Only Murders in the Building (1×10) Open and Shut Review

For our review of the last episode of Only Murders in the Building, click here.

Synopsis: In the season finale, the trio races toward a resolution while their own lives are put in danger. (IMDb)

The mystery of who killed Tim Kono has finally been resolved in this first season finale of Only Murders in the Building. This episode definitely had a tough task ahead of it, wrapping up the season and setting up the next and it performed admirably on both counts. The writing and performances throughout the season got us to this point and they certainly delivered here. This season saw the characters of Charles, Oliver, and Mabel truly come into their own and to see those skills and experience put into action here was glorious and satisfying after spending a season with them. Their bond and passion made it all even more worthwhile. Steve Martin and Amy Ryan as Charles and Jan were easily the standouts.

The last episode pointed the finger to Jan as the potential killer but now, it was all about proving it. She had a relationship with Tim Kono as he himself described while narrating the beginning of the episode. He was a lonely soul after losing his friends which led him to gravitate towards Jan.

Suffice it to say that Charles was not as receptive to the fact that Jan might be the murderer though there was some doubt there. But this did not stop Oliver and Mabel from snooping through her apartment. Once Jan returned to Charles’ apartment, he got her to lower her guard and she did not even try to hide what she did all while he recorded her. Meanwhile, Oliver and Mabel found evidence in her apartment which confirmed her to be the killer Lonely men like Tim and Charles were her type and she killed Tim after he broke up with her. Believing he avoided her poison, Jan poisoned Charles’ handkerchief he was using to tend to his nosebleed. She camped it up as she attempted to eliminate Charles by gassing him and the building but he willed himself in a hilarious sequence that saw him escape his apartment and attempt to get help despite being partially paralyzed from the poison.

Oliver and Mabel eventually caught up to Charles whom they wheeled down to the basement of the building and thwarted Jan’s plan and Jan herself while Charles’ hallucinated speech was a plus. With Jan captured, the gang’s position at the Arconia was saved. However, the story wasn’t over as far as Charles, Oliver, and Mabel were concerned. Oscar got his name back and Charles reconnected with his daughter Lucy but there was still that flashforward from the beginning of the series to contend with. While celebrating on the rooftop, Charles and Oliver were warned to get out of the building. Going back to find Mabel who had went to get more champagne, they found her with Bunny who she appeared to have killed with her knitting needle.

The episode ended with the three being walked out of the building by the police while everyone in the building watched but not before Cinda Canning made one last quip at their expense.

still courtesy of Hulu

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Keith Noakes

The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.