Three true-crime-obsessed strangers walk into an elevator with another man who ends up dead later that night. That’s the way Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building kicks off. Since the show starts in such an intense fashion, it leaves you wondering where they’ll go from here, but every moment is just as interesting as the last. There are spoilers ahead, so proceed with caution!
Featuring comedic legends Steve Martin and Martin Short as Charles-Haden Savage and Oliver Putnam, respectively, the main cast rounds out with the famous artist and actress Selena Gomez, playing Mabel Mora. The cast is certainly one reason to watch the show. The experience of Martin and Short combined with Gomez’s appeal to a different audience and her own abilities make this a unique trio and one worth watching right now.
Beyond the stellar cast, the show will hook you within the first episode. The three true-crime fanatics connect over their love for a true-crime podcast, hosted by Cinda Canning (Tina Fey, 30 Rock), after sharing the elevator together. As mentioned previously, the fourth person that was in the elevator, Tim Kono (Julian Cihi, The Tick), dies only hours after the three of them saw him, and they take it upon themselves to investigate, as they believe his death was not a suicide but a murder.
The three of them connect quickly over their investigation, putting up a board of possible suspects, asking around for people who complained about Tim, and so on. There are a lot of people they suspect, including cat-lover Howard (Michael Cyril Creighton, Dash & Lily) and legendary artist Sting (portrayed by the actual Sting). Apparently, he wasn’t the most well-liked guy, as we discover in episode two, “Who Is Tim Kono?” And since Charles, Oliver, and Mabel all connected over a podcast, they decide that it’s time they start their own investigation.
But as the hunt for Tim Kono’s killer continues, we find out more and more about the three of them behind it. After the premiere episode, we find out more about Mabel’s past. She was a member of a group known as the Hardy Boys, named after the famous mystery novels, and she wasn’t the only one. Tim Kono was also a member, and we find out that Mabel was not only close friends with him, but with two others – one of which is dead and the other in prison after being falsely accused of that murder. Mabel and Tim had a falling out, but Mabel still cares about Tim and is upset no one else does, but she keeps this all a secret from her fellow true-crime lovers. Based on how things are going, she thinks she might also be the next of the Hardy Boys to go.
Next, we find out Oliver’s past as a failed Broadway director. He had some amazing productions, but it all came crashing down with his huge investment in a swimming-themed musical. Despite his past fame, he’s still upbeat, extroverted, and charming, but clearly relies on people for many favors, especially asking his son for extra money to get out of a tough spot. Then, we discover Charles’ past in the fourth episode, when he goes on a date with bassoonist Jan (Amy Ryan, The Office), something he’s not very comfortable doing. We find out that his last girlfriend ditched him in the middle of a family cruise and he hasn’t seen her daughter, someone he cared for very much, in a long while.
It takes a second for everything to unfold: the podcast, their backstories, the murder. But it makes sense given the type of show this is and the fact that they want to keep the mystery alive. A lot of elements are still coming together, specifically with what Tim Kono was hiding and how Mabel can piece it together given what she remembers about her past, but at the end of episode four Charles and Oliver discover that Mabel knew Tim Kono! Clearly, things are about to kick up a notch.
She’s being followed by “tie-dye guy,” too, another person they have begun to suspect, someone whose identity we don’t know just yet. There’s so much left to discover, and it’ll be interesting to see how Charles and Oliver react to Mabel knowing Tim. Hopefully, we also get to see Mabel piecing together more clues about Tim and his past as we go forward.
So far, Only Murders in the Building is a light and funny mystery that’ll have you laughing but also analyzing the screen for clues and wondering what’s going to happen next. The plot is still building up and there’s a lot that’s unknown to the audience, but you’ll definitely be on the edge of your seat. The cast complements each other well, and the interesting dynamic between anxious Charles, quirky Oliver, and deadpan Mabel makes this one mystery you’ll want to be around to solve.
Only Murders in the Building is now streaming on Hulu. New episodes air Tuesdays.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-V1rQdXXXyI
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