It’s wild to think that Only Murders in the Building is turning in some of the series’ best episodes and bringing in huge new A-listers four seasons in. This season saw our crew dealing with yet another murder, but this time it was a lot more personal, with series regular Sazz Pataki (Jane Lynch) falling victim.
Any concern that this season might not live up to the last three is immediately quelled with the pilot, which is one of the best episodes since the series’ inception. It experiments with a new location, adds a layer of complexity to the investigation, gets very meta with its comedy and introduces a trio of celebrities who light up the screen through the entire season. Of all the seasons so far, this one spends the most time outside the Arconia, while still being based largely in the building, and it paves the way for some exciting subplots and new comedic opportunities. While the murder is always the central focus, the various subplots are where the bulk of the comedy lies, and there are plenty on offer here. With the introduction of a new wing in the Arconia and the creation of an in-universe ‘Only Murders’ movie, there’s a flurry of new characters popping up with every episode. Not only does it enhance the list of suspects and deepen the mystery, it creates avenues for unique character interactions and running jokes that elevate the season.
While last season suffered from a fluctuating pace that had a number of dead zones, this season is much more streamlined – always making huge steps in the investigation. Rather than packing the biggest revelations into the final two episodes, it’s quite evenly spread, offering plenty of convincing leads and clever misdirects to throw you for a loop. At four seasons in, it would be easy for the writers to churn out another murder mystery that follows the same formula again and again, but instead they seem committed to doing something fresh, but also familiar. This is also the most emotion-heavy narrative of the series so far. Sazz is a character who we’ve known and loved, and her closeness to Charles plays a huge role in the story, giving Steve Martin plenty of screen time to delve deeper into the character. The emotion-heavy sequences don’t detract from the silly, comedic vibe – all of the humour is still there, and in fact it’s potentially more balanced, with the emotion reminding us our crew are real people.
Without spoiling who the celebrity actors are, I need to highlight how well they’re utilised throughout the season. Their recurring subplot is the best element of the season, interacting with our core trio in hilarious ways and even tying in to the investigation at crucial moments. They’re used as a comedic crux, but also enhance the emotional element and further the plot where applicable. Offering a deeper murder mystery with more layers than before, this could go down as the strongest season yet.
The overall delivery of the comedy is as strong as it’s ever been thanks to the unwavering chemistry of Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez. It goes without saying that they’re brilliant – I’ve said as much with each passing season. They each contribute to both the smart, witty comedy and silly, slapstick angle of the series, nailing both vibes across every scene. They haven’t lost their touch, exhibiting great banter which renders every scene they share an absolute joy. As mentioned earlier, this feels like Steve Martin’s season to shine above the rest, much like how last season saw Gomez take the spotlight. He’s given a lot to do, especially considering the personal nature of the murder to his character, and he doesn’t disappoint. He’s also the driving force of this season’s emotional arc, tapping into a side of his acting prowess we don’t often get to see. There’s a number of heartfelt moments
The revolving door of supporting characters are as crucial to the comedy as the main trio, and there’s some huge heavy hitters in there… many of whom I won’t mention as they’re fun surprises. Being murdered in ‘OMitB‘ doesn’t mean you’re out of the show, in fact it typically means you’re about to get more screen time. That’s the case with Jane Lynch’s role as Sazz. Lynch has a slightly expanded role and makes the most of her screentime. She plays such a loveable character with a witty sense of humour that it’s hard not to adore every one of her scenes. Her moments opposite Steve Martin are a blessing – and as much as there’s quite a few of them, I’d have loved to see more. Michael Cyril Creighton returns as Howard, one of the few remaining cast members to have appeared in every season from the beginning, and he’s wonderful. He has a much more prominent role here, being one of the few hotel residents we see, and his quirky persona is a major highlight.
In the end, Only Murders in the Building shows no signs of slowing down, with the writers showing they have an onslaught of ideas and ways to keep it fresh. Going into a fifth season, I’m just as excited as I was going into the second season, which says a lot about the long-lasting quality of the series. It’s clear from some hints they dropped in this season that they’re cooking up something big for future seasons that will link back to events of earlier seasons, which is all the more exciting. This season is an improvement on the last, with a gripping mystery that offers twists aplenty, a sad yet heartwarming narrative and plenty of chaotic hijinks to go along with it. With Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez dishing out some of their best banter yet, there’s no question this is one of the funniest shows on TV.
9/10
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