Overview: Three occupants of the The Arconia, an apartment building in New York, come together to get to solve the death of another occupant, Tim Kono. Brought together by their common interest in a true crime podcast, Charles (Steve Martin), Oliver (Martin Short), and Mabel (Selena Gomez) set out to start one themselves called "Only Murders in the Building."
20230328:
I finished the second season of the series today and I really enjoyed it. The show did a great job of keeping me second guessing myself - so to some extent the plot wasn't as straightforward as I thought. In general, I find a good mystery story requires the reader/listener/viewer to stick around until the end, because not enough clues were revealed until the end.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Only_Murders_in_the_Building
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| Charles-Haden Savage (Steve Martin), Oliver Putnam (Martin Short), and Mabel Mora (Selena Gomez) |
S1E01
The show title comes in a moment where the one character says maybe they should do a second podcast and the other says, no no, only murders in the building.
The ending reveals she knew the victim... but the victim didnt show any sign of knowing her... did he not recognize her? How many years had passed for this to be the case? I feel as if people's faces dont really change much from what seemed like teenagers to late twenties early 30s.
20210924
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| Oliver, Mabel, and Charles digging through the trash looking for evidence |
S1E02
Hmm this second episode with the party was confusing. Implied at the end there was a murder.
But yeah what is with all the jewelry in the books.
This episode explains the reason Mabel and Tim pretended not to know each other.
20210925 AM
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| Mabel investigates |
S1E03
This third episode was mostly humorous.
I guess the one kid was blamed when Tim saw it was someone else. That someone else could be the serial killer. Though given the ending. How would such a person be so aware of the release of a podcast.
20210925 AM
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| Teddy Dimas (Nathan Lane) in Oliver's flashback |
S1E04
20210925
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| Charles meets Jan (Amy Ryan), a bassoonist |
S1E05
Episode 5 closes some plot points. Such as tie dye guy. And what all the jewelry might be about.
Technically Oscar can be lying but it would seem unlikely for the murderer to be him.
20210925
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| Mabel ready to stab someone who's been following her |
S1E06
Interesting. So there's a cover-up involved.
That's quite a plot twist with "Angel."
She told them about the phone, but I feel the part about the jewel is technically more important. Technically her omission of that can me more just what's interesting to the viewers than her actively omitting the information. Maybe both.
20210925
 |
| Theo Dimas (James Caverly), Teddy's son |
S1E07
Hehe. He breaks the fourth wall. "People talk way too fucking much in this city."
Interesting. So they're on the right track...
Oh wow... so that's the story behind the ring.
When they went into the basement, that's when I realized the episode was essentially a silent episode
Well to be fair. It did appear to be an accident.
20211015
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| Mabel, Oliver, and Charles in front of their investigation board |
S1E08
Brazzos. Safe word.
Haden-Maiden
The way they're spinning it, maybe Jan is right after all
20211015
 |
| Fans of the podcast |
S1E09
haha. His stunt double, Saz Pataki (Jane Lynch), is a woman; much to the surprise of Jan
Hahaha. "What is this Face/Off"
Does getting Tarintino'd mean dying.
hehe. "I hated Tim Kono, but off, that man knew what he was doing."
Hmm. A bassoon cleaner... I feel like it still wouldn't make sense, if it was Jan, did she bring it over to use as a sex toy? I suppose in the other episode, that they had a safe word, it would suggest she's on the kinkier side.
20211015
 |
| Oscar (Aaron Dominguez) |
S1E10
I love the way she says that, "Excuse me? We weigh 125 *combined*." [I imagine they are average sized people that weigh about 125 each; in particular, I think the setup of the comment comes in the expectation that she would say "each" or "a piece" instead of "combined."]
Not currently what? After some thought, I would guess not in her room.
Interesting method of reveal.
Nice little reference. "Fields of Gold" by Sting.
"You really don't take the ride do you?"
Lol. That was poetic if it were real. Comedic nonsense.
Interestingly, only ten minutes left in the episode and we've yet to arrive at the beginning of the season.
So what we got is "loose ends," a mystery warning number, and somehow a new murder.
20211027
S2E01
My reaction is that since it's part of the podcast, then any listener of the podcast is a suspect. If anything Mabel would be the last person to use a knitting needle to kill someone.
Smile. "Lawyer." + subsequent conversation
"You think you're Rodney Dangerfield?"
HA! "They cropped me out?! [...] I'm also involved in this."
HAHAHA. "I like your Beats."
I hadn't remembered what happened, but strange that Bunny was still standing. How does a murderer stab someone, and then get away with the victim still alive?
