As the bodies pile up, Only Murders in the Building proves time and time again that this slapstick, character-focused formula isn’t running out of steam anytime soon. In this season, long-time doorman Lester (Teddy Coluca) turns up dead, sparking an investigation into who could possibly want to hurt one of the Arconia’s purest souls.
Each of this show’s seasons have done well to introduce new characters, new big-name actors and new angles that switch up the dynamic and make the story a unique one. With the opening episode or two, this season does all of those things while establishing the mysteries that will plague our core trio this time around. Much like last season with the death of Sazz Pataki, there’s a distinct emotional hook that gets you immediately invested in piecing together the early clues. What seems relatively straightforward is revealed to have layer upon layer of complexity as more characters (and maybe even more murders) are uncovered. It starts with the death of Lester, then snowballs into a compelling mystery that involves everyone from the local mob to big-wig CEOs. I’d love to mention the actors that take on these roles by name, but I think there’s something so special about those in-season reveals that I want to preserve that even here.
The first few episodes (or maybe even the first half) of this season are phenomenal. They ebb and flow between a rapid and controlled pace; perfectly balancing story, mystery, comedy and heart to the point of harbouring some of the series’ best episodes. It’s when all those elements and conflicting tones are balanced within an episode that the series has hit its peaks, and that’s once again evident in this season. The latter half of the season is a little hit and miss, albeit with hits that are exceptional and misses that are pretty decent at worst. The moments in which it lets itself down are where it starts to rehash dynamics that were already explored earlier in the season, and when the brand new robot character takes centre stage. In a show like this where you have such a brilliant lead cast, I didn’t think I’d single out a supporting character as having such a negative impact on the season. But the L.E.S.T.R robot that has a recurring role through the season is almost entirely insufferable. The series has always been one to get silly and campy, but the presence of this robot was a little too far down the rabbit hole. Every time it showed up my eyes rolled into the back of my head, thankfully the majority of the season is without its presence.
The variety of character dynamics are undoubtedly what elevate the season’s many arcs. It’s not just the back-and-forth wit and banter of our core trio that’s an absolute blast, but also the conversations that are spawned from their interactions with new supporting roles. The celebrity guest stars are utilised to perfection, not giving us too much of them while also not using them so sparingly that they feel like cameos. The many personalities at play clash with our core trio in ways that birth sequences unlike anything the series has explored thus far. Within the core trio though, the chemistry is entirely unbroken. With this series entering its 6th season soon, I don’t think we’ll ever see a day where their chemistry every takes an dive in quality. From the huge running gags to the smaller one-liners, watching Oliver, Charles and Mabel go from working together to clashing from scene to scene is a hilarious experience I will never tire of.
Performance-wise I feel like a broken record praising the talents of Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez every season, but their impeccable comedic timing and occasional emotional beats are some of the many reasons I keep coming back week after week. Their real-life friendship helps enhance the authenticity of their characters’ friendships, effortlessly elevating their performances. Once again, Michael Cyril Creighton feels like the unofficial fourth member of the crew, popping in for a number of hilarious moments and sharing great scenes with each of our core trio. Meryl Streep and Da’Vine Joy Randolph return for a number of guest appearances, and each of their scenes is an absolute blessing. Overall, the cast this season are exceptional, with not a single lacklustre performance in sight.
In the end, Only Murders in the Building proves itself once again as a hilarious murder mystery series that’s as funny as it is thrilling. While not its best outing, it excels in crafting a mystery that keeps you guessing and delivering plenty of comedic hijinks to laugh at. It’s a tonne of fun and just a very feel-good ride that shows no signs of stopping anytime soon, especially given there’s another season on the way. It’s chaotic, it’s silly and it’s occasionally heartfelt, ensuring it remains a blast from start to finish despite its momentary lulls.
8.6/10
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