How Only Murders in the Buildings Season 4 Finale Sets up Season 5

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As a devoted fan of “Only Murders in the Building,” I’ve been captivated by the intricate web of stories and characters that Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez have woven together so beautifully. Each episode is a delightful blend of humor, suspense, and emotional depth, but it’s the subtle foreshadowing that truly sets this series apart.

This season of “Only Murders in the Building” has concluded. The trio consisting of Mabel (played by Selena Gomez), Charles (Steven Martin), and Oliver (Martin Short) found themselves unraveling more than just the death of Sazz Pataki, Charles’ stuntwoman (portrayed by Jane Lynch). They also delved into the mystery surrounding Professor Milton Dudenoff, figured out that their first season’s antagonist is still lurking, witnessed Oliver’s marriage to Loretta (Meryl Streep), and learned about an upcoming movie based on them starring Eugene Levy, Eva Longoria, and Zach Galifianakis as fictionalized versions of the real-life true-crime podcasters.

Despite their packed schedules, the team shows no signs of retiring from their investigative pursuits. When Season 5 was already announced while Season 4 hadn’t even premiered, there was a belief that some elements of the upcoming season would be introduced in Season 4, and this prediction held true. Similar to past seasons of “Only Murders in the Building,” we now know who Mabel, Charles, and Oliver will be seeking justice for when they reappear next season, and it promises to be an emotionally charged journey. Here are six ways the Season 4 finale lays the groundwork for Season 5, covering both the murder that the trio will tackle and a potential suspect.

Warning: Spoilers ahead for Only Murders in the Building Season 4, Episode 10

6 Charles Foreshadows Another Murder

At the beginning of the episode, it’s hinted that an event will unfold before its end. Charles and Oliver are aware of the person responsible for Sazz’s death, and while attempting to reach Mabel via text to share this information, Charles points out that once they solve one murder, another one often follows, a grim reality they unfortunately face.

Without Charles explicitly saying so, it was clear to fans that something ominous was going to happen by the end of the episode, given the early renewal for Season 5. This certainty was further strengthened by the fact that previous seasons ended with a death. As a result, Charles’s statement took on an eerie and portentous quality.

5 Oliver’s Concern About His Bride

Throughout the entire final episode, Oliver is on edge due to his anxiety about potential mishaps during his wedding. He frequently expresses his concern for Loretta’s well-being, particularly after Charles reminds him of the possibility of another murder given their history. Since Charles points out that it often involves someone they know, Oliver becomes convinced that the person who has been pursuing them since Season 1 might be trying to spoil his happiness on this special occasion.

In a slightly different twist, it wasn’t the same “L”-named character who met a tragic end, but rather the one whose story unfolds in Season 5 appears to be an older individual whose name starts with the letter ‘L’, and there seems to be a significant event involving murder that takes place on his wedding day.

4 Who Is Nicky “The Neck” Caccimelio?

In the ninth episode of Season 4, a casual remark on TV introduces viewers to Nicky “The Neck” Caccimelio, who is known as the king of dry cleaning in Brooklyn. However, mysteriously, he has vanished without a clue. Initially, it seemed like an unrelated detail, but his reappearance in the season finale suggests that he might significantly influence Season 5’s plotline.

After leaving Oliver’s wedding, Mabel and Charles encounter Sophia Caccimelio (Téa Leoni), who is seeking their aid in locating her husband. When they explain that they focus solely on cases within the building, she makes it clear that Nicky’s disappearance is connected to both him and the Arconia, saying, “The incident involving Nicky is closely tied to this very building.

Although it’s unclear if a dry cleaning business owner, who could potentially oversee laundry beyond linens, has anything to do with the structure, this setup promises intrigue for Season 5. Could he have played a role in Lester’s death? The answer lies in the unfolding of events.

3 Charles Shuts Down Lester’s Story

It’s probably not shocking to fans of “Only Murders in the Building” that Charles swiftly dismissed Lester, the Arconia’s doorman, when he attempted to recount a story about his wedding in the courtyard to the actor from Brazzos. Despite the fact that Charles and Oliver were busy trying to rescue Mabel from Marshall/Rex in another intriguing series twist, they might have taken a moment to listen to Lester’s tale.

In most instances, Lester’s tales are abruptly ended by the primary characters when he attempts to disclose aspects of his life and the wisdom amassed from his job at the building. It seemed appropriate that even his final narrative was truncated in a similar manner. One wonders if his stories concealed the truth about his circumstances, as there was nobody present who could listen, given that the podcasting trio chose not to.

2 Lester Describes His Courtyard Wedding

In his last on-screen moments, Lester recounts to Charles the story of his own wedding held in the Arconia’s courtyard. He describes a midnight ceremony under the stars with the fountain as their solitary witness. This setting, though beautiful, eerily foreshadows the tragic events that will unfold in the same courtyard years later, as Lester is killed during his wedding night and found floating in the fountain the next day by the podcast team.

In a poignant twist, the place where his happiest moment transpired, ultimately marked the end of his journey. By describing the significance of the fountain to him, Lester subtly foreshadowed its profound importance in his narrative.

1 There Are Throwaway Comments About Lester

During the episode, numerous casual remarks seem to subtly criticize Lester, building anticipation for the emotional climax in the last scene. When Sophia attempts to recruit Charles and Mabel, she mentions that she approached their apartments only because no doorman was available to prevent her, implying Lester might have been occupied at the wedding since he was a guest, so he can be excused there.

Oliver makes a passing comment in the episode that Lester is always letting murderers into the Arconia. It’s both a dig at his abilities as the doorman, especially because Oliver says it to his face, but it could be foreshadowing how Lester died. Did he let his own murderer into the building, unknowingly giving them access to him? Did the murderer slip in while Lester was at the wedding? The chances are high we will find out as they work to solve his murder next season. If you weren’t already watching Only Murders in the Building, justice for Lester is reason enough to start watching now and get caught up.

All of
Only Murders in the Building
Season 4 is available to watch now on Hulu.

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2024-10-31 04:01