Throw in a beloved popstar/former Disney star, two equally beloved SNL veterans, the musician Sting, a pinch of “The Hardy Boys,” just a hint of detective noir interspersed with a spoonful of corny cop shows from the ’80s, and top it with a dollop of true crime podcasts — and you’ve got the recipe for “Only Murders in the Building.”
This new web series revolves around three neighbors. We have a washed up TV actor, Charles-Haden Savage (that’s his name, don’t wear it out), a millennial home renovator Mabel who harbours a dark past, and Oliver Putnam, a needy, flamboyant and extremely bankrupt theatre director desperately in need of a comeback (emphasis on ‘desperately’). The trio may differ in age, but they share a passion for true crime podcasts. When a murder takes place in the building where they live, they take it upon themselves to play sleuths and uncover the mystery behind it. In the process, they end up recording their own true crime podcast, which could possibly be the big break both Oliver and Charles had hoped for. But as the plot thickens — and as things begin to go awry — the trio realizes there’s a big difference between their true crime fantasies and real life…
Great Camaraderie Between the Cast
What sets this whodunit apart from the rest is its suspense and camaraderie between the cast. We have Selena Gomez as Mabel, Steve Martin as Charles, and Martin Short as Oliver. It’s a trio we didn’t know we needed, but definitely deserved! The characterisation and script allows the trio to showcase their comedic chops. However, it also lets them explore their characters’ emotional vulnerability, and they do an exceptional job at it.
It helps that the characters are layered, instead of simply succumbing to clichés or tropes. For example, Oliver may be pretentious to a fault, but he’s personable as well. At times he reminded me of a senile version of Gollum from “Lord of the Rings,” but with a hankering for deli dips instead of cursed rings. On the other hand, the wide eyed, beanie-sporting Mabel looks like your run-of-the-mill quirky girl. However, her elusive mind can conjure the most graphic, Tarantino-esque scenarios when threatened. She also suffers from a fear of abandonment, trust issues, and much like her concertina-playing neighbor Charles, she is reclusive. This leads to both of them sharing a strong bond. The boomer-millennial generation gap is also addressed, and thankfully comes across as humorous and wholesome instead of forced and condescending.
Lovers of True Crime will Enjoy this
Another highlight for me was the set design and animation sequences. Both of these play a pivotal role in the narrative and how the plot unfolds. The scenes involving Oliver gleefully interrogating the line-up of suspects in a Broadway-esque fashion, in particular, left me in splits. It also kept me on my toes as he pranced about to narrow down his list of auditionees…ahem, I mean murder suspects.
If you enjoy true crime podcasts or grew up on a rich diet of detective novels/cop shows, “Only Murders in the Building” is for you. You’ll further like the series to enjoy its cast (such as Martin Short run around with a boom mic and indulge in the most inane theatrics, while Alex from “Wizards of Waverly Place” and a depressed Jacques Closeau keep him company). The show has humour and intrigue and won’t disappoint.
“Only Murders in the Building” is currently available to stream on Hulu with a subscription.
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