When we last left Only Murders in the Building, Oliver wed the love of his life at the Arconia. Unfortunately, a dead body in the fountain dampened the happy moment. In the new season, the group have another mystery to solve that hits close to home.
The three-episode premiere sets the series on a solid start. “Nail in the Coffin” allows viewers to become reacclimated into this world. It serves as a good reminder of what previously transpired and how that transitions into the next murder to be solved. There are intriguing developments that tease what may come in the future while building upon the mythology of the Arconia.
In addition, the episode introduces some of the new characters for the season. Although Keegan-Michael Key’s character may be the most random since there is no current apparent reason he would show up except to maybe build up the mythos of Lester the doorman and build an aura of mystery around him.
Only Murders in the Building delivers a really moving character piece humanizing the victim with “After You.” It delves into Lester’s origin story on how he came to the Arconia and eventually grew to love the building and its residents. It’s a clever bit of writing weaving several different elements from Lester’s history, his personal interactions during the highs and lows with characters we’ve grown to love, and how he becomes involved in a sketchy business.
Both Teddy Coluca and Emory Cohen, who plays a younger version, are fantastic as Lester capturing the tough New Yorker exterior with a heart of gold. Their empathy and protective nature towards the residents is heartwarming, and overall, the episode paints the picture of great man. It’s also entertaining to see the different characters through time including those who are no longer with us and reliving key moments from the series from his perspective.
“Rigor” may be the weakest of the three. It moves at a slower pace as our trio methodically search for clues. There is a bizarre running gimmick of a dead corpse talking and interacting with Charles. It’s played for laughs and speaks to Charles’s mental state and fear of dying alone. Plus, you don’t cast a named actor for a role just to play a dead body. Still, the bit runs too long. Despite its limitations, at least the episode can ride on the coattails of the previous two. It might be a down week if released on its own considering the lack of significant developments until the very end.
The season five of Only Murders in the Building has a solid start building a strong foundation around the mystery while also delivering a moving character spotlight on the latest victim.
New episodes of Only Murders in the Building release Tuesdays on Hulu.
You must be logged in to post a comment.