The familiar, whimsical notes of the Only Murders in the Building theme song are once again echoing from our screens with the highly anticipated return of Hulu’s delightfully unpredictable mystery. After a year-long wait, the fifth season finally premiered on September 9th and promises to plunge us back into the charming, crime-ridden world of The Arconia apartment building and its most unlikely trio of true-crime podcasters: Charles (Steve Martin), Oliver (Martin Short), and Mabel (Selena Gomez). Only Murders has consistently delivered a perfect blend of genuine intrigue, laugh-out-loud humor, and heartfelt character development, making it a standout in the crowded streaming landscape.
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But with four intricate seasons already under its belt, packed with red herrings, shocking reveals, and an ever-expanding cast of eccentric New York residents (played by some of Hollywood’s biggest stars), it’s easy if finer plot points leading to Season 5 have become a little fuzzy. Before diving headfirst into the latest murder in the building, let’s take a quick stroll through the previous 4 seasons to refresh our memories.
Our Beloved Trio Has Investigated Multiple Murders and Countless Personal Crises
The heart of Only Murders in the Building has always been the evolving dynamic between Charles Haden-Savage, a semi-retired TV actor yearning for a comeback; Oliver Putnam, a perpetually optimistic but often financially strapped Broadway director; and Mabel Mora, a cynical artist with a mysterious past. Their shared love for true crime podcasts inadvertently led them to launch their own, investigating the suspicious death of their building’s— The Arconia— resident in Season 1. This initial step into the world amateur sleuthing uncovered a complex web of drug dealing, jewel theft, and illicit affairs, ultimately revealing Jan Bellows, Charles’s new girlfriend and a bassoonist, as the culprit. Jan, fueled by jealousy and a tendency to make dramatic exits, poisoned the victim and attempted to kill Charles, proving that even the most unassuming neighbors can harbor dark secrets.
Season 2 saw the trio themselves become prime suspects when Arconia board president, Bunny Folger, was found stabbed to death with Mabel’s knitting needle in Mabel’s apartment, no less. This season delved deeper into the Arconia’s history and its very odd residents, introducing Lucy, Charles’ estranged stepdaughter, and exploring Oliver’s complicated relationship with his son, Will. The investigation (and Season 2 of their podcast) led them through secret passages, hidden tunnels, and a battle for a valuable painting, ultimately exposing another podcaster’s— Cinda Canning (Tina Fey) —assistant, Poppy White, as the true killer. Poppy was once known as Becky Butler and had faked her own death to create a sensational story that Cinda ran with to create her own wildly successful podcast.
Season 3 brought a dazzling Broadway backdrop into play with the murder of actor Ben Glenroy (Paul Rudd) on opening night of Oliver’s big comeback show. This season saw the introduction of Loretta Durkin (Meryl Streep), an aspiring actress who quickly captivated Oliver, and Kimber Min (Ashley Park), an actor in Oliver’s show and a TikTok star who runs her viral side hustle from her dressing room. The investigation took our trio backstage, through tense rehearsals, and into the cutthroat world of theater where Oliver thrived, revealing the jealousies and rivalries simmering beneath the glitz. After a series of misdirections and a seemingly endless list of suspects, it was ultimately revealed that Loretta, in an act of maternal protection, was covering for Dickie, the son she had abandoned at birth. Dickie himself had a complicated relationship with Ben, but was actually not the killer, making Loretta’s attempts to cover for him unnecessary. The actual culprit was Donna DeMeo, the show’s producer, who had poisoned Ben to save her co-producer and son Cliff’s failing show, believing Ben was a threat to its success. Donna believed that Ben’s erratic behavior and declining health would sink the production, jeopardizing Cliff’s debut as a Broadway producer.
Season 4 picked up on the same night of the dramatic events of the Season 3 finale. This time, the victim is Charles’ stunt double, Sazz Pataki (Jane Lynch), who was shot in Charles’ empty apartment. The new mystery pulled the trio to Los Angeles, as they followed a cryptic note Sazz managed to scribble in her blood in her final moments. Once in LA, the trio get wrapped up with a Hollywood studio that is making a film version of their podcast. As they are trying to solve Sazz’s murder, they are constantly shadowed by the actors who had been cast to play them in the movie: Eugene Levy (Charles), Eva Longoria (Mabel), and Zach Galifianakis (Oliver). Longoria, Levy, and Galifianakis all play a version of themselves and hilariously interfere with each step of the investigation with their method acting and shadowing.
The killer was ultimately revealed to be a vengeful ex-stunt double turned screenwriter, Rex. Desperate for success and revenge against his stunt double mentor from years ago, Sazz, Rex murders Sazz to steal the screenplay to Only Murders in the Building that Sazz had written in secret and tries to pass it off as his own. The season ends with Oliver and Loretta tying the knot before Loretta departs to film a movie on site overseas the next day. After bidding goodbye to his new wife, Oliver, Mable, and Charles are thankful that the mystery of Sazz’s death is solved and they can finally take a breather. There’s just one problem: they immediately find the Arcadia’s beloved doorman, Lester, dead in the fountain in the building’s courtyard.
The Arconia itself is more than just a setting; it’s a character in its own right— a grand old building teeming with history, hidden passages, and a rotating cast of quirky residents who are always under suspicion. From the eccentric Howard Morris and his cat (and now pig), Sevelyn, to the overly enthusiastic podcast fans, the building’s residents are as important to the show’s charm as the main trio. As we enter Season 5, these character dynamics and lingering questions about the Arconia’s past are sure to play a crucial role in the new mystery. Get ready to put on your detective hats – the game is officially back on!
What do you think Season 5 has in store? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!
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