This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the work being covered here wouldn’t exist.
After the last episode, Only Murders in the Building received two more suspects in the murder of Ben Glenroy. During a stakeout, Mabel and Tobert notice Ben’s understudy, Jonathan, acting shady with a known associate of Glenroy. More surprising is when Oliver comes upon a scrapbook capturing Loretta’s unhealthy obsession with the play’s male lead. Could Oliver be romantically involved with a murderer? It’s happened before on the show with Charles.
“Ghost Light” does an excellent developing the inner turmoil between the main trio. It begins with Oliver slowly coming to the realization that his girlfriend could be the killer. Martin Short conveys Oliver’s conflicted nature, heartbreak, and state of denial even as he puts the clues together. However, in the end, he chooses love and purposely sabotages their investigation. He also says hurtful things towards his friends spurring the group’s break up.
The drama behind disbanding the Only Murders in the Building team is further enhanced by Howard’s powerful monolog trying to appease the ghost haunting the theater. The two scenes run in parallel building to a crescendo timed with the break up. In addition, Howard’s entire subplot allows us to spend some time with the minor character to get to know him better while also showing a softer side to the grumpy stage manager K.T. She is willing to humor Howard and fully commits to directing him on stage.
Maybe Oliver chose love instead of his friends by observing Charles’s behavior after his breakup. The Brazzos star is a bit unhinged and resorts to carrying around his pet fish, President McKinley since it’s all he has left of Joy. Charles’s storyline is mixed with some amusing parts with literal toilet humor, but the character’s dissent can be too much. The exaggerated nature is part of the point, but it could still have benefitted from a little restraint and pulling back.
Only Murders in the Building follows its typical suspect of the week format as it investigates Jonathan. Once again there is a logical and believable explanation for his behavior. What’s more intriguing is playing up Loretta as the killer. We have the mixed emotions of Oliver as he explores on his owns, but the fact that she isn’t eliminated as a suspect after one episode plays up her greater overall importance and higher stakes. Factor in that Oliver picks a side and there can only be more drama in the future.
This week’s episode has amusing, albeit sometimes too silly, moments, but it’s the falling out between the main trio and a further push towards a primary suspect that stands out.
New episodes of Only Murders in the Building are released Tuesdays on Hulu.
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