Only Murders in the Building Season Five Early Review

The following is a spoiler-free review of the first 9 episodes (out of 10) of Season 5 of Only Murders in the Building, the first three episodes premiere Tuesday, September 9th on Disney+ internationally and Hulu in the US

For our spoiler-free review of last season of Only Murders in the Building, click here.

Our team of amateur sleuths are back for another season of murder solving. Now reaching a fifth season, what keeps Only Murders in the Building from becoming stale is the dynamic of Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez as Charles, Oliver, and Mabel. While the series more or less sticks to the same formula, where the team try to solve a murder that has occurred in the building they all call home, the Arconia. Following a successful first season back in 2021, the series’ subsequent attempts to take that premise to another level have not proven as successful as they lose the essence of what makes it work, and that is Charles, Oliver, and Mabel. Instead of looking outwards to go further, this latest season looks inward and focuses on the characters and their development, resulting in a stronger season full of the laughs and twists and turns that fans of the series have grown accustomed to over the last four seasons. While Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez are as great as they have ever been, a treasure trove of old and new guest stars who all deliver stellar performances, popping in and out to contribute as needed.

Now it wouldn’t be right unless there was a dead boy and those who remember the end of the last season, the Arconia’s latest victim is the building’s long-time doorman Lester (Teddy Coluca), found in the courtyard fountain following Oliver and Loretta’s wedding. As always, there is more to that story, as Charles, Oliver, and Mabel’s journey to uncover secrets would hit close to home. Their investigation, and the way the three play off of one another, continues to make for thrilling television thanks to a story that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats, while rewarding long time fans of the series. Meanwhile, those who remember the season four finale will also remember a potential first clue for this season’s murder mystery, and that is New Jersey mob wife Sofia Caccimelio (Téa Leoni). Enlisting the services of the podcasters to help find her missing husband, her out of bounds inquiry was almost immediately shot down. However, her appearance was not a one-off by any means. Merely the first wrinkle of many, taking much different lanes in search of the truth, life would also get in the way as the characters had their minds on the future beyond podcasting.

A character in the series since the very beginning, the Arconia has consistently shown that it still has plenty of tricks up its sleeve as the inward leaning season saw it dive deeper into the history and the inner workings of the iconic building and its long-time residents. Shaking off that tree for more potential clues, the outcome is more pieces for our team to piece together. Fans of the series know its deliberate nature in how it dispatches clues, everything somehow fits together and the fun comes from figuring out how they fit. Staying true to Charles, Oliver, and Mabel, the season empowers them as individuals as subplots serve less as lose tangents but more to further develop them in the context of the Lester case. Side characters pop in and out, as needed, to contribute, rather than detract. Starting with a potential mob connection, the suspect pool widens with the arrival of three billionaires who shared an unexpected relationship, Bash Steed (Christoph Waltz), Camila White (Renée Zellweger), and Jay Pflug (Logan Lerman). Playing off of the obvious divide and a strongly implies shadiness, the three present as caricaturish archetypes that will be familiar for most viewers. Similarly, their respective quirks create a fun dynamic alongside Charles, Oliver, and Mabel and one that would complicate things for the latter three as the season goes on.

At the end of the day, all roads lead to the Arconia, for better or worse. Investigating Lester’s murder, little did our three know, the murder was only part of a bigger conspiracy whose reach went a lot further than what they could have imagined and could have repercussions on Charles, Oliver, and Mabel, and the series as a whole. With the odds stacked against them like never before, their investigation became a race against time as a path towards the person (or persons) responsible for everything remains unclear (even through nine episodes), keeping viewers guessing until the very end. As mentioned, what makes this season so compelling is that is far more than just solving a murder, it was about the characters that viewers have invested in for so long and how they plotted their lives moving forward.

While the idea of the future is not new to this series, it is becoming more and more a reality with each passing case. Oliver and Loretta are now married, Mabel is still young and has the rest of her life ahead of her, and Charles, unfortunately, had little prospects. Adding another dimension to the proceedings, this put each character on paths that would help bring out more depth (as Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez got to show off more of their acting chops). That being said, the season definitely did not forget that it is also a comedy, and it certainly did not skimp on that. Viewers can count on Charles, Oliver, and Mabel to generate some laughs. Consistently tapping into the age disparity between Mabel and Charles and Oliver, the well keeps providing, as that gap has shrunk over time, for the most part. Nevertheless, there is still an inherent awkwardness that surrounds them that the writers use to their advantage by playing them off of the different unsavory situations they put them in. Faced with the mob, ruthless billionaires, and more, watching our trio attempt to navigate these situations where they are out of their element is still a delight.

Along with the writing, the performances are the main driving force of Only Murders in the Building, and this season was no different. What more can be said about Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez at this point? Excellent chemistry and comedic timing make them a proven trio who just continue to deliver here. However, the three get to show more this time around, as the season allowed them to explore Charles, Oliver, and Mabel in a deeper way. In that exploration, each would have their chance to shine in a way that does not detract from the overarching narrative. On the other hand, the growing supporting cast deliver strong performances in their own right, popping in and out to assist the story, not get in the way of it, from the Arconia residents, to its staff. Additionally, this season’s big guest stars, Waltz, Zellweger, and Lerman make a splash, with Waltz being a scene stealer as the eccentric Bash Steed.

At the end of the day, this latest season of Only Murders in the Building returns to the glory of its earlier seasons, leaning on its winning characters on route to something deeper than another murder mystery.

still courtesy of 20th Television

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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.