape 10 or so years after the original. All it takes is to keep it simple and not make any drastic changes.
Party Down brings back a lot of the players from the original series including Henry (Adam Scott). After the events of Season Two, there were a lot of questions about whether or not he would actually make it in Hollywood. In this continuation, I love how they handle his character, sans a few details about his personal life. I was completely onboard with the big change they made to his professional life, and it is a joy to watch the impact he makes on his current industry. It also made sense why he still works for Party Down from time to time.
The other returning cast members are perfectly fine. All of them that work for Party Down, including Ron (Ken Marino), Kyle (Ryan Hansen), and Roman (Martin Starr), are really funny and compelling. There isn’t anything too drastic about them, and they largely play the same roles they play in the original run of the series. Ron is still a loof who’s in charge of the whole operation, Kyle and Roman are still jerks who are trying to make it in Hollywood, and all three of them get into hilarious hi-jinx in each episode. Constance’s (Jane Lynch) appearance makes sense as well. The only character whose appearance I didn’t understand was Lydia (Megan Mullally). It’s still a treat to watch her on screen, but her appearance isn’t necessary for Party Down to be successful. One cast member’s absence is glaring, but it’s not like the entire series hinges upon them returning.
Two new people who stand out to me are Sackson (Tyrel Jackson Williams) and Evie (Jennifer Garner). Sackson represents a new type of person that would be working at Party Down: an aspiring social media influencer. The grief he gets from Kyle and Roman makes for a nice dynamic between Hollywood and social media. They both help each other out in unique ways, with Sackson helping Kyle out a bunch because social media influencers deal with issues, like apology videos or generating hype by going viral, that Kyle is new to. Williams’ performance is great, and I’m wondering what’s next for him.
Evie is an interesting character to bring into the mix. She’s not directly involved with Party Down, but she’s a client. It’s the first time that the show focuses on someone who actually isn’t involved in the business for multiple episodes. Garner is amazing, and I sometimes forget how great she can be as a performer. The scenes she’s in with the other performers are good, and she has great chemistry with everyone. I’m not entirely satisfied with the ending to her story arc this season, but the post-credit scene at the end of the season makes up for it and (hopefully) sets up an interesting piece for another season.
The parties this season are fine. Some of them have timely topics, like a far-right event and promotional events for a movie. The first two episodes have a connection, which I like. Other than that, the parties and events that Party Down is hired for feel like the original. Three of the events have to do with Party Down staff members, which I enjoyed.
Overall, Party Down’s long-awaited third season doesn’t disappoint. Did it blow me away? Unfortunately no, but Party Down understands the assignment: Be funny and keep doing what you’re doing right. I was very happy with how Season Three ends, and I’m praying that Season Four is in the works. You don’t necessarily need to watch Party Down’s first two seasons, but it certainly helps. Season Three is a solid addition to the series, and a stellar reintroduction to these characters that I’ve missed a lot over the years.
Score: 7/10
Party Down is currently streaming on Starz
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