'Search Party' Season 4 Trailer: Stalkers, Imprisonment, & The Search For Dory

At the risk of being redundant, the tag line for “Search Party” season four — “it stopped being a party a long time ago” — kind of says it all. What started on TBS, as a millennial angst comedy about identity — a lost 20 something without purpose who goes on the search for a missing member of her high school that she wasn’t particularly close with — quickly morphed into a darkly comedic thriller about murder, guilt, delusion and well, yes, still about identity and what we choose to believe about ourselves.

Now on HBO Max as of 2020 with season three, season four premieres on Thursday, Jan. 14 with three episodes. The season continues with another three episodes on Jan. 21, and the final four episodes drop on Jan. 28, which is essentially a new model in streaming that continues the binge model, but allows time for discovery (don’t be surprised if we see more and more of this format).

“Search Party “seasons one through three followed Dory (Alia Shawkat), Drew (John Reynolds), Elliott (John Early), and Portia (Meredith Hagner) through a messy private investigation into the disappearance of a college classmate, semi-accidental murder, absurd cover-up, and sensational trial. Now, season four finds Drew, Elliott, and Portia once again becoming a search party – but this time, for Dory. Will they find their friend before she’s lost herself?

Here’s the official season four synopsis, but if you don’t want too many spoilers, just think stalkers, imprisonment, and more absurdly dark laughs.

In SEARCH PARTY season four, Dory (Alia Shawkat) is held prisoner by her psychotic stalker Chip (Cole Escola), who is determined to make Dory believe that they are best friends. Meanwhile, Portia (Meredith Hagner) is starring in a film about the trial, although not as herself; Elliott (John Early) has switched party lines to become a far-right conservative talk show host, and Drew (John Reynolds) is trying to escape his dark past by working as a costumed cast member in a theme park. As the friends begin to connect the dots that Dory might not be touring Europe as her faked social media suggests, they must decide whether to put their traumatic pasts behind them and once again become a search party – but this time, for Dory. SEARCH PARTY is executive produced by Sarah-Violet Bliss, Charles Rogers, Michael Showalter, and Lilly Burns, and Tony Hernandez for Jax Media.

“Search Party” season four arrives next week, January 14. Catch up on HBO Max if you haven’t because it’s one of the best shows on TV, but still a largely undiscovered one by the general populace. Here’s the new trailer.