What I’m Watching: Search Party (Season Finale)

Season three of “Search Party” premieres this Thursday on HBO Max. I’ve had the pleasure of watching all ten episodes in advance of their streaming debut – this review contains spoilers for the selected episode.

Search Party: Season 3, Episode 10 “The Reckoning” (B+)

This episode was a rollercoaster of emotions much like the rest of the season has been. Drew showing up angry with the murder weapon and demanding the truth from Dory about whether she’s convinced herself that she’s innocent or not showed that he was still not even close to on board with the way that she’s chosen to approach this case. Dory hallucinating herself in the jury box was unnerving, but she did a good job of mounting her own defense and appearing sympathetic. I enjoyed the banter between Elliott and Portia during the arguments about how they both hoped they were the most famous people in the world, and Elliott was right to point out to Portia that she knew well that Dory wasn’t innocent. Flashing back to the many things they did as the “not guilty” verdict was announced was haunting, and Dory’s visions of Keith and June haven’t gone away. Just at that moment, I was thinking how excited I was for season four before she learned that there was someone else in her room, who’s not nearly as enamored with her as the man who tried to have rats eat Portia despite his similar appearance. I had forgotten all about how the first episode of this season started with Dory with a shaved head, and it’s clear that, even if the jury believed her story, she’s still going to have to tell the truth as she’s very securely chained in some dark room somewhere. That’s going to be a different experience, but I’m definitely intrigued. I’m not sure we’ll see Chantal again, but I did enjoy her very airheaded assertion that she didn’t remember doing any of the many things she was charged with by the FBI when they arrested her. This has been a great ride, and it’s good to know that more is already on the way.

Season grade: B+
Season MVP: Alia Shawkat as Dory