‘Only Murders in the Building’ Finale Set Up a Brutal Fifth Season: Who Is the Killer?

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As a gamer who’s spent countless hours solving mysteries in video games like “Detective Grimoire” and “Whodunit Mansion”, I can confidently say that the murder of Lester, our dear doorman at the Arconia, has got me hooked once again. The suspect list is as intriguing as ever, with familiar faces like Uma Heller, Howard Morris, and even a possible return from Jan Bellows.

[This story contains major spoilers from the Only Murders in the Building season four finale.]

Finally, it’s clear who ended up murdering Sazz Pataki, along with the motive. Regrettably, there’s no room for celebration, as another corpse fell by the close of this last season of Only Murders in the Building.

At the end of season four, it was disclosed that Marshall P. Pope, previously a stuntman for Jin Ha, had become a writer and was the one who shot and killed Sazz (portrayed by Jane Lynch) in the previous season. His motivation? Stealing her screenplay about the Arconia’s leading trio to pass it off as his own. Released following the 2023 Writers Guild strike, Pope’s character as a killer serves as a critique of the influence of writing and the extreme measures some take to suppress creativity, while also paying tribute to unsung heroes in the industry like stunt workers.

The significance of Pope’s actions became clear in the second-to-last episode, which is typical in the narrative structure of “Only Murders.” Typically, this is followed by a surprising revelation in the final episode. But this year, things were different; Pope was the murderer and he acted alone. The case has been solved, with a straightforward resolution.

The murder scenario for the fifth season is significantly intricate, as revealed at the end of the fourth season. In the final moments, characters Charles (portrayed by Steve Martin), Oliver (Martin Short), and Mabel (Selena Gomez) stroll through Arconia’s courtyard and come across a deceased individual, Lester – the long-time doorman – lying just outside the building. Actor Teddy Coluca played this role. The episode concludes with the trio outside, visibly distressed while calling for help, with Lester’s lifeless body leaking blood into a fountain tainted with red water. This gory scene is quite intense in terms of violence for Only Murders, hinting at an engaging investigation that will likely unfold in season five.

In essence, who do you think might have murdered Lester? Since this inquiry is always relevant from the start, it’s a good time to begin mapping out potential suspects for our murder investigation. As we approach season five, let’s consider some prominent figures and preliminarily list them (and possibly strike them off) as possible culprits. Some possibilities could be:

In season four, Amy Ryan’s character, the serial killer introduced in season one, committed another murder. This marks a rare instance of multiple killings within the same season in the building. However, after fatally shooting Marshall P. Pope from afar, Jan was quickly apprehended by the police again. Some might find it hard to believe that she could have escaped them and still managed to kill Lester. Yet, given that this is the only living character on the show who has previously shown a liking for murder, it seems unwise to dismiss her entirely as a suspect. Moreover, in her last interaction in season four, Jan told Charles, “You and I are endgame!

Cinda Canning: Tina Fey’s podcaster was completely absent from season four. Back in season two, she was the likeliest suspect on the board heading into the finale, only for it to be revealed that her protégé Poppy was the actual killer. After a full season on ice, could Cinda return to finally put her murder money where her murder mouth is? We still need to find out who the Moriarity of Only Murders in the Building is, and Cinda is as good as suspect as any in that regard.

Jackie Hoffman’s curly-haired neighbor from the Arconia, Uma, seems like our strongest suspect so far. She’s been a resident of the building as long as any other character we know on the show, and she has clear animosity towards Charles, Oliver, and Mabel. It could be argued that the podcast investigation in the first season ultimately led to her friend Bunny (Jayne Houdyshell) being killed in the season finale. If there’s one Arconia resident who might have a motive to want those three characters dead, it’s Uma. The question remains, what could Uma possibly have against Lester? That’s the big enigma…

Here’s another perspective regarding a resident of Arconia worth considering: Howard, portrayed by Michael Cyril Creighton. Despite being a regular throughout the series, he was scarcely involved in season four events. Given his long-standing presence in the show, Howard is someone who should always be under suspicion. He was one of the initial suspects way back in season one and until proven otherwise, he should continue to be viewed as such, given the ongoing mystery of a potential “Moriarty” within the building. However, if Howard turns out to be a murderer, it would mean that he may have also been responsible for his own cat’s demise during season one, which would mark a significant shift in his character – perhaps even darker than killing Lester. But, the true extent of Howard’s past actions remains to be seen, considering any secrets the late doorman might have harbored…>

Who do you think killed Lester?

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You can now watch the complete season of “Only Murders in the Building” on Hulu. Check out the interview with the showrunner, John Hoffman, about the season four finale on THR’s platform.

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2024-10-29 19:55