As a seasoned fan of the captivating series, Only Murders in the Building, I must say that the intricate narrative has left me utterly spellbound. With each new episode, the plot twists and turns like a serpent, keeping us on our toes and guessing until the very end.
The story unfolds further with Season 4 of Only Murders in the Building, as the charming threesome consisting of Charles Haden-Savage (Steve Martin), Oliver Putnam (Martin Short), and Mabel Mora (Selena Gomez) are once again embroiled in a murder mystery within their building. This time, they’re probing the death of Sazz Pataki (Jane Lynch), Charles’ longtime friend and stunt double from his hit ’90s crime series Brazzos.
Over the course of the series, our untrained detectives work diligently to uncover the truth behind Sazz’s murder, the motive, and whether or not Charles was the intended target. As they progress, they document their journey and findings in a podcast that mirrors the show’s title. In the second-to-last episode, it appears all secrets are unveiled. However, one can never be too sure…
What Happened to Sazz?
In Season 4, the narrative resumes right from where it ended in Season 3, with the gang rejoicing over solving the murder of Ben Glenroy (Paul Rudd). However, as Sazz ascends to Charles’ apartment to fetch another bottle of wine, a gunshot pierces through the window, striking her and causing immediate death. Later on, when the trio queries about Sazz’s whereabouts, they find no trace of her in the apartment. Yet, they uncover evidence suggesting that Sazz was murdered by examining items discarded in the building’s incinerator. From then on, they start piecing together what they think transpired, but remain clueless about the identity of the perpetrator or their motive.
Because Sazz always looked like Charles, it made people question if he was the actual target instead of her during the incident. Their investigation leads them to California, not only for their encounter with film executives regarding a possible movie based on their lives and podcast, but also to delve deeper into the mystery. As the story progresses, they encounter Glen Stubbins, a man who bears a striking resemblance to Ben and had previously worked as his stunt double. With Ben deceased, Glen is unemployed and resentful that his friend was brutally killed without any resolution or even a body for farewell among the community of stunt doubles.
For providing information, the trio offers Glen a position as a stunt performer in their upcoming film. On a day when he arrives for promotional photo shoots, gunshots are heard and Glen is critically injured by a bullet. He’s left hospitalized, clinging to life. However, the public learns little about his situation after that incident.
In Episode 9, “Escape From Planet Klongo,” the investigators unravel shocking facts. Sazz had been training a secretive young man to be a stunt double. She managed to get him a job in a Ron Howard film that unfortunately didn’t materialize. However, things took a dark turn. The man was dismissed, and Glen stepped in as his substitute. Charles and Oliver discover this from one of Glen’s fellow stunt doubles visiting him at the hospital. This revelation leads them to identify the culprit, and they race against time to alert Mabel since she is currently with the suspect. The need for speed is due to her proximity to the potential killer.
Who Is the Presumed Killer?
Mabel overlooked a message sent by her friends while she was at the fridge, retrieving a beer for her visitor. The item she’d taken from Oliver was a case that Sazz had left at the apartment. Upon opening it, she discovered a pile of papers concealed within. To her surprise, these documents turned out to be the screenplay draft for “Only Murders in the Building,” with Sazz credited as the writer.
She casts a glance towards Marshall P. Pope (Jin Ha), the youthful and passionate screenwriter of the film based on the podcast, and suddenly comprehends the situation. In anger over Sazz’s mistake during the movie production, he secretly took her script and attempted to present it as his own work.
After Mabel discovers that Marshall and Glen were connected, she hastens to the hospital to ensure Glen’s safety. However, she finds the room vacant. A nurse informs her that Glen has passed away. It is later disclosed that Marshall smothered him with a pillow to prevent him from revealing secrets about his past and true identity. Mabel recalls Glen’s friendly greeting towards Marshall upon their film set encounter, noting his familiarity, which she had previously dismissed due to their shared profession in the industry. Now, everything falls into place.
Why Marshall Resented Sazz
Although Marshall’s guilt regarding Sazz’s death hasn’t been explicitly proven, it seems likely that he is the one responsible, unless there’s a surprising plot twist in the final episode. Through flashbacks, we delve deeper into Marshall’s past with Sazz. An intriguing moment occurs when Marshall accidentally hits her with his car while reversing from a parking spot. Instead of being angry, Sazz was impressed by how he handled the impact and took the blow gracefully. Impressed by this young talent, she decides to mentor him as a stunt double, viewing him as a promising protégé. He becomes her first student in what she envisions as a long line of trainees.
On the bustling film set, I’m briefing my co-star on a fiery scene ahead. I guide him through the process of applying a special solution to safeguard against burns. After the cameras roll and the crew extinguishes the flames, I remind him to hold his ground for thirty seconds before rising. This gives the fireproof suit a moment to cool down completely and prevent any potential re-ignition.
In the episode, Marshall seems unwilling to pay attention, and when called upon to extinguish a fire, he hastily approaches Howard who makes a brief appearance. Eager to show his movie script, he hopes that the renowned director might give it a glance. Unfortunately, as he presents it, Marshall’s suit ignites, causing Howard’s eyebrows to be singed off. It’s clear that Marshall’s career in this field has come to an end, and his aspirations of being a screenwriter have been dashed. Most likely, he holds Sazz responsible for this mishap.
What This Means Going Forward
If it turns out that Marshall is the culprit, it implies Charles was never under threat, and the shot was actually meant for Sazz. This revelation brings relief to the trio and allows them to honor Sazz’s memory at last. In her last moments, Sazz demonstrated a strong desire to fulfill her dream of establishing a school for stuntpeople, aiming to foster the best potential among the upcoming generation.
Her writing of the script might further immerse the trio in completing the film, as it provides an opportunity for her to narrate the tale in her unique style. This would also enable them to honor her life by ensuring the studio dedicates the project to her memory. Now, the movie’s significance is greatly expanded.
Without a doubt, “Only Murders in the Building” isn’t afraid to make bold moves in its narrative or delve into unexpected, fantastical turns. Consequently, there’s a strong possibility that Marshall didn’t actually kill Sazz, but instead, he took her script and possibly eliminated Glen to prevent him from revealing his involvement. If this theory holds true, the enigma will persist, and viewers might be in store for another surprising revelation.
On October 29, 2024, episode 10 will air, and fans will find themselves waiting to witness the long-awaited justice for a cherished secondary character, while also bidding farewell to Rudd’s character…once more. As the show has been renewed for season five, it’s highly likely that another death in the Arconia will provide the main investigative trio with yet another grisly case to tackle.
Stream Only Murders in the Building on Hulu.
Read More
Sorry. No data so far.
2024-10-23 00:31