By George & Josh Bate
The following article is a NON-SPOILER review of Only Murders in the Building – Season 3, Episodes 1-7
Last season of Only Murders in the Building concluded with arguably the series’ darkest moment. Sazz Pataki, the long-time friend and stuntperson for Steve Martin’s Charles-Haden Savage played by Jane Lynch, was shot and killed by a sniper in Charles’ New York apartment just as the team had solved the murder of actor Ben Glenroy. Sure, the series has dabbled in murder, betrayal, and secrets, but has nonetheless retained its heightened, light-hearted sensibilities throughout, which made the death of Sazz Pataki all the more shocking and impactful. Now, heading into uncharted territory with the show’s most personal mystery left, Only Murders in the Building attempts to continue its impressive four-season streak of being television’s coziest and quirkiest series.
Picking up directly where the last season left off, Only Murders in the Building Season 4 sees the trio of Steve Martin’s Charles, Martin Short’s Oliver, and Selena Gomez’s Mabel investigate the murder of Jane Lynch’s Sazz Pataki. While this mystery unfolds, the three journey to Hollywood as a movie adaptation of their famous podcast is in development. With one eye on solving the murder and the other on ensuring their film adaptation goes well, the trio find themselves with their hands full once again.
The second season of Only Murders in the Building ended with the murder of Ben Glenroy, which, in turn, served as the central mystery at the heart of Season 3. The third season similarly diverged from the pattern of most murder mystery shows starting a season with a murder by concluding a given season with the central murder that is to be investigated in the subsequent season. And, similar to how the Season 3 premiere added newfound layers to the murder of Ben Glenroy above and beyond what was initially revealed in the Season 2 finale, Season 4 also expands upon the murder of Sazz Pataki in the Season 3 finale in subversive and unexpected ways.
As a murder mystery, Only Murders in the Building Season 4 is well-crafted, albeit unspectacular. With Sazz shot by a sniper walking in Charles’ apartment, some of the first suspects under investigation are the neighbors in the building across from Charles’ place, who had the perfect vantage point to carry out the murder. Among these neighbors are Kumail Nanjiani and Richard Kind, talented actors who fit seamlessly into the heightened, quirky world of Only Murders. While not as compelling as the murder mystery last season, Season 4 still captures that Agatha Christie spirit that makes this show’s whodunit elements so engaging. Each episode wraps up with a tantalizing cliffhanger that takes the mystery in an entirely unexpected direction, even if the overarching mystery lacks the intrigue, red herrings, and clue finding that were executed so well last season.
Where the mystery somewhat falters, Season 4 makes up for with the continued magnetic chemistry of its core trio. Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez have developed such incredible rapport and on-screen relationships over the past three seasons, and Season 4 continues to emphasize how their chemistry is the key ingredient that makes the show work as well as it does. Whereas last season saw Martin Short’s Oliver Putnam standout amongst the others, this season positions Steve Martin more centrally and gives him the meatiest material to perform with. Some of this is due to his character Charles’ personal connection to the murder victim Sazz, but otherwise it means that Martin is the driving force behind the season’s funniest moments. Four seasons in and the jokes that come from Charles’ desperate attempts to cling onto his Brazzos fame are still funny.
Offering an interesting complement to our three leads this season are the actors who are portraying them in a film adaptation of their podcast. Eugene Levy, Eva Longoria, and Zack Galifianakis play fictional versions of themselves, who will soon play Charles, Mabel, and Oliver respectively on the big screen. This is far from the first time Only Murders have featured actors playing fictional versions of themselves (for instance, Sting and Amy Schumer previously played themselves in the series). But Season 4 takes this meta-element to a whole other level given the prominence of Levy, Longoria, and Galifianakis in the story. Although this approach has the potential to become a little too heavy-handed and too much of a wink to the audience, it largely works, especially as Levy, Longoria, and Galifianakis have great chemistry with their off-screen counterparts Martin, Short, and Gomez. Longoria, in particular, is a highlight, riffing on the age gap between her and the person she is meant to be playing and poking fun at various elements of her actual life.
Further distinguishing Season 4 from previous entries is its tone. Season 4 retains that jovial, quirky nature that everyone loves so dearly about Only Murders, but it also has a darker side to it, seldom seen in other seasons. Although Sazz is dead, Jane Lynch still plays a prominent role this season in various visions to Steve Martin’s character. And through these visions, and Charles’ grief over his lost friend, the mystery becomes darker than ever. Yes, another joke is always right around the corner, although this season makes sure to convey the stakes of this particular murder as it is of someone so near and dear to our lead character’s heart.
Also diverging from prior seasons is Season 4’s connections to unanswered questions and unsolved elements from other seasons, in particular Season 1. While the seven episodes screened for this review only began to tap into this plot thread, it is clear that Season 4 is tying things together in a way that the mostly standalone seasons that came before did not. The extent to which these narrative, across-seasons connections work will only be revealed as the rest of Season 4 is released, but, provisionally, connecting to unanswered questions from previous seasons lacks the shock, intrigue, and dramatic heft the writers were clearly aiming for.
VERDICT: 7.5/10
Everyone’s favorite podcast-creating mystery solvers return for a fourth season this summer and autumn. Only Murders in the Building Season 4 takes the quirky show into darker territory than ever (relatively speaking) with a murder of a character close to Steve Martin’s Charles-Haden Savage. The mystery itself replicates the unpredictable turns and tantalizing cliffhangers of previous seasons, although overall does not compel or intrigue to the level prior entries did. What works above all else in the show, as always, is the magnetic chemistry between the three leads, who, coupled with the Agatha Christie-inspired mystery, make Only Murders one of the most easily watchable and entertaining television shows out there. Those who have enjoyed what’s come before will not be disappointed with another quirky, cozy, and mysterious season of Only Murders in the Building.
Only Murders in the Building Season 4 premieres Tuesday August 27th on Hulu. Seven episodes of Season 4 were screened for this review.