Amy Schumer
hehe. "wasting people's time"
hahaha "Uncle Brazzos"
hehe "it's not a cult right?" (and the person didn't answer)
HAHAHA. "The 'Charles' is silent"
So recapping, she had a secret elevator, the painting that was stolen has Charles Savage's father in the painting, she said "14" and "Savage" before dying
20230326
S2E02
Hehe. Leonora (Bunny's mother) sniffs and looks and concludes none of them did it, but that they know something.
I feel like Amy finding the paiting is kind of a win
This bird will eventually unveil a clue. I guess I was a little surprised it didn't happen earlier. (in Bunny's will)
Did his dad murder the artist?
lol! "I know who did it"
20230326
S2E03
Hahaha. Sloshing
"I can't believe this is my last day... as board president." (not gonna lie, the pause made it seem like she knew she was gonna die)
While Nina has a motive to take down Bunny, killing Bunny for the position seems extreme; I highly doubt it'd be her
hmm, so we get to see Bunny's final moments
20230327
S2E04
Teddy's threat to Oliver
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. "...Vaseline on your rectum." I'm dying of laughter here
Whoa. Secret entry way.
Holy shit. That's intense. She barely survived. And she ended up not telling him. Though I suppose technically not much to tell.
20230327
S2E05
So his talk with Jan points towards Alice. I feel like early on, it made sense to suspect Alice, but it was also too out in the open. As such... the show is doing a good job creating the ambiguity.
I don't get it. "Your tell is that you don't have a tell. You're just as uncomfortable as you look."
Hehe. Innocent Blonde. There must be something about it though. He's played this game so many times... it's suspicious that he lost. Perhaps he was wrong within the scope of the game, but she was hiding something that caused her to panic and use her tell which he was right about on all other acounts. Also, his son's intro at the beginning of the episode (which suggests his father never lost).
Hmm. I feel like Mabel forgave Alice too quickly - even if she's innocent
:gasp: the Son of Sam card!
Aww. What an unexpected plot twist. That's sad.
20230327
S2E06
Haha. Jan is so crazy, but it's so crazy it works kind of a tension breaker
HA! "I want soup!" Unexpected, but funny
Pataki (Jane Lynch) back.
Lol. She said it again, "Bet"
As Charles is telling them, the camera changes to a view so we can see a person approaching the trash can.
LOL. The package explodes and the person is surprised. Perhaps this was just a regular dumpster diver.
A nugget of C-4.
"Don't be too good at a job you don't want."
Hilarious. Love it. Pataki sent in to break up with Jan.
Hmm. Even if she didn't murder Bunny, this is some pretty dark, weird-ass shit
Huh. Why not change out of the glitter?
20230327
S2E07
What does she mean "again"?
Hmm. Oh right, she needed to matchbook.
Pretty cool story about her unflipping and remembering the night with Bunny clearly
20230328
S2E08
Well whoever is rattling the door it'd be a person different from the one who knows about the passage ways.
Ha. Everyone sings "Sound of Silence"
Hmm. Sneeze. Is it a coincidence that the one character who was allergic to cats had an allergy?
Interesting. Right. So there was Lucy, followed by possibly the killer, followed by Marv, and then the three of them.
Holy shit! Crazy can't get rid of glitter, hehe. But why would he also be working security at Coney Island? [explained at the beginning of the next episode]
20230328
S2E09
He mentioned meeting a girl. So could go back to Alice.
Wait, did Alice ever mention her last name? Maybe Alice is a descendent of the artist Rose Cooper and she wants revenge for something.
Ooo. Blood sample! Even though she lost the matchbook which has blood, she can at least test the puzzle pieces against the knife.
Huh. A new thread on "Leonora Folger"?
Rose Cooper
Ooo. So he lied about his DNA test
I don't follow this chicken towel thing
"Because I'm Becky Butler"
Holy moly.
20230328
S2E10
Hmm. Mabel says Cinda knew that Becky Butler was alive. Not necessarily
Poor Poppy (the true creative genius hidden behind Cinda; and gets no credit); but speaking of which, perhaps she's so genius she is the mastermind behind Bunny's murder
Charles approaching Cinda in slow motion. HAHAHA. Followed by everyone else. HAHAHAHA.
Wait a minute, whatever happened with the evidence from the detective
Bunny's asking price was 14 million... though Alice doesn't seem to have a motive to acquire such a painting
Poppy just sneezed.
HA! "I only real fainted once."
Hahaha. He barely said anything to Joy
Smile. Paul Rudd.
Huh. I don't get it. What was that about?
20230328
S3E01
Recap: "You've gotta be fucking kidding me."
