Last season’s Only Murders in the Building ended with a huge cliffhanger.
The mystery surrounding Tim Kono’s murder was solved. Mabel is found with the newly murdered president of The Arconia. This raises important questions like “Has Mabel been a psychokiller all along?” The Only Murders team must use their newfound expertise to solve another mystery and exonerate another. Although the first eight episodes preserve much of the success of the first season, Only Murders expands its reach by adding more characters and cases.
Only Murders in the Building’s greatest mystery remains “how did we get this long without Selena Gomez teamed with Steve Martin and Martin Short?”
This season’s highlight was the show’s lovable, irresistible chemistry between the three leads. Martin and Short’s barbs at one another — fuelled by their longstanding friendship — are always inventive and sharp. Gomez’s dry, modern humor contrasts well with their bickering. Mabel, Charles and Oliver are less reliable in their dramatic performances, but the trio is still hilarious. Mabel’s hazy memory of Bunny’s death ties in to emotional trauma she is dealing with. Only Murders cleverly incorporates this into the show’s texture, such as Mabel seeing these struggles as pieces of an overturned puzzle. This is how Oliver’s penchant to deduction is illustrated in Only Murders. A stylish sequence that flits back and forth between Oliver’s imagination and an impromptu interview gives Short the opportunity to channel brilliance while also being funny, goes double for the way that Only Murders uses it. Charles’ storyline(s), which include a Brazzos reboot and a reunion with his stepdaughter Lucy (Amy Ryan), as well as his lingering feelings towards Jan (Short), prove too complicated for either of them to find particularly interesting. It’s difficult to feel sorry for Charles in Jan’s subplot. While it is clear that the writers want us sympathize with his loneliness, their relationship doesn’t have enough nuance to make Charles returning to her believable.
Only Murders in the Building’s inaugural season was a response to the growing popularity of true crime podcasts.
It used successful shows like Serial as a source of inside jokes and dramatic structure. However, the second season follows that trend but with diminishing returns. Although the first few episodes of Only Murders’ second season are funny, the meta bit wears out quickly. The second season’s structure is just not able to capture the magic of the first, much like true crime podcasts. There are threads that were established in the first episodes, such as Amy Schumer’s (Amy Schumer), interest in converting Only Murders into an actual TV series (metameta!). These elements are mostly ignored throughout the season. It is likely that they will be reintroduced in the final two episodes later this summer. Bunny Folger’s murder remains the most important and urgent question. Mabel is now on trial for the crime. This is the only topic that all three of them have an emotional stake in.
Only Murders gives more time to returning characters and new supporting characters this season, which is a double-edged knife. Episode 3, “The Last Day of Bunny Folger,” stands out among the eight episodes. It is a touching portrait of Bunny Folger’s toughness, dignity, and a showcase of Jayne Houdyshell, which effectively synchronizes both character and audience sympathy. Bunny’s passing does bring Leonora, her mother, into the mix. Although Shirley MacLaine is only one episode in, it will not surprise that she is a great scene-stealer. MacLaine’s humorous summary of Charles’ beloved Brazzos, which she calls “an excellent show for having on in the background while your’re dying”, should give you an idea of what to expect. Given how closely the Folgers are tied to the larger Arconia history mystery it is clear that MacLaine will be returning to lend her story some gravitas.
What actor has starred in a previous Only Murders episode? Would you like to be a guest star in Season 3 of this show?
Leonora Folger aside. Most of the new characters fail to make an impact. Cara Delevingne introduces Alice, the gallery owner, as a possible love interest for Mabel. However, Delevigne’s arrogant delivery makes it difficult to determine how or whether she is involved in Bunny’s murder. Michael Rapaport’s Detective Kreps is a suspect NYPD detective, whose motives are confusingly unclear. The only murders crew had a lot of red herrings last season, partly due to their inexperience as investigators. This time the curveballs feel more organic and connected to the plot.
Verdict
The Arconia’s are as dangerous and full with secrets as ever in Only Murders in the Building season 2, but the many mysteries the team has in store for them going into the final episodes of Only Murders in the Building leave the middle of the season feeling bloated and aimless. The journey of a story is more than the destination. But whodunnits carry an extra weight of expectation about who has actually dunit. This makes it difficult to score Only Murders’ second series. They must finish the episodes just before the end of the first two episodes. The chemistry between the three leads remains a highlight, and Bunny Folger’s murder is a strong enough thread to anchor Only Murders 2 through its second slump.
