As a fan with a background in media studies and a soft spot for quirky murder mysteries, I must say that “Only Murders in the Building” Season 4 has been an intriguing ride so far. The show’s ability to poke fun at itself while still delivering engaging plotlines is truly commendable.
Contains spoilers for “Only Murders in the Building” Season 4, Episode 3 — “Two for the Road”
In “Two for the Road,” our detective trio divided into three duos to probe the inhabitants of Arconia’s west tower. The suspected assassin of Sazz Pataki, presumably hiding or active in this part of the building, is adjacent to Charles-Haden Savage’s (Steve Martin) residence. However, they’re clueless about who pulled the trigger and the motive behind it. In this investigation, the series boldly acknowledges its own flaws and the boundaries of its central concept.
Essentially, Mabel Mora, portrayed by Selena Gomez, and actress Eva Longoria (playing herself) track down Rudy Thurber, an influencer known for his excessive love of Christmas. It turns out that Rudy is stuck in a miserable predicament; he dislikes Christmas but is bound by his fans’ infatuation with a single viral video, which requires him to continuously produce content related to the holiday season. Despite the financial gains, this constant stream of festive silliness is wearing him down. The show uses Rudy as a means to address a relevant and bold issue: the struggle of being compelled to repeat the same theme endlessly in one’s work.
Despite the fact that it seems highly unlikely for so many people to die in the same building, like in the show “Only Murders in the Building,” we go along with it because the Arconia has been unlucky for four residents and counting. Since the main characters, Mabel, Charles, and Oliver Putnam (played by Martin Short), have promised to focus their podcast on murders only within their own building, the show is centered around this one location. This is one of the show’s quirks that may not make sense, but viewers are willing to overlook these inconsistencies, and the series tries to work within the restrictions it has been given.
The show knows it’s stretching its premise
As a devoted fan, I must acknowledge that “Only Murders in the Building” has truly shaken up the murder-mystery genre in unique ways. From crafting an entirely silent episode from Theo Dimas’ (James Caverly) perspective or structuring much of an episode around flashbacks, this series never shies away from taking risks. Last season, we were even gifted with a full-blown musical production!
The fourth season of this dramedy has undeniably taken a self-referential approach, standing out as the most so far. It delves deep into the challenges of surviving in Hollywood, and even comments on the role of stunt performers, and the lengths actors go to achieve authenticity. If you recall, Season 2 was heavily focused on true crime podcasting, often portraying victims unfairly as mere sources of income for those sharing their stories. On the other hand, Season 3 explores the elaborate facades people construct to make it in Hollywood. Despite operating under tight constraints, “Only Murders in the Building” continues to maintain its bite.
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2024-09-11 14:59