Only Murders in the Building took the world by storm in August 2021. Almost two years later, the second season is out, and the third is highly awaited by many fans worldwide. The Emmy-awarded comedy and detective show, including Best Comedy Series, is fun and modern, as it tackles the obsession with true crime that started with podcasts.
An unlikely trio composed of a young artist called Mabel (Selena Gomez), a struggling theater director Oliver (Martin Short), and a solitary former successful actor Charles (Steve Martin) live in the same building in New York, the Arconia, and couldn't be more different. Their shared passion brings them together: All Is Not OK in Oklahoma, a true-crime podcast. However, this is only the beginning, as an apparent suicide case in the Arconia is a lot more intricate, and they think they are the only ones who can figure out who the murderer is.
Only Murders in the Building Season 2 ended with many answers and created new questions. Here's what happened in the finale and what is known of the new season.
Season Two Murder Mystery
As with any good murder mystery, Only Murders in the Building has many plot twists throughout its episodes. From characters the audience and leading trio thought they could trust to be revealed as one of the bad guys to new evidence being brought to light — this is one of the genre's best parts of the stories. They should feel unpredictable but, at the same time, make sense of the information shown in earlier moments. Nevertheless, sometimes there are so many twists and turns that it is hard to keep track. And that includes the ending of Season 2.
The trio makes an elaborate scheme to solve who was Bunny's (Jayne Houdyshell) killer. They accused Cinda Canning (Tina Fey) of doing it for the new season of her podcast, All Is Not OK in Oklahoma. Cinda convinces Mabel she didn't do it, so the young woman accuses Alice (Cara Delivigne), her girlfriend. Alice tries to stab Mabel and hits Charles. After calling the cops and an ambulance, Canning praises Mabel for her detective instincts and invites her to work with her, even having her podcast — which makes Poppy White (Adina Verson), her assistant, furious. In a speech about what Mabel did wasn't impressive, White can't stop sneezing (like the killer did the night of the murder) and gives herself away with info. Trying to cover it up, she is surprised: the trio and her boss knew she was the murderer — and Charles is alive. "It was all theater," as the character explained.
White, whose real name was Becky Butler, is the missing girl that was investigated in Canning's podcast. She fabricated her disappearance. It all boils down to the need to feel validated and a certain level of fame. She and Detective Kreps (Michael Rapaport), who was in love with her, planned Bunny's murder to help both of their careers. Butler would have a crime podcast of her own covering the case, and he would lead the investigation. It was a big shock to the audience and the characters, as many felt sorry for how Becky was treated throughout the seasons. "I just wanted to make a good podcast. I just wanted Cinda to notice me," the character tried to explain.
Season Two Cliffhanger
However, the shocking reveal of the murderer and why they did it is not the only important element of the Only Murders in the Building finale. With a new season on the way, Mabel, Charles, and Oliver couldn't simply return to their everyday lives, as suggested for a few moments in the finale. Surprisingly, there was a one-year time jump between them solving the murder and what appears next: Oliver's new play opening night, which Charles stars in. The trio became close because of their passion and personal involvement in solving murders. Nevertheless, their friendship did evolve to mean more to them than that. But it wouldn't be a new season of the show without a murder case to be solved.
In the finale's final scene, an arrogant actor Ben Glenroy, played by no other than Paul Rudd, gets on stage. However, this is Only Murders in the Building; there is no such thing as a calm and normal night. Glenroy starts his opening lines when he suddenly stops. The actor collapses, and blood comes out of his mouth — and that's how the new murder mystery is set, with many questions open to answer in the coming season.
Season Three
The Season 2 cliffhanger is not the only thing keeping fans of the show eager to watch the new season of this Emmy-awarded series. The showrunner, John Hoffman, explained to The Hollywood Reporter that, "If Season 1 was a little more focused on the emotional storyline for Mabel and Tim Kono, and Season 2 was a little more emotionally connected to Charles and his relationship with his father and himself, I'm very excited to both lean into the theatrical side of New York City and also into Oliver and his world."
There have been some announcements regarding additions to the cast, which already happened in Seasons 1 and 2 — the prior seasons had some surprise guests, including Sting and Amy Poehler. Now, the list gets bigger — and even more exciting. Paul Rudd did a small cameo at the end of Season 2 and has joined the main cast for good. None other than one of the best actresses of all time, Meryl Streep, has joined the cast as a Broadway actor. Grey's Anatomy fans will recognize Jesse Williams's face. He will be a documentarian. Also joining is Ashley Park, who, not surprisingly given the actress's real background on Broadway, will also play a Broadway star on the show.
Only Murders In The Building officially returns on August 8, 2023. Until then, there's time to rewatch this incredibly funny and heartwarming show.