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For Sale Mar 21, 2026 at 1:06 AM

Search Party is one of the most bingeable show of the past decade

Posted by notches123

I watched it when it aired and at the first it definitely took me a while to warm up to it. But after finishing it when it aired in 2022 I finally came back for a re-watch and everything that didn't work about the first time through feel negligible and nitpicky. The show is extremely ambitious but it is wickedly funny and the performances are insanely great. John Early in particular gives one of the best comedic performances I can recall. Some people were critical of the major pivots in later seasons but in retrospect it's pretty inspired. Most shows wouldn't have the balls to just go for it the way they did. One of the funnier dark comedies I can remember. And the music is also awesome. Now that it is on Netflix it would be really cool for the show to find an audience because there's such depressing lack of enthusiasm and conversation about it.
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cozmckitty Mar 21, 2026 +31
I remember really liking the first season. I loved Alia Shawkat’s performance. May have to revisit the show now.
31
notches123 Mar 21, 2026 +31
Each season is practically a new satire of a different genre. But it's always hilarious and ridiculous in the best possible way. Alia gives an epic performance of her own too.
31
ronbiomed Mar 21, 2026 +22
Haven't watched the last season heard it takes a pretty wild swing. Soundtrack was banging every season.
22
holla171 Mar 21, 2026 +20
Its insane I couldn't believe what I was watching lol
20
bindersfull-ofwomen Mar 21, 2026 +7
That’s a show that’s a documentary to me. I lived in Williamsburg at the time and it was like you were holding a mirror to my friend group. We even had a strange run in with some weird housing cult. I was the friend who started crying after they got into an argument at the bar even though she wasn’t involved 🤣 but I am a Black guy. I’d do that all the time in my early 20s. I fell off after season 1 but if they last season is out there like they say in this comment section, might have to revisit.
7
rayword45 Mar 21, 2026 +1
The Williamsburg vibe gets less and less apparent as it goes on, though it's always there at least a little bit. The show got progressively more and more insane with each season but I'd say it peaked around the middle, IMO 3 => 2 > 5 > 1 > 4
1
bindersfull-ofwomen Mar 21, 2026 +3
It went on for FIVE seasons omg. My weekend is over. I’ve only seen the first, but it’s catching up on this and From this weekend.
3
bchris24 Mar 21, 2026 +4
I was just along for the ride, literally had no idea what was ever going to happen. Extremely over the top and it embraces it. I appreciated its originality.
4
kookookachoo83 Mar 21, 2026 +19
I love the first 4 seasons, all so different but fun. The court case and the defence lawyer was an absolute series highlight. Season 4 took big swings but was still quality - Susan Sarandon and the roundabout being one of the funniest things I’ve seen on tv. Season 5 - oof… but credit where credit is due. They took a big swing once again but this time it failed. Spectacularly.
19
somuchfeels Mar 21, 2026 +12
That roundabout chase scene is peak TV.
12
rayword45 Mar 21, 2026 +10
I feel the complete opposite as you funny enough, S4 to me felt like the show spinning its wheels and not knowing where to go after writing themselves into a bit of a corner. S5 felt like they decided that the only way out of said corner was to destroy the whole building in a fiery explosion, genuinely some of the most anarchic television I've ever seen.
10
galactabat Mar 21, 2026 +9
Your honor I heard, "Pancaked."- My wife and I say that to each other regularly years after the show.
9
Inevitable_Nerve_638 Mar 21, 2026 +17
That last season is a fever dream. Love what they were going for, but it's the epitome of going off the rails
17
notches123 Mar 21, 2026 +11
It's pure insanity but the escalation felt inevitable in retrospect.
11
AntoniaFauci Mar 21, 2026 +10
It’s not for everyone, but if it’s matches your sense of humor, it’s the best scripted show of all time. When you know, you know you know.
10
chetwhitlock Mar 21, 2026 +6
John Early should definitely be more famous. Very surprising his Search Party performance didn’t lead to more high-profile roles.
6
LMBH1234182 Mar 21, 2026 +2
He was great in his sketch on I Think You Should Leave.
2
TopShelfFlower55420 Mar 21, 2026 +1
At least he was the better part of the detective duo in The Afterparty.
1
CeeArthur Mar 21, 2026 +4
I loved how bizarre it got; I'm a big fan of absurd humour.
4
Turbulent_Signal6507 Mar 21, 2026 +3
Sometimes I wish there was an edit of all the comedic semi-improvised parts, which really is 90% of the show. Definitely worth the watch and I loved the later seasons.
3
dorkimoe Mar 21, 2026 +11
Season 1 was amazing. 2 was meh then it was off the rails for me
11
rayword45 Mar 21, 2026 +4
Damn I actually think S2 is extremely close to being the show's peak, though S3 *barely* edges it out for me Season 4 is the only one I think is outright weak, although I totally get anyone not liking 5 lol - I LOVED it but forget "off the rails" they fuckin coated the rails in ammonium nitrate before lighting a match
4
charliegriefer Mar 21, 2026 +2
I agree with this person.
2
burnoutbrighter Mar 21, 2026 +2
Big time. I didn't know what I was watching by the end.
2
kbeef2 Mar 21, 2026 +1
S2 is my favorite!
1
mostlytoastly Mar 21, 2026 +3
I wasn’t that into the first season when it aired but the last couple episodes won me over and I absolutely love the second and third seasons. Four was good and I appreciate what they were able to do with the last season even though I’m still unsure how I feel about it. This show made me a John Early fan.
3
sweat-it-all-out Mar 21, 2026 +3
It's worth the watch just for S3E9 and S4E7. Two scenes had me laugh crying.
3
Mental_Scene_4878 Mar 21, 2026 +3
I love this show! The last season is nuts
3
mexta Mar 21, 2026 +3
It is so rewatchable since each season has its own feel. Plus, there are so many weird bits that make me laugh so much. Murdered/pancaked and The Jesper Society immediately come to mind.
3
notches123 Mar 21, 2026 +2
There's a lot of little lines that are easy to miss because they can pack a lot of jokes and absurd statements in so quickly.
2
Schmetterlingus Mar 21, 2026 +3
That show permanently changed my relationship with the word “obelisk”
3
paulinuhhh Mar 21, 2026 +3
I agree…John Early had some of the best line readings!!
3
Talentagentfriend Mar 21, 2026 +2
Good shout. I’ve been wanting to watch this for a long time (since it came out), but for one reason or another I never watch it. I think I watched two episodes once, but I don’t remember. Love the cast. I think I’ll finally commit to it.. maybe.
2
Sanitary_Sanitation_ Mar 21, 2026 +2
One of the only shows that I have had to pause to laugh. I was devastated when it went off HBO and had no idea it was on Netflix now, I’ll have to watch it again!
2
Callyentay Mar 21, 2026 +2
I'm bored. I'm gonna start season 1 right now.
2
TheMooseIsBlue Mar 21, 2026 +1
I read that as *After Party* and I wasn’t fully on board but was willing to go with you on it. Season 1 at least.
1
BecoDasCavernas Mar 21, 2026 +1
I watched it back in 2023 and it took me a few attempts to get past the first, let's say, three episodes. It ended up being my #1 show of 2023. My friends and I are rewatching Breaking Bad together and I'm hoping to convince them to watch Search Party next. I wonder if I'll feel nitpicky with the beginning too.
1
DanAykroydFanClub Mar 21, 2026 +1
I watched the first episode or two some years ago and didn't really get into it - I don't remember anything about it other than not particularly vibing. I'll give it another go!
1
LutzExpertTera Mar 21, 2026 +1
I was really sick like 2 years ago and watched all 5 seasons over like 3 days. Being delirious with a fever while bingeing a show that felt like a fever dream was very appropriate
1
Billthebutchr Mar 21, 2026 +1
Final season was wild, but yes.
1
rayword45 Mar 21, 2026 +1
I was one of the few people who watched this show when it was on TBS (albeit I wasn't watching on TBS myself since lol cable). The wait between seasons 2 and 3 was BRUTAL but I personally think this show works better as a weekly series, at least before S4 which was the first one made knowing it was for HBO Max.
1
Careless_Tackle847 Mar 21, 2026 +1
I mostly enjoy this show, but some of the characters are really difficult to handle. I understand that’s part of the plot, but it’s a lot to take in. It's also not very funny. It's just a series of things happening to uninteresting, immature, unserious adults.
1
songsforthedeaf07 Mar 21, 2026 +1
Loved it - except The last season was a HOT mess!!!!
1
RMRdesign Mar 21, 2026 +1
The last season is absolutely bonkers. The Twink and El need their own spin off shows. But I have a feeling they were going to do a time travel twist to keep the show going after the zombies. They kind of hint at it in the last scene.
1
Shinybug Mar 21, 2026 +1
Well, good that it's not available in my region. Luckily I can watch Yellowstone on 3 different platforms /s
1
PeterNippelstein Mar 21, 2026 +1
This show is f****** nuts. Its worth watching for John Early alone.
1
J-MRP Mar 21, 2026 +1
Each season is a different genre, it's crazy. I love it, but haven't watched it since it first aired on HBO..I think? Now it's on Netflix so I plan on watching it again as soon as I have the time.
1
AndNowAStoryAboutMe Mar 21, 2026 +1
I absolutely loved S4, the Misery / Kidnapped season, especially the finale. S5 was absolutely awesome for the furst half, but that mid-season turn literally turned me off the entire show. I was so f****** angry at it. But now that it won't be an unpleasant surprise, I really should do it all over again. It was a fantastic show. If you haven't sought it out, John Early's stand up special for HBO was pretty f****** good. I could watch that and Hannah Einbinder's specials back to back and die happy. That's where I hope stand up goes for a while.
1
Usr7_0__- Mar 21, 2026 +1
I haven't seen this in a while, but I have to admit, I did not like how the show took complete 180s in seasons three through five. This really was a three-season show. I would have liked to have seen the group in the second season have to be kidnappers to prevent getting caught...again, haven't watched this in so long, but that girl who taped them talking about the murder could have been kidnapped and then held, forcing a new team to search for that girl. The whole zombie apocalypse at the end, to me, was silly. But for those who liked it, that's great, just didn't work for me.
1
keving87 Mar 21, 2026 +1
> such depressing lack of enthusiasm and conversation about it. I feel like I see people talk about how great the show was all the time. It's brought up a lot when people ask for certain shows. I wanted to like it for Alia Shawkat but I personally had a hard time even finishing season 1... and that was with TBS aired 2 episodes a night for 5 nights lol
1
makeyurself Mar 21, 2026 +1
Wild ride. So good!! I just did a rewatch <3
1
stopmyhamster Mar 21, 2026 +1
Nah I couldn’t stand any of the characters really in the last season. Really wanted Dory dead so bad
1
rayword45 Mar 21, 2026 +1
You could stand the characters during the first 4 seasons? Pretty sure you were meant to despise all of them from the first minute, except maybe Drew.
1
Jealous-Stock715 Mar 21, 2026 -3
Season one was great. I thought the other seasons were c***.
-3
notches123 Mar 21, 2026 +4
Every season is hilarious. But the stories are all wildly different, so I understand how someone could be frustrated with that. But some of the most hilarious bits and scenes came in the later seasons in my opinion.
4
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