Yahoo News ‘Only Murders in the Building’ Season 3 Shines Because Cracking the Case Wasn’t That Hard
[Editor’s Note: The following review contains spoilers for “Only Murders in the Building” Season 3, Episode 10, “Opening Night.”]
If you’ll allow a dreadful detective a brief moment to savor his sagacity: I absolutely called the cookie thing.
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Yes, technically, the poisoned Schmackary’s pastry was part of the penultimate episode’s big reveal — when the murder board’s accusatory tacks jumped from Loretta (Meryl Streep) to Donna (Linda Emond) — but it also bears weight for the finale’s last twist and helps explain how well said twist lands with viewers. (Plus, I’m terrible at solving mysteries and finally got one right, so give me a minute of pride.)
Back when we first saw the recording of Ben Glenroy (Paul Rudd) talking to an offscreen someone (or something), his chosen words sounded a little too particular. “I want you so fucking bad,” he says, “but we both know you’ll ruin my career.” Based only on his few choice scenes in the premiere, what does Ben want? Cookies. (“They’re a weakness,” his brother says.) What can’t he have? Also, cookies. (He’s on a “very strict diet” for “Cobro.”) And what does he have an inappropriate, borderline sensual relationship with? Yup, it’s still cookies. (When told before the first table read that the pile of cookies are from Schmackary’s, he groans and says, “God, even the name is sexy” — an opinion so strange I doubt it’s even been held by Schmackary’s founder, Zachary Schmahl).
From identifying Ben’s mystery guest as a cookie, it’s only a short stroll downstage to reach Season 3’s ending. We know Ben was poisoned, so the cookie makes for a logical delivery device. We know who didn’t give him the cookie, based on process of elimination, and we know two attempts were made on Ben’s life that night. (The toxic treat didn’t take, but the elevator fall did.) Thematically, it makes sense for a mother to be involved — given the emphasis on Loretta’s secret relationship with Dickie (Jeremy Shamos), as well as the mystery driving the in-story musical, “Death Razzle Dazzle” — and with Streep’s rising star out of the running, Donna becomes our prime suspect. She handled attempt No. 1 (hoping to keep Ben off the stage, since the theater critic panned his performance), before unwittingly leaving her son, Cliff (Wesley Taylor), to finish the job.
Toss in a few TV-centric tells — the killer isn’t going to be another one of the main trio’s love interests, nor is it going to be a barely involved side character — and the actual murderer in “Only Murders” clicks into place with ease. Am I saying I knew it all along? Of course not. Rarely do I even bother with predictions, since the rush I get from seeing a well-told story play out is far greater than what I feel when correctly guessing what will happen next. But for those invested in such pursuits, for the armchair detectives out there, tying clues together week by week, episode by episode, I suspect Season 3’s mystery wasn’t too tricky. Maybe you didn’t have all the pieces (even our podcasting trio relies on key details from the killers), but you likely weren’t stunned, jaw on the floor, when Cliff confessed.
And that’s… OK! It’s more than OK, really. It’s for the best. “Only Murders in the Building” Season 3 was actually better than its previous entry (and on par with its debut) because it was built around a relatively simple whodunnit. Perhaps showrunner John Hoffman decided to write it that way in response to Season 2’s somewhat convoluted puzzle, but I prefer to believe he recognized the opportunity in front of him with Meryl Streep and Paul Rudd joining the cast. Here are two cherished stars, joining a trio of already beloved series regulars (in Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez), for one season of TV. Quite simply, you have to make the most of it — and Season 3 does exactly that.
The finale, “Opening Night,” makes room for [deep breath]: Martin’s patter earworm, “Which of the Pickwick Triplets Did It?”, even after delivering his full rendition two episodes prior; Short’s stage debut, as Charles subs for an actor left loopy by “the leading man cocktail”; Rudd’s comedic duet alongside Streep, who sings not one but two numbers herself (and the way she hits “mama bear” in the closer is divine); Matthew Broderick’s delicious haterade, as he and Uma (Jackie Hoffman) hope to see their shared nemeses’ break far worse than a leg (though the biggest laugh comes from Broderick admitting Charles nails his part: “Didn’t the constable die three scenes ago?” Uma asks, when she spots Charles, out of character, dashing across the stage. “Yes, but that’s exactly how a Nova Scotian constable would run!” Broderick replies.)
Toss in Mabel’s dry zingers (“That’s why they call us The Rolling Stones of true crime”), Short’s scenery gnashing (just watching him devour that dip is comedy gold), and a solid tease for Season 4 (RIP Sazz?!), and there’s simply too much good stuff to list it all. Oh! Rudd eating the cookie! What incredible commitment– OK, OK, we don’t have room to get into it, but “Only Murders” Season 3 does. By keeping the murder plot easy to understand (the producers killed their lead to protect the show… and each other) there was plenty of time for the cast to strut their stuff. There was more time for over-the-top props, like Ben’s insane movie memorabilia, more time for music and costumes, more time on stage and off, more time for incredible lines like, “How do you call the cops? Do you just Google ‘cops’?”
As a murder-mystery, meta comedy, podcast spoof, and actors’ showcase, “Only Murders in the Building” is a seemingly impossible combination of genres. Choosing how to divide its time is essential to its success, and Season 3 chose very, very well. Even brilliant detectives — aka everyone, when compared to yours truly — can’t complain about more Meryl Streep.
“Only Murders in the Building” Season 3 is available on Hulu. Season 4 has been renewed.
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