Only Murders in the Building: A masterpiece that vindicates the crime and mystery genre on TV.

Released in August 2021, this remarkable series, created by Steve Martin and John Hoffman, follows the story of three strangers brought together by the twists of everyday life as they attempt to solve a homicide in the “Arconia,” a luxurious building located in one of New York City's most luxurious neighborhoods. Their lives will never be the same after this event. Over the seasons, these amateur detectives become close friends, always ready to confront the creepy crimes happening in the building.

First season

The first part of this story introduces us to three individuals—Charles, Oliver, and Mabel—who, although they live in the same building, the “Arconia,” are complete strangers to one another. Charles-Haden Savage, portrayed by Steve Martin, is an almost retired actor who had only one major success in his entire career: the popular 90s series “Brazzos.” People still recognize him for that role. Oliver Putnam, played by Martin Short, is an ambitious but unsuccessful Broadway director. Finally, Mabel Mora, portrayed by Selena Gomez, is a young artist temporarily living in her aunt's apartment. These three individuals must come together to solve an emerging mystery in the building: the murder of Tim Kono.

Tim Kono is a resident of the building who is found dead in the first episode. The mysterious circumstances surrounding his death prompt Charles, Oliver, and Mabel to conduct their own investigation. As the story goes on, more details about Tim's life, his secrets, and the close relationships he had will be revealed, particularly the connection he shares with one of our three "detectives."

The story leads us into the seemingly ordinary lives of the building's neighbors, each of whom becomes a main suspect in the homicide. As the chapters unfold, we will discover alongside our "detectives" that many of them have their own motives to want to harm the unfortunate Tim Kono. It quickly becomes clear that some of these neighbors might just be the type to commit murder as our detectives progress with the investigation.

Throughout the chapters, three strangers become close friends and confidants as they unite to solve a mystery. They discover that they share a common interest: all three are fans of the true-crime podcast "All Is Not OK in Oklahoma," hosted by journalist Cinda Canning, played by Tina Fey. Their shared interest in mysteries, along with their own personal struggles and job issues, inspires them to start their own podcast about the brutal murder of young Tim Kono. The podcast is going to be a major part of their ongoing adventures, giving them a solid reason to pursue their investigations further. Plus, it’ll help them legitimize their detective status!

In any work within the crime and mystery genre, the unique traits of the characters are crucial for solving the mystery. This is a key aspect that the series embraces. Recognizing each character is essential. Notable characters to watch for include:

Howard Morris, a cat-loving resident of Arconia whose cat died on the same night as Tim Kono. He will be a recurring character throughout all seasons.

Bunny Folger, an older woman who serves as the board president of the Arconia building.

Teddy Dimas, an old friend of Oliver's family who agrees to sponsor the podcast featuring our "detectives." Also it's important to pay attention to his son, Theo, who has a complicated relationship with his father.

Jan Bellows, she’s a professional bassoonist (yeah, she plays a pretty rare instrument) and starts dating Charles.

Oscar Torres, a friend of Mabel and Tim, he was unjustly convicted of murdering his friend Zoe ten years ago. Recently released from prison, he will play a crucial role in the case.

Getting familiar with these characters and their stories is key to piecing together the mystery.

The first season doesn't really need a long explanation for why it became such a hit so quickly. It is one of the best narratives in the crime and mystery genre on television in a long time. Each episode strikes the perfect balance of mystery, suspense, and comedy, featuring an intriguing cast of characters and settings that harmoniously enrich the fictional universe.

Steve Martin and John Hoffman present a remarkable work in the crime and mystery genre, where traditional elements are cleverly reimagined. They deliver a story that takes the classic elements of the genre and gives them a fresh twist for today’s audience. This contemporary detective fiction seamlessly blends classic features of the genre with modern themes, resulting in a captivating detective story that appeals to 21st-century audiences.

Second season

The second part of the story with these three unique friends brings a fresh mystery that will have us questioning everything and everyone all over again, even one of our detective trio. In this season, the focus is on figuring out who murdered the board president of the "Arconia".

