Ep 7. Brandix Corporate Retreat

Party Down is a comedy series that follows a group of struggling actors and writers who work for a catering company in Los Angeles. Season 1 Episode 7 "Brandix Corporate Retreat" takes the team outside of their usual catering gigs and into the wilderness for a corporate retreat.

The episode starts with the Party Down crew driving to the retreat location, a remote campground in the mountains. Henry (Adam Scott) is driving and he's looking forward to the chance to bond with his colleagues. Roman (Martin Starr) is not thrilled about the idea of spending the weekend in the great outdoors and is already complaining about the lack of cellphone reception.

When they arrive at the campsite, the team meets their client, Brandix, a big pharmaceutical company. They soon find out that the Brandix employees are less interested in team-building exercises and more focused on partying. The leader of the group, Lydia Dunfree (guest star Kristen Bell), is a charismatic and free-spirited woman who wants to have a good time and is willing to push the limits.

Ron (Ken Marino), the team's boss, is eager to impress Brandix and get a big account for the catering company. However, their first meal is a disaster, and Roman tries to fix the food with some unorthodox methods. Meanwhile, Casey (Lizzy Caplan) is trying to network with the Brandix employees, hoping to make some industry connections.

As the evening progresses, the Brandix employees continue their wild partying, including skinny-dipping and drug use. Henry, who is still sober after years of alcoholism, is uncomfortable with the scene and starts to question the ethics of their job. Meanwhile, Ron is getting frustrated with the lack of professionalism from both his employees and the clients.

The next day, the team is supposed to lead a team-building exercise in the woods, but the Brandix employees are too hungover and uninterested. Lydia suggests they all go on a hike instead, and on the way, she takes Roman aside and asks him to make her a special brownie. Roman obliges, adding some strange ingredients, and when the group stops for a break, the Brandix employees eat the brownies and start to experience hallucinations.

The situation quickly spirals out of control, with the clients becoming paranoid and agitated. In the chaos, Ron tries to keep things under control while Casey and Henry try to help those in distress. Roman, meanwhile, is enjoying his new quasi-celebrity status among the Brandix employees.

When the effects of the brownies start to wear off, Lydia tries to get the Party Down team to stay and continue the party. However, Ron resists and insists they leave. The episode ends with the team driving back to Los Angeles, feeling disheartened by the experience.

"Brandix Corporate Retreat" is a hilarious and chaotic episode that takes the Party Down crew out of their comfort zone and into a situation they are not equipped to handle. The juxtaposition of the mundane catering world and the wild corporate retreat is a great premise that allows for plenty of humor and social commentary. The episode also features great guest performances from Kristen Bell and Alona Tal, who play the Brandix employees and add a lot of energy to the episode. Overall, "Brandix Corporate Retreat" is a great addition to the Party Down canon and a must-watch for fans of the show.