It makes sense that Only Murders in the Building (Disney+) would have had the decency to end its first season on a good old fashioned cliffhanger. The meta-murder mystery was a stylish charm that combined a meaty crime plot, New York curmudgeon appeal, good physical comedy (watching Steve Martin roll around in an elevator for half an hour is a total delight), and sly self-awareness, all that he made a classy debut. Sure, Charles, Oliver, and Mabel solved the key mysteries of the first season and scored a successful podcast, but, as Mabel noted, "there were still a couple of loose ends" to tie up.
This second season, not quite as finely balanced as the first but still a lot of fun, tugs at those loose ends until they're undone, and then undoes them more. We now know who killed Tim Kono, but as the trio celebrated saving Arconia, they found Mabel holding a knitting needle and covered in blood, floating over the body of the poor "cranky old bitch" and outgoing president of the Arconia building, Bunny Folger. Naturally, the police are strict about the fact that as "persons of interest" in Bunny's murder, they are not to podcast about it. But murder is their hobby, not like that, obviously, and they like real crime, so it's not long before they're in as the Hardy Boys, round two.
Creators: John Hoffman, Steve Martin
Stars: Steve Martin, Martin Short, Selena Gomez
There's a lot more going on here than in the first season, which is saying something. Only Murders is a multi-layered cake, a sensational finale to Bake Off, and this second season adds level after level. Now Charles, Oliver and Mabel are investigating a murder in which one of them is implicated. Mabel becomes internet famous and is nicknamed Bloody Mabel, which leads to some interesting riffs on notoriety (and she reminded me of the much missed Search Party).
At the same time, Cinda Canning (Tina Fey) is back, doing a podcast about podcasters, called Only Murderers in the Building. Amy Schumer then takes over Sting's old apartment and offers the chance for a small screen dramatization of the original podcast. "I want to have all the prestige," she tells Oliver. Its release isn't the only TV show within a TV show. There are flashbacks and period episodes, and yet, there is room for antics involving a knife. Like I said, a lot of things are happening.
Outside of all the clever moments and arc meta-ness to it all, the plot thickens in other ways. Our central trio have lives and relationships far removed from each other and outside of Arconia. Charles returns to his acting career and we find out more about his family, past and present. Martin Short continues to strut his stuff as the fabulously narcissistic Oliver, but we also get more of his family. And Mabel (who knew Selena Gomez was that deadpan and that good?) finds herself drawn into the Bushwick art scene and a possible relationship with a stylish English poseur, played with aplomb by Cara Delevingne.
Her guest stars are still as impressive as ever. Fey is brilliant as Cinda Canning, as is Schumer as Schumer. There's also room for the legendary Shirley MacLaine, who shows up with a very specific cocktail order and sporting Iris Apfel-esque glasses, and many other A-list actors whose appearances are so often a surprise that saying who they're playing would spoil the conversation. fun.
The best episode of the six I've seen focuses on Bunny Folger's last day, and it's also the simplest in terms of plot and requires the least amount of time. Putting the art world into the story makes it an easy target when it comes to satire, and as with the generational comedy Only Murders, it can be slightly obvious.
Sometimes, though, all you need is obvious: Charles's attempts to dictate a text from his own phone made me laugh out loud, as did his attempts to decipher two people under 30 who they talk to each other. "It's like he's watching Squid Games without subtitles," he complains. The brilliant thing about this show is that you want to solve the mystery as if it were a thriller, but you get all the pleasure that it is also a comedy. “Second seasons are tough,” Oliver says, early in the run, speaking about the podcast. If he's offering a preemptive apology, he doesn't need to. I'd bet a box of Gut Milk that Only Murders will keep control of viewers until the very end.
Watch Only Murders in the Building 2022 Tv Series Trailer
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