Mrs. Bunny Folger, an unpleasant woman in her seventies, lived her entire life in the Arconia building. She is the granddaughter of Archibald Carter, one of the architects who designed this monumental and opulent structure in the early 20th century. Bunny knows all the tenants of the building very well and is aware of what happens in each unit, but sadly, she had no idea that she was about to become a murder victim.

Once again, our group of “detectives” has to keep an eye on all the residents of Arconia as they slowly piece together this new mystery. As they dig deeper, they’ll realize that the culprit might not actually live in the Arconia but could be someone who visits regularly who has a strong personal reason for wanting Mrs. Bunny out of the picture.

The introduction of both new and familiar characters this season promises to add an intriguing layer of mystery. Each episode will make us wonder if one of them might be the murderer of Mrs. Bunny.

Tina Fey returns as Cinda Canning, the host of the true crime podcast "All Is Not OK in Oklahoma," which parodies Sarah Koenig, the journalist behind the famous true crime podcast "Serial."

Her personal assistant, Poppy, will play a significant role in unraveling the mysteries presented this season.

Nina Lin, a determined mom-to-be, is chosen by Mrs. Bunny as the person to succeed her as president of Arconia's board.

Detective Daniel Kreps is the detective investigating Mrs. Bunny's case.

Cara Delevingne makes an appearance as Alice Banks, a young and ambitious artist from London who arrives in the city with lofty aspirations.

Steve Martin and John Hoffman quickly showed that this isn’t your typical mystery novel where you can easily figure out who the killer is just by looking at the most obvious suspect. What makes this series really interesting is that you can never be totally sure who actually did it. It leads the viewer through a labyrinth from which they must try to escape as they progress through the chapters. With each chapter, the paths become tighter, often making you jump to the wrong conclusions and point fingers at the wrong people.

This time, the story culminates with a classic element of the genre. In this exciting chapter, our “detectives” team up with some building residents to gather all the main suspects and get to the bottom of Bunny's murder. Viewers are in for a big surprise when the mystery gets solved in the most unexpected way during this final episode of the season.

Thirth season

The third season of the story featuring the three most beloved mystery podcasters on TV arrives with high expectations from an already established fan base. The previous seasons really set a high bar, so there are big expectations for this one. This time around, the trio has to tackle their first tricky homicide: the murder of Ben Glenroy.

Ben Glenroy, played by Paul Rudd, is a Hollywood actor who enjoyed great success in the 1990s. He’s the classic annoying movie star that everyone has a hard time dealing with. Oliver casts him as the lead in his play, “Death Rattle,” but things take a dark turn when Ben is murdered during the premiere on Broadway.

This time around, the three friends have a pretty wild case to crack since there’s a crime that happens in two different times and places. It’s going to be a tougher investigation for our trio because they’re dealing with a murder that plays out in two acts. Ben Glenroy gets killed twice, and it’s up to Charles, Oliver, and Mabel to piece together this tricky puzzle and figure out who’s behind his death. Throughout the season, most of the action will take place in the familiar Arconia and at the Goosebury Theater on Broadway.

In this new season, several new characters join the story:

Meryl Streep portrays Loretta Durkin, an unemployed actress who is set to have a significant breakthrough in Oliver's work and personal life. In the play, Loretta takes on the role of the loving nanny to triplets, as the newborn character is transformed into three in the musical adaptation titled "Death Rattle Dazzle."

Another important character is Donna DeMeo, the main financier of the production, along with her son Clifford, who is making his debut as a producer. The relationship between mother and son is quite bizarre and both play a crucial role in this season.

Additionally, viewers should pay close attention to Dickie Glenroy, who is Ben's brother and manager, as he will also be a key character.

