Martin, Short, Gomez become television’s new trifecta
Follow three iconic strangers as their shared love for true crime creates a tight-knit podcast team. PHOTO CREDIT: Rotten Tomatoes
With a stacked cast and plenty of plot twists, “Only Murders in the Building” is a captivating, hilarious take on the popular whodunit mystery narrative.
Starring Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez, the Hulu series received a 100 percent critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes after two seasons, deservedly being renewed for a third edition set to release in 2023.
The story follows three strangers, Charles (Martin), Oliver (Short) and Mable (Gomez), as they investigate the death of a fellow tenant in their high-class New York City apartment. The trio recounts their discoveries on a self-taped podcast, unintentionally gaining traction and becoming a viral murder-mystery series.
The show has something to offer to everyone— interweaving drama, comedy, thriller and action into every episode. Warning: some spoilers lay ahead.
At the close of season one, a lot was left unsaid. While Tim Kono’s murderer was unexpectedly revealed to be a work of Jan, Charles’ girlfriend and professional bassoonist, the crime-solving trio of Charles, Oliver and Mable are left bewildered by yet another murder in their building: the Arconia.
This put season two in the hot seat— who killed the newest victim? Will the podcast renew for this second crime? Are the two murders intertwined? Even these few questions made me skeptical about a successful continuation of the show.
Season two, which was released in late June, kept me waxing and waning in terms of commitment to the story. The humor hooked me in every single episode, especially Short’s animated performance compared to the stereotypical “millennial” characteristics portrayed by Gomez. I loved the introduction of new characters and a wide array of storylines webbing from the Bunny Folger case.
Yet, for some time, “Only Murders in the Building” brought some doubt on my end. With such a spectacular season one, I couldn’t imagine how the writers would duplicate similarly mysterious, comical scenes. The complexity of the plot also started to lose me. I felt as though the storylines being emphasized had nothing to do with the core meaning of the show: solving the murder. I wondered whether the confusion was intended or if some of the story was simply “fluff.”
The ratings inclined me to continue watching anyways. Slowly, everything started to come together. I can say without a shadow of a doubt that “Only Murders in the Building” is one of the best TV shows since the introduction of streaming services.
It is so distinctively crafted and carefully written. Just when you think you’ve gathered enough to crack the case, another layer is spread on these delicious tiers of true crime obsession. Viewers get a sense of true connection to each character: the pain of being an exiled father, the fear of disappointing those around you and especially, the treacherous journey of young womanhood, which is unmistakably Gomez’s greatest performance yet.
At the end of the season, Paul Rudd appears to be added to the cast as a major ingredient to a tasteful season three. There isn’t much left I could say about that before opening an endless can of worms.
I’ll leave it at this: “Only Murders in the Building” is a must-watch, and I have no doubt that future episodes will further solidify my love for the series.