Only Murders in the Building: Hulu Series Review

I first saw a trailer for Only Murders in the Building, and immediately knew it was a show that my best friend would love. I didn’t give