Conner’s Critique: Party Down – Season 3

Party Down is a show that aired fourteen years ago in 2009. It’s comedy styling and cult following has allowed it to receive an incredibly third season revival so late in the game.

Being a fan of the first two seasons of the show, I jumped at the chance to review the 3rd season which is coming out. As always our reviews are broken down into the categories of story, acting, and overall.

Story 9/10

The premise of the original show was dealing with Adam Scott’s character Henry Pollard, as he came to terms with being a washed out acter with nowhere to go. He turns to his prior job working along side his old friend in their catering company.

The third season acknowledges the time jump between all the characters, having them all reunite for the success of Kyle Bradway, played by Ryan Hansen, who has finally broken big into acting having received a role and this universe’s version of a Marvel cinematic universe.

It’s a great episode as it allows the viewers to catch up on what’s happened in the character’s lives, as the characters would naturally inform their friends about it as well. They interact with one another, share their trials, tribulations and more from the 12-ish years that the show was not in production. However, in true Party Down fashion, the episode ends with most of the members being reset in a way to their initial setting from years prior.

“…at the end of the day it’s just a show about a team of slackers and hopefuls working catering while trying to find their place in the world.”

They play with the pandemic concepts and global politics, which keeps it relevant, but at the end of the day it’s just a show about a team of slackers and hopefuls working catering while trying to find their place in the world.

Acting 10/10

The main cast does a wonderful job getting back into their characters style of sardonic wit, friendly chiding, and conversations that made Party Down rock as a series. It’s all back, and character dynamics are just like they were in the prior seasons. Adam Scott does a wonderful job getting back into what could arguably be called the main character of the show, while newcomers Tyrel Jackson Williams and Zoe Chao you easily added to the ensamble fitting right in, standing out just enough to have flair, but without shifting any dynamics in a negative way. Their side stories fit right in and work well with the series.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more perfect revival of a show then what was done here with Party Down.”

The way the series just effortlessly is able to roll back into a existence is a testament to the writer’s and actors skills, as well as the producer abilities to get out of the way of the creative talents and allow this show to keep being amazing. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more perfect revival of a show then what was done here with Party Down.

Overall 9.5/10

If you are a fan of the original series this is a no brainer. You have to watch season three of Party Down. If you were not a fan of Party Down and your comedic palate has changed over the years, you might just now love the series. If you are the rare bird that hasn’t even watched or heard of Party Down before, now is your chance to watch all three seasons of a great and laugh out loud comedy series.

Conner’s Final Thoughts

My only gripe with the series is that it’s only 6 episodes long. I’m aware that the original seasons were also not that long, but modern streaming series normally tend to have 8-10 episodes. This season definitely leaves you craving more Party Down, which is better than the alternative being disappointed and not wanting them to have created it at all.

It’s also great that they leave the series able to return for more.

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