"Where have you been?"
Chuckle. "How about you be my assistant instead?"
Hah! "Solo producing effort, but with me."
Kiss with abit of tongue. "He's gay so I can kiss him like that."
That's cute. That whole scene with finding the right voice and missing her line
Hehe. His story about the young actor.
Oh wow... I didn't see that coming. He's alive.
So many digs during a series of apologies; it seems everyone would have had a motive to kill him
Hmm... given that Jan was the killer in season 1, and given the level of unsuspected murderer in season 2, it would be sensible to place a bet on Loretta being the killer of season 3 (Ben approaches Loretta)
"Ben may be back, but it doesn't change the fact that he is a fucking asshole."
"You know Mabel, we couldn't have done the podcast anyway because Ben didn't die in the building." That's what I was thinking after he made his appearance being alive. How convenient. That he would now die in the building.
"You gotta be fuckin' kidding me" - Uma (earlier she commented that at least he didn't die in the building); it's nice how she repeated Mabel's statement
20231021
S3E02
we learn that the line Ben said as he fell are actually lines from the play...
interesting development with the handkerchief (everyone who received one is a suspect)
hehe musical
20231022
S3E03
1a: it's subtly funny because she said what he would have said but not close enough to how he says it. that is, it wasn't a great impersonnation.
1b: hehe. he's gives her a look for her knowing an example of such a drug
1b: hehe. "another female killer that's so done"
1b: hehe 8 years old + stop breastfeeding
1b: we hear Kimber and it seems to align with the video and the hanky, but too easy. I would still think Loretta
1a=20231025, 1b=20231026
S3E04
Smile. Jade
"This one dies today."
That could have been anyone (didn't work to kill on stage and therefore killed later)
Huh. Was that not what was written or just unexpected tone?
The other actors explain "The White Room"
Those words were kind of innocent and yet had hints of "make me a possible suspect"
Hehe 72 or 75
Oh shit. Based on what Kimber just said... then it could be Charle's new girlfriend [Joy]. But murder would seem extreme... Just to protect Charles? [oh wait, while she could have worked the miracle of covering it up... it doesn't mean that she was the one that injected the poison in the first place]
Hahaha. HAHAHAHAHA. He's relaxing with the omelet.
Hahaha. "Okay good, because that's actually too much."
Smile. "The middle offer, not the final one."
Hehe. She checks her brow (she's feeling old)
As Charles is about to have Joy move out, I made a realization in brackets above (see "oh wait..."). And thinking through the episodes... I feel like there was the one scene where someone snarks at someone getting a hanky that perhaps wasn't expected... Lots of people got hankies in addition to the cast... [20231028: I'm watching S3E06, and I think the person I remember complaining was KT getting a hanky and then realizing that Howard also got a hanky]
"You found my lipstick. Nothing I hate more than an incomplete set." (There appears to be one missing after she places in the one that was found) (But again... if she hates having an incomplete set... I feel like it'd be unlike her to have been the one to leave it)
20231027
S3E05
"Quill" "Ink pot"
Ha. "I didn't mean to jump the gun."
"And a sliver of tit."
"You're like an adorable little piglet." (I guess the show is trying to pull the viewer into multiple directions here... Though I feel like Loretta was my earliest guess and I think it remains my best guess. I was sure that it wasn't Kimber. And the show shortly had me thinking about Joy, and she does seem a bit crazy, but I'm now mostly sure it couldn't be her)
Wait... I dont' think Charles said anything to Joy about writing anything on Ben's mirror (but Joy said "I didn't write on his mirror") [oh, going to the beginning, he actually said "Joy. Someone wrote a threatening message on Ben's mirror with this."]
Oh wow. He finds she's been following Gilroy closely
20231028
S3E06
Oliver recognizes the handwritting
Huh. For whatever reason, after Howard "confesses," I did not react at all. Instead I just figured he's exaggerating. Or perhaps metaphoriclly killed
Haha. "Sure"
Oh no. Oliver suppressing evidence; especially right after Charles just said "Joy did not write 'fucking pig'"
Haha. "I also know Krav Maga!"
Hehe. "Phantom of the Opera's college dorm room"
Conversation between KT and Howard
I bet he'll accidentally flush his fish.
A rat in the background.
Hmm. Oliver asks this person about murdering Ben when he already has Loretta pinned as the strongest lead due to the writing and "Fucking Pig"
"Don't feed Hugh Jackman after midnight."
After he reveals the puppets, I have this thought that the main twist could be if Tobert is in fact not to be trusted. But thus far, people close to Mabel seem like persons not to trust but tend to be useful (Oscar in season 1, Alice in season 2, and now I'm guessing Tobert here in season 3).
