“Only Murders in the Building” was a surefire gem from its inception, weaving its comedy, mystery, and touch of flights of fancy together in a way that enchanted audiences. As it evolves into Season 3—with completely fresh episodes—it’s a series that continues to invent new ways yet stays comforting and surprising to audiences. Centered on yet another mysterious case within the Arconia building, the third season brings in a meld of new faces, a twisty plot, and, of course, that same charming trio of amateur sleuths. We now take a deeper dive into the latest season to see what makes it work, plus learn what we may have to look forward to in the future of the show.
A Quick Recap and Introduction
Before we dive more into Season 3, let’s first reminisce about the way this journey started. It first graced our screens in 2021 with its premiere—Only Murders in the Building, Season 1. The viewers were introduced to Charles (Steve Martin), Oliver (Martin Short), and Mabel (Selena Gomez)—three very unlikely friends who share an obsession with true-crime podcasts. The amateur sleuthing that follows launches them into the investigation of a murder in their upscale New York apartment building, the Arconia, and thus begins a series of events that is at once hilarious and thrilling.
While answering the expectation, in season 2, the girls find a new case of murder—an ill-tempered board-building president, Bunny Folger. As more puzzles are unraveled, the connection between our characters deepens, making the series more intriguing and comedic.
Season 3: Things Heat Up
Only Murders in the Building goes right on a streak, with the danger even higher than ever before. Episode one is a shocker, with the murder of the first night of Oliver’s Broadway show. That really tosses our loved trio back into detective mode with the intent of penetrating this maze of a theater world. The murder mystery is so much more complex this time, with so much more red herring and an equally wide list of suspects, that it is guaranteed the audience will be kept guessing up to the last possible moment.
A New Cast of Characters
Season 3 of The Only Murders in the Building is packed with stars. Among the guest stars are iconic actor Paul Rudd, playing a charismatic but enigmatic actor right at the center of the mysteries. The one and only Meryl Streep will also join the cast, playing Loretta Durkin, a veteran actress who had a difficult past. Both actors are so genteel in their copious work that the classy ensemble cast of the show got some requisite sophistication added to it.
Ben, played by Rudd, is a charmingly sinister man, making him a compelling suspect to that murder mystery. And Streep brings her gravitas to the role, which would now shift better balances into the show’s lighter moments and laden-in emotional depth. Their interactions with the core trio are bound to create new dynamics, entertaining, and full of surprises.
Returning cast members bring seniority—Tina Fey as Cinda Canning, the competing podcaster, Michael Cyril Creighton, as Howard Morris, the oddball Arconia resident—compounding layers of humor and intrigue into the unfolding mystery.
Thematic Depth and Character Development
One of the strengths of Only Murders in the Building has always been its character development, and Season 3 is no exception. This season goes deeper into the personal lives of Charles, Oliver, and Mabel—individually battling problems and transforming. Charles is battling with his past relationships and potential new love interest, Oliver is battling to get his failing career back on track, and Mabel is dealing with the fear of not being able to move forward.
These personal plotlines are so beautifully interwoven into the murder mystery; they are the lifesaver of our emotional investment in it. The show is just a masterful juggling of humor, mystery, and drama with ease, so much so that the characters hold so much relatability within the show.
Visuals, Direction, and Style
Only Murders in the Building steps into Season 3 with a faithful visual sense. Arconia, with its Art Deco pretentiousness inside and out, continues to be one more character in and of itself to frame an unfolding drama. The capturing of vibrant colors, stylish camera work, and clever visual cues infuse the storytelling with an immersive experience.
The direction—again, under Jamie Babbit and a similarly strong directors’ corps—is sharp and focused, but the pacing of the season feels about right: one episode rolls right into the other, with each one building on the last, and we only become curious about where the hell this thing is going by the time that last episode runs out.
The humor of Season 3 very much stays in keeping with the unique lane the show built for itself. The verbal give-and-take of Charles, Oliver, and Mabel has remained funny at a priority, and the storytelling device around theater gives the series something new and delightful. Chief among them on that count is Martin Short as Oliver Deception, whose ridiculously overdramatic shtick gives the show some of its best moments this season.
The show then doubles down on these mystery genre conventions to build a further metacommentary around true crime podcasts, amateur detectives, and the art of storytelling. In this manner, what a breath of fresh air Only Murders in the Building really is, can be fully understood.
Laying Down the Building Blocks of Future Seasons
As Season 3 concludes, it sends viewers into a tantalizing cliffhanger that should play the lead premise of Only Murders in the Building Season 4. While a season wrapped up a good mystery, it brought other questions leading to more possible stories in the future. The chemistry of the trio is still strong, and newly introduced characters could hint at exciting developments in the future.
Speculations for the cast of Only Murders in the Building Season 4 are already underway. Fans are eager to learn who among the fresh-faced stars will be joining the stellar ensemble of the series. And, looking at the track record of the show, we can safely assume that Some More impressive names will join this elite cast and throw tons of petrol on the stories of serial killers.
What We Know About Season 4 So Far
While details are still under wraps, Only Murders in the Building Season 4 release is expected in 2024 and is highly anticipated by fans. If we go by the usual release schedule of the show, the new season drops probably in the late summer or early fall of 2024. Creators of the show, Steve Martin and John Hoffman, teased a bit on the themes and ideas they would likely delve into during Season 4, meaning this series will continue evolving while keeping its core tenets.
Building upon this groundwork in its third season, the fourth season will go one step further into the personal lives of its protagonists, involving their friendships, romantic lives, and idiosyncratic struggles. There’s also the potential for a new murder mystery, possibly one that extends beyond the walls of the Arconia, offering a fresh take on the show’s premise.
The Lasting Impact of the Show
Thus, Only Murders in the Building has managed to weave its way into fans’ hearts easily within Season 5, and beyond. A nice melange of comedy and mystery, with enough heart to meld everything together, the series has somehow captured an echo from an imaginary counterpart—one of the more beloved television series of this decade. The high-profile talent from the guest stars to the fresh batch of regular cast members that it draws week after week is illustrative of the sort of quality most can only dream of.
The show rebooted the careers of Steve Martin and Martin Short, into something that surprisingly clicked with great highbrow, sensible, and captivating humor. Selena Gomez holds her own well against these comedy legends, exuding a real likable character.
Only Murders in the Building Season 3 delivers a triumph on every level, from an engaging mystery and scintillating humor right up to heartfelt character beats. The inclusion of newcomers like Paul Rudd and Meryl Streep in the cast is icing on what has already been a show with new and fresh dynamics to deepen the narrative. But there we are, awaiting Only Murders in the Building Season 4, which is supposed to be out in 2024. Surely, this show has hidden layers of mysteries and laughter.
If you’re a fan from the series’ inception or if you’re a newcomer, Season 3 is a must-see that melds suspense, comedy, and enough emotion to really glue viewers to the screen. It’s almost a shame that so many secrets can be held in one building, but one thing is for sure: “Only Murders in the Building” remains one of TV’s most inventive, fun shows around.
