One Only Murders in the Building Theory Will Change Season 4 for Viewers

One Only Murders in the Building Theory Will Change Season 4 for Viewers

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  • Suspicious Coincidences and Convenient Plot Devices in Only Murders in the Building
  • How Did They Pull It Off (and How Plausible Is It?)

As someone who has been around the block a few times in the world of showbiz, let me tell you, this theory about Sazz’s death and the studio orchestrating a real-life murder for research is quite intriguing indeed! Now, I ain’t no detective like our dear Charles, Oliver, and Mabel, but it does seem plausible that Hollywood would go to such lengths to capture the authenticity of an investigation on screen.


Summer has arrived, and with it comes a familiar scenario: another corpse has been discovered in the Arconia. The fourth season premiere of “Only Murders in the Building” was nothing short of explosive, introducing yet another murder victim. This time, the unfortunate soul is Sazz Pataki, a doppelganger for Charles who happens to be played by Jane Lynch. Any free time that Charles, Oliver, and Mabel had previously enjoyed is now a thing of the past.

In each season, we typically encounter a fresh murder case, but this time it feels unusual. A couple of potential suspects have emerged, yet none appear convincing. Additionally, the facts surrounding Sazz’s demise seem oddly arranged. Could there be hidden factors influencing events that the trio and we are unaware of? As one Reddit theory suggests, additional elements may be driving the narrative. These could be connected to the movie adaptation of their podcast, Charles, Oliver, and Mabel’s. However, it remains unclear who is manipulating the situation and for what reason. Let’s explore some theories that propose there might be more to the story concerning the trio’s fourth murder case.

Read Our Season 4 Review

The Only Murders in the Building Conspiracy Theory

One Only Murders in the Building Theory Will Change Season 4 for ViewersOne Only Murders in the Building Theory Will Change Season 4 for ViewersOne Only Murders in the Building Theory Will Change Season 4 for Viewers

In a foreseeable manner, the third season finale of “Only Murders in the Building” saw Charles, Oliver, and Mabel unraveling Ben Glenroy’s murder case. They were all set for a much-needed respite from detective work. However, their break was abruptly interrupted when Sazz was shot right inside Charles’ apartment. The setting and the fact that it was dark and Sazz was dressed similarly to Charles suggest him as the likely target of the attack.

Instead of finding the body right away during this season, the three characters don’t stumble upon it until they get back to Charles’ place following the latest murder investigation celebration. By then, Sazz’s body had been taken away. Intriguingly, some plot conveniences come into play. Upon their arrival, Howard, a friend and neighbor, enters with his new rescue dog that starts pacing and barking at the spot where Sazz fell. Unfortunately, they can’t investigate further because an email arrives inviting them to Los Angeles for talks about turning the podcast into a film.

As a movie enthusiast, I can’t help but ponder an intriguing theory. Reddit user u/Formal-Technical poses a fascinating question: What if the studio is orchestrating this real-life murder as a source of inspiration for the film’s storyline? The coincidences in this case are too numerous to ignore, coming from left field as they do.

Charles stumbles upon the fact that Sazz is missing, after coincidentally running into Scott Bakula. Remarkably, Jane Lynch seems to share resemblances with both Steve Martin and Scott Bakula. This piece of information leads them to her apartment, where Mabel receives a message from Howard stating that his canine companion is trained for detecting corpses. Simultaneously, Charles gets a call from their building’s doorman about a bullet hole in his window, while an unidentified person sends him a menacing text using Sazz’s phone. Upon returning to the Arconia, Howard’s dog locates Sazz’s ashes in the basement incinerator, which Charles recognizes due to her Bulgarian prosthetic joints (a detail that was previously disclosed during their apartment search). Indeed, this plotline seems quite grim for a comedy.

Suspicious Coincidences and Convenient Plot Devices in Only Murders in the Building

One Only Murders in the Building Theory Will Change Season 4 for ViewersOne Only Murders in the Building Theory Will Change Season 4 for ViewersOne Only Murders in the Building Theory Will Change Season 4 for Viewers

It’s highly improbable that all these occurrences happen concurrently without any underlying plot device guiding the narrative. The coincidences persist even in Episode 1, as the original murderer of the series, Jan, manages to escape prison to meet Charles in the second episode. For this theory to hold water, Sazz must have been involved. Although she appears to be dead at the end of season 3, there’s no clear evidence of her demise. Howard also seems to play a part in the plot, as he discloses his dog’s unique role at a critical moment.

But why do all this? It all comes back to Hollywood. Rather than recreating an old case, what if the studio got to observe the process in real-time? They could set up everything surrounding Sazz’s death to look like a real murder, then sit back and watch as the trio solves it using the skills they’ve acquired over the last three years. Take that process, put it on the screen, and there you go. Movie magic. But what about the actors? Eugene Levy, Eva Longoria, and Zach Galifianakis were cast as our trio in the film. If the studio is just going to secretly film Charles, Oliver, and Mabel, then why do they need actors? It’s possible they’re not actually secretly filming and will just reenact the events later with the actors. Or maybe they are filming the trio, and the actors are just there as a distraction. Producer Bev Melon is confident that the movie will be out in just a few months, which seems to suggest they’re already well into filming.

How Did They Pull It Off (and How Plausible Is It?)

One Only Murders in the Building Theory Will Change Season 4 for ViewersOne Only Murders in the Building Theory Will Change Season 4 for ViewersOne Only Murders in the Building Theory Will Change Season 4 for Viewers

If the theory holds, then it appears Sazz might not be truly deceased. Given her profession as a stuntperson, there’s a strong possibility that her death could have been faked for a storyline. Her character has shown inconsistencies this season, like hinting at secret information about someone threatening Charles within the Arconia. While she is an old friend of his, these actions seem unusual for someone who was just comic relief and not involved in any serious research. Therefore, it’s plausible that Sazz may have been taken to a hidden location after being wounded by the bullet.

Other Redditors have mentioned that a standard incinerator might not reach the temperature necessary to turn human bones into powder, which is a different, disquieting step during cremation. However, Sazz was composed of sand, and this may raise questions about whether she was ever truly inside the incinerator. No one witnessed her being shot “dead” in Charles’ kitchen, nor did anyone see her body transported to the basement. It’s plausible that she was indeed shot, but only enough to leave traces of her blood behind. By sending ambiguous messages and employing a “cadaver” dog, an intricately planned Hollywood-style murder could have been orchestrated flawlessly.

It seems this theory has some valid points, but it also raises questions. For instance, why would the studio go through such an intricate process of staging a murder for research? That’s quite complex and risky, especially considering the number of insiders who might be involved. The detectives, Charles, Oliver, and Mabel, are skilled professionals who can spot anomalies in an investigation. What if they uncover the staged case and fail to solve it? Why not just remake one of their past cases instead? It would make more sense to do so. Perhaps, it might be better for the trio to move into a building less prone to murders. By the way, you can watch “Only Murders in the Building” on Hulu.

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2024-09-07 03:31