Wait... usually water in the bowl goes down the drain and water in the tank comes in to replenish water in the bowl. Though perhaps some of the initial water in the tank may also go down the drain.
Chuckle "the has-been with hair, yes"
Ah cute. They're helping each other. Getting a taste of their dreams as actor and director (Howard and KT, respectively).
20231028
S3E07
hehe. age
we she he has Ben's hanky
she's learned some ASL
whoa... Matthew Broderick
Smile. "
Ferris Bueller" [Steve Martin (born 1945) is 17 years older than Matthew Broderick (born 1962)]
Hahaha. Jamaican accents
HAHAHAHAHAHA. HAHAHA. The joke is his method acting resulted in him teaching and dating students
Hehehe. "People might think it's an AI"
"But he still gets all the credit [...] the CoBro franchise" Earlier Theo said Ben wrote the CoBro story when he was a kid. Maybe Dickie actually wrote the story
Smile. Mel Brooks
Or how he'd finger a mandolin
Hahahaha. The extended analogy of the horse.
Hahaha. The dig about
Ferris Bueller
Oh... the person who bought the hanky from Uma is revealed to be Dickie
20231028
S3E08
Holy moly. Gave away her baby to pursue her dreams
Holy moly. It turns out Dickie is her son
And it turns out... wow. Well... that severely destroys my bet on who murdered Ben. Technically she could still be the one to have done it, but much less likely.
HAH. "I would hate to lock your ass up."
Hehe. Detective Williams smirks and decides to come watch.
That is a very catchy song and should be part of a real musical... hehe
So... I think in terms of pacing. They'll conclude the episode with succeeding in taping together the evidence for a big clue.
That was a cool reveal - their plan to get William's out and recording
Interesting. This conversation between Loretta and Dickie... perhaps Loretta poisoned Ben, and then Dickie decided to kill him the second time. But she might be inclined to take the blame for it all to protect her son
Okay. So... Mabel makes the connection between the clippings and the letter from Loretta to Ben.
Quite a song.
And here's the "confession"
20231028
S3E09
HAHAHA. The groaning involved (Charles trying to cry)
Haha. "Oh that's alright. I used to be one."
hmm... is he talking to himself (like in a mirror?)
lol. I think Steve Martin was in the movie
Fathers of the Bride. [oh wow, Martin Short was also in that movie... while Steve Martin is the titular "Father of the Bride," Short is one of the three top names (Diane Keaton is the third)][20231112: apparently that movie is a remake of the 1950 film of the same name, which itself is adapted from a 1949 novel of the same name; another remake was made and released in 2022]
20231028
S3E10
Smile. "Mamma Mia."
Smile. "Did I do good?"
Hmm... this seems too easy... Mabel seems dissatisfied. Could the mother be also covering for her son? Perhaps she did the poison and he did the push... It would be convenient since, it seems the truth that she has cancer... so using her as a scapegoat makes sense. It would have to be either her or her son though at this point. Because she would not simply taken the blame for a murder she didn't commit.
"Ooo. I like the way you think, Matthew Broderick."
Aww. Poor Howard wanted to do it and here is Oliver.
Hehe. She used the same phrase as Oliver ("in small doses")
Haha. "Scott Bakula says 'Hi'"
Okay... so what's gonna happen in these last few minutes...
Holy moly. Charles.
Twist: Sazz. Oh no... Sazz was such a good character.
20231028
S4E01
Haha. "-den Savage."
Wait. What? Where's the body?
Heh. They're trying to throw in so many references on the edge of discovery as possible ("I wish I could drop dead right here")
hehe. "Julie Andrew's backend"
Hahaha. Hahaha. "We're the Brothers sisters." How comical
That drawn out push across the table worked well
Just a four.
Do they not notice the packages?
He's holding the mail
Hahaha. His list of dream projects
1=20240930
S4E02
I think prior to the start of this episode, during the previous episode . the question is if the killer wanted to kill sazz or hayden.
hehe "oh Ive been meaning to wash these"
hmm... so it seems they would have kept that room for the pig... but unlikely that any of them are the murderers. interesting that they did play "oh hell" which matches the code... but this could be shared by all the easties.
1=20241004
S4E03
chuckle. zach's reply. say something nuanced gabor... i hope that character... well zach playing himself but... anyways I hope the character grows throughout the episode into something that really leverages zach galifiankis...
hehe they're both wearing patches over their glasses. also if the drops worked. why would they need glasses
hehehe. yes! (after oliver fixes zach's hair and the two seem to get along real well)
hehe. that phone call but howard saves putnam through a speech that puts him down.
i was kind of confused by end. but likely the person was in contact with sazz, who i recall also had a ham radio. but... why do multiple tenants have ham radio...
