What happens when the man throwing the party ends up dead before the night is over? The Party, a new Nollywood mini-series on Netflix directed by Yemi Morafa, is set to answer that question with flair, suspense, and a twist.
Set against the backdrop of a glamorous high-society event, the story unravels after the host is found murdered, turning the celebration into a crime scene. As the investigation kicks off, secrets spill, tensions rise, and nearly everyone becomes a suspect. With each episode, the mystery deepens and the polished facade of the guests begins to crack.
Plot
Bobo, a husband, son, friend, and colleague, was hosting a party at his apartment, surrounded by familiar faces and good vibes. But just as he was about to give a speech, everything came to a halt. A body fell from the top floor straight into the pool. It was Bobo.
The celebration turned crime scene in seconds. Police locked down the venue and began questioning every guest. Tensions rose fast, and attention quickly shifted to Bobo’s wife, Motunrayo. Friends claimed she’d changed him, cutting off hangouts and keeping him distant. And with witnesses placing her on the balcony moments before the fall, all signs pointed to her.
But Motunrayo wasn’t silent. She admitted she’d long known about Bobo’s affairs, including one with a neighbour’s daughter and another with his best friend’s wife, the last person seen with him alive. As the investigation digs deeper, more secrets surface, not just about Bobo but his family, too.
A scar and a prophecy. Clues that begin to shift the story in unexpected ways.
Cast
If there’s one thing The Party got undeniably right, it’s the casting. Without the weight and talent of its seasoned actors, this murder mystery might have completely fallen flat. The performances, more than the plot, are what kept the show engaging.
Shaffy Bello stood out as the emotional anchor of the story, offering the depth and vulnerability that were surprisingly missing from most of the main characters, including Bobo’s wife. Her presence brought a much-needed layer of sincerity to the chaos.
Kehinde Bankole, undoubtedly a talented actress, delivered a strong performance despite being constrained by a character that felt underdeveloped. Her intensity made her a believable suspect, but the script offered little reason for why her role had to be so cold and hardened. It felt more like a plot convenience than meaningful character development.
Kunle Remi delivered a solid performance. He didn’t stretch too far, but what he brought was believable and consistent, nothing flashy, but it worked. Ayoola Ayolola, however, gave perhaps the most technically refined performance of the entire cast. From his spaced-out party behaviour to his nervy police interrogation scenes, his subtle gestures and sharp eye movements told their own story. It was layered without being loud.
Eva Ibiam’s role, on the other hand, fell off. There was something about her performance, maybe the exaggerated facial expressions or inconsistent energy, that didn’t quite land. She looked the part, dressed the part, but the delivery felt out of sync.
Uzor Arukwe deserves special mention. Alongside Shaffy Bello and Femi Branch, he helped carry the emotional weight of the film. In a sea of otherwise flat and occasionally tired performances, these three stood out with conviction.
Other notable appearances included Mide Martins, Yomi Fash-Lanso, Kelechi Udegbe, Benjamin Touitou, James Gardiner, Tope Olowoniyan, and Bimbo Manuel who added depth and familiarity to the ensemble, even if they weren’t fully utilised.
Language
While The Party is predominantly in English, it also incorporates elements of Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo, and Pidgin. While the reason for this linguistic diversity isn’t entirely clear within the story’s context, it still adds a layer of authenticity and flavour that feels true to Nigeria’s cultural fabric, and for that alone, it works.
Final take
The Party, unfortunately, lands as a colossal embarrassment in the murder mystery genre. Right from the start, the cinematic tone felt unnecessary and dated, making the whole experience drag and lose momentum. The costume department was mediocre at best, except for Detective Habiba, whose outfits were on point and suited her role perfectly.
Casting was literally the only saving grace. The plot was weak, riddled with glaring loopholes that the show seemed to ignore, or perhaps they’re saving answers for a second season, because this finale definitely didn’t provide closure.
Some choices were baffling. Why include CCTV footage angles if they aren’t going to be used as key evidence? A good detective would demand those tapes. And the excessive use of looping scenes only muddled the timeline, making it hard to keep track of what was happening when. Continuity was so poor it felt like a puzzle missing half its pieces.
The story was overly complicated, as if the writers tried to cram too much into too little time. If a second season is indeed coming, it feels unnecessary; most of these plot points could have been explained within this season, maybe with more episodes.
Motunrayo’s character still seems to be hiding secrets, possibly linked to Chidi, but it’s unclear whether that’s genuine storytelling or just an attempt to spice things up. Habiba’s subplot also remains a mystery, with no clear connection to the main narrative yet.
The Party had all the ingredients for a gripping murder mystery: a talented cast, an intriguing premise, and a promising setting. But poor execution, a confusing plot, and missed opportunities held it back from delivering the punch it promised. While it’s watchable for the performances alone, the storytelling falls short, leaving too many questions unanswered and too much frustration behind.
At this point, it’s hard to say whether a second season is worth the wait.