In this season, Charles, Oliver, and Mabel face a crisis that will test their friendship. As Charles and Oliver focus on their play, they must temporarily put aside their detective roles and leave Mabel to handle the situation on her own. However, she won’t be alone for long; she will meet a new ally, Tobert, a camera operator hired by Ben to document his Broadway debut. With Tobert’s help, Mabel will be able to sort through clues and come up with new ideas, getting closer to figuring out the truth behind Ben’s murder.

The series continues to impress, delivering a season packed with intrigue, mysteries, and fun moments that have become its trademark. While it has nailed down the basic narrative components that give it its unique vibe, there are definitely some highs and lows this season. The story begins on a strong note with the dramatic death of Ben Glenroy at the Goosebury Theater on Broadway. The first three episodes do a great job setting the stage for this event. However, from "The White Room" (episode 4) to "The Ghost Light" (episode 6), things aren't quite as exciting. Luckily, the story picks back up in episode 7, and by episode 8, it reaches the same thrilling heights as the first three episodes, bringing back that engaging energy that we all love about the series.

This season is a must-watch for anyone who wants to keep up with the series, whether you're a die-hard fan or just casually tuning in, because it brings in new characters that will play significant roles in the future. Additionally, this season showcases the development of the relationship among our three “detectives.” They navigate their differences and find a balance between their personal lives and their work. They become more professional about his detective job too. Don’t forget, the season finale is vital for anyone wishing to follow the storyline, as it typically sets the stage for the next season. This season is no exception and is definitely one you won’t want to miss.

Fourth season

In the fourth part of the story, our three "detectives" are back on the case at a crime scene in Arconia. This time, they’re teaming up to solve a mystery that hits pretty close to home: it all goes down in Charles' apartment. They need to figure out who murdered someone dear to him while also sorting out how to keep participating in the podcast film.

This time, the friends must uncover the truth behind the murder of Sazz Pataki. She’s a recurring character in the series, she has been part of the story since the first season. Sazz worked in the film industry for many years as Charles's stunt double. Up to this point, we have known Sazz for several distinctive traits, such as dating all the people Charles dates, her surpassing him in popularity, and, most notably, she always dresses like him. At the end of the third season, Sazz gets murdered while searching for a rare bottle of Argentine Malbec in Charles's apartment. In a shocking twist, she’s shot by an unknown sniper through the window, and tragically striking Sazz’s chest. Apparently the shot was intended for Charles.

Our “detectives” find themselves working on a case that hits close to home while also managing their commitments with Paramount Studios. The success of their podcast has captured Hollywood's attention, leading to a proposal for a film adaptation. Without hesitation, the friends accept the offer and rush to Los Angeles to sign the contract. Once there, they’ll meet the actors who will bring their characters to life on the big screen. The appearance of Eugene Levy, Eva Longoria, and Zach Galifianakis as the adapted versions of our "detectives" will add a fun element to the story and will continue throughout the season. They’ll even have the opportunity to collaborate with our trio in the Sazz case.

Once more, paying close attention to the characters and their unique traits is essential, though it can also be a bit confusing, as many new characters will be introduced this season, each with their own intriguing backstory:

One of them is Glen Stubbins, the former stunt double of Ben Glenroy, who was born in Ireland. His role is significant, especially in a season that aims to highlight the contributions of stunt performers in the cinema industry.

Another key character is Bev Melon, the producer at Paramount Studios who’s in charge of turning the podcast into a film.

We also meet this duo of peculiar filmmakers who call themselves “The Brothers”, their last name is literally “Brothers”. Trina and Tawny Brothers are twin sisters and both co-directors of the film.

Another key player is Marshall P. Pope, the screenwriter for the movie. His real name is Rex Bailey, but he prefers to work under his pseudonym, and we’ll dive into why he made that choice later.

Lastly, there's the character played by Melissa McCarthy, named Doreen, who is Charles' sister living on Long Island. While her role may not have met expectations and felt somewhat forced, her participation provided plenty of humor.

This season introduces an interesting new setting in Arconia—the West Tower of the building. It's home to a peculiar group of people who become the main suspects for our three “detectives:

One of them is Vince Fish, who lives in the West Tower and sports an eye patch because of antibiotic-resistant conjunctivitis.