1=20241004
S4E04
hehe how fun they bring back paul rudd as ben gilroy's stunt double
revealed what Paradise is
1=20241004
S4E05
holy shit. gilroy's double didnt recognize mabel. they mentioned in the other episode whoever shot sazz would have a favial detection issue. furthermore he declared a motive in the other elisode of being upset that they got his face killed. ben gilroy was his livelihood.
smile at martin short sliding down the railing
if not enough time then probably more than one person
oh shit! i had a feeling about the tacky mat but didn't figure how the footprint at the window would have anything to do with the tacky mat. that ben gilroy's double is working the set would increase the liklihood it is him
hahahaha. now turn around, weiner to weiner. stubbins, show them. (paul rudd happily comes in)
hmm... they seem like the obvious next suspects but... maybe they didn't, especially i still suspect gilroy's double. well... but is losing his job really enough to kill sazz or charles?
1=20241004
S4E06
I think there are 10 episodes and... so just because of this it's unlikely that the Brothers Sisters were the killers. If anything, it'd be the writer who is currently working with them. Though I think he had an alibi. Perhaps a bigger suspect for some reason is the person who started the film. She showed up at Sazz's shack, but she gave a reason for it [oh right, reviewing my notes, the biggest suspect is Ben Gilroy's double]
Haha. "For some reason we didn't fit in in high school."
Hehe. "Unless it's an eclipse..."
Ha! So true. "No one's ever been killed on camera. Don't Google..."
What a twist. Vince Fish
Huh. So Vince is straightforward on the situation but it connects Dudenoff back in the picture.
Hmm... Pry open the window. If they can pry open the window here, why not during the killing
The spill will probably result in some clue
What!?! Another murder?
1=20241011
S4E07
Hehe. The doll looks like Loretta
Putnam accidentally falls on Doreen. Means it's gonna be Loretta coming through the door
Wow. they made up rather quickly
Three for three.
Very on point Zach. "I can do card tricks." and the cards go everywhere
Holy shit. Faking pacemaker and the kick. What a brawl
Hehe. "Who is that fucking woman?"
1=20241011
S4E08
yikes a multi tool with nail gun. pinned at face
recording... that'll come in handy
huh it a wonderful life. i didn't understand what that didn't was complaining
so they cleared their names....
twist. but it tightly aligns with my prime suspect ["He's going to be the death of me."]
1=20241018
S4E09
During the recap, the inspector said the bullet bounced off a metal plate in Ben Gilroy's double's head...
smile. Sazz is unflinched about hitting him and just talking about how good of a flip it is
Hahahaha. Hahaha. Hides the corned beef.
Hahahaha. "Finally a celebrity this season."
While I love jerky and Red Bull, I don't see the point of blending them together. Other than as a bit for a tv series
HAHA. That second person's weak scream and she's out.
Hahaha. Haha. He recognizes Brazzos and says that's so sad he's doing background.
Is Glen going to be murdered before they get to him? Would be bold for someone to murder him in the hospital though
Hehe. Their argument in motion capture
Hehe. Ron Howard will say hi to each of the background people
I had to replay the news. What was it about the news that the video panned in on. That was the man where the tenants were collecting rent?
Charle's speech about their friendship had me a little teary eyed
Haha. Ron Howard and Ollie. So good. And don't mention the fishing hole. What a good guest appearance
I didn't comment earlier. But pausing here. I think it was because Sazz says he was supposed to stay still to avoid reigniting but he probably didn't listen.
AH!!! I thought there would be something about the beer. Too bad I didn't write it down. When she took the beer from him, I thought she would discover something about it at that time.
I didn't exclude this possibility!!! (first note in episode 6: "If anything, it'd be the writer who is currently working with them.")
Shit... she's gonna confront him? Why not just wait it out?
1=20241030
S4E10
Funny thing is there's a stunt double for her
Why would he have to respond. I feel like silence would have been the upper hand.
if anything a text like that makes for grounds for charges
What? Who would have a good shot like that
HA! Jan
Hehe. The fake out (roach) but... someone has to die if they're another season, right?
huh. she looks familiar. but she's older... [Téa Leoni; yeah she's been quite a few movies I've seen:
The Family Man (2000),
Fun with Dick and Jane (2005),
Spanglish (2004) and
Jurassic Park III (2001)]
And there's the murder...
1=20241030
