The Afterparty Season 2 Episode 8 Review: Feng

This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the series being covered here wouldn’t exist.

The father of the bride’s story is told through social media videos on The Afterparty Season 2 Episode 8, “Feng.”

It’s a clever theme for this portion of the investigation and fits well into the storytelling of this mystery. However, its execution falls flat and the comedy is really lacking, bringing the mood down considerably.

Feng’s episode is, unfortunately, a series of unfortunate events. We are forced to watch some of his lowest moments through the lens of an amateur Gen Z videographer. The silliness of the TikTok-type videos as the backdrop to Feng’s failures may advance the plot but the comedy sure gets lost in it.

It’s heartbreaking to see Feng realize how he is seen by others and the media. The first instance of this happens early on and then it’s just downhill from there for poor Feng. 

On the previous installment, The Afterparty Season 2 Episode 7, “Ulysses,” we learned that Vivian and Feng’s half brother had an affair and that Feng knew about it. He’s already been cuckolded for an entire episode, and now it’s like the character’s own episode is kicking him while he’s down.

Ulysses’ arrival is captured on video and Feng is seen leaving the dinner, but not because of his wife’s former lover’s sudden appearance—his Baobing truck is being towed.

This is a case of a missed opportunity to capitalize on the comedy of Ulysses entering in on a horse. It is a quick moment with one line of dialogue, only to be followed by more misery for Feng.

Kyler: Dude just clomped in on a horse!

There’s a ton of potential for comedy here with all one can do with a smart phone and a social video sharing app. But, instead, what we get is someone off-camera describing what just happened on the screen, that we just watched seconds ago.

This scene is there to show Feng on the move and to tease that it is because of Ulysses. Rather than be a funny moment with some plot development thrown in, it’s solely a storytelling device and not much more.

Much of the rest is the same. Scenes provide laughs here and there but it’s mostly a downer with clueless yet sweet Feng being framed as a pathetic character. 

I do, however, appreciate the tight narrative structure of The Afterparty Season 2 so far. The plot flows so well, and there are all these connections to be made and theories to think up—which is something you really want in a murder mystery.

Feng’s episode along with Season 2 Episode 4, “Hannah,” show how the themes can derail the success of an episode. In Hannah’s case, the theme overwhelmed the story. Feng’s format, on the other hand, is underutilized.

If I had to choose, though, I’d rather have a crafty story intact and have to deal with a couple episodes that are still decent enough than a weak story overall.

What did you think of this episode of The Afterparty? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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New episodes of The Afterparty stream Wednesdays on Apple TV+.

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