There's also a lovely family living there: Alfonso, the dad; Inez, the mom; and their teenage daughter, Ana.

Our detectives will be watching Rudy Thurber too—a fitness influencer who feels like he has to keep his “Christmas spirit” alive all year since his Christmas-themed video went viral on social media.

Then there's Helga, a locksmith who took over the family business after her dad passed away. She used to date Rudy.

Lastly, the central character among this unusual group is Mr. Dudenoff, a wealthy film professor who is experiencing an existential crisis. He once taught the sisters “Brothers” as students.

They all share a really close friendship that resembles the bond seen among members of a cult. Dudenoff could be considered the leader of this unique community, as he transformed a group of strangers into a family united by a kind of pact among its members.

Basically, the expansion of the narrative space gave this season a special dynamism and made the plot even more engaging. It presented viewers with a more challenging mystery due to the wide range of potential suspects involved in the murders.

The fourth season of Only Murders in the Building brings us a captivating story focused on a murder—the killing of Sazz. But what's really interesting this season is how it dives into the history of cinema. Throughout the season, Charles often narrates introductions that serve as prefaces, a narrative element we've seen before in the series. This time, though, they really stand out because they reference classic films and serve as metaphors, offering viewers clues about the conflicts presented in each episode. Additionally, in some episodes, these voice- off narrations appear at the end as true epilogues, providing a thoughtful conclusion to the story.

This season is remarkable and touches on a sensitive topic within the film industry: the role of stunt doubles. It may be one of the rare instances where a major production showcases a stunt double in such a way, even if the ending is tragically ironic. Overall, this is an admirable season from multiple perspectives.

A great piece for the genre

The crime and mystery fiction genre has been keeping audiences hooked for years with its crime-driven stories, often featuring a murder. These narratives typically feature a brave and clever character—the detective—who is responsible for piecing together the clues and solving the mystery. Plus, they really get readers (or viewers) to think logically and use their reasoning skills. The main goal of these stories is to find out the truth, which typically involves a complicated and intriguing process that mixes intuition, sharp observation, and smart deductions.

Mystery and crime novels have captivated audiences for a long time because they offer the possibility of resolution, allowing readers to actively engage and get involved in solving the mystery. Additionally, these stories typically unfold in a plausible setting—one that resembles everyday life and is perceived by readers as a familiar, a real space, making them seem like part of our everyday lives. This connection really depends on when the story was published and how we experience it today. At their core, these tales challenge readers with a sense of contemporary realism, immersing them in a world that feels attainable and allowing them to be part of the action.

Only Murders in the Building fits into the crime and mystery genre, specifically within the subgenre of detective fiction, where it aligns with the classic "whodunnit" format. However, the series also challenges and breaks away from traditional elements of the genre.

In Only Murders, we do not encounter the typical urban detective—an omniscient figure capable of unraveling the mysteries of the city. Instead, our three "detectives" lack many of the traditional characteristics associated with crime and mystery novel detectives. Each of them lives a "normal" life in New York during the second decade of the 21st century, and none possesses the remarkable interpretive skills typically found in detectives from 19th-century novels.

These individuals are not heroes. While they resemble the detectives of the "Golden Era" from the 1930s to the 1950s, they differ significantly in that they do not achieve the same level of insight. They solve mysteries through trial and error, navigating the complexities of their daily lives. In short, Only Murders presents a postmodern detective—a new type of investigator who addresses homicides within the intricate context of contemporary everyday situations.

Only Murders in the Building is a remarkable example of how the mystery genre evolves over time. It masterfully reflects contemporary changes, showcasing an updated portrayal of the classic detective archetype. The series stands out as a masterpiece within the genre, where mysteries are often resolved in unexpected ways, and unconventional characters play a more significant role than the typical suspicious figures who usually turn out to be the culprits. "Only Murders" is a vital contribution to a constantly reinventing genre, and it is likely to become a cult classic in the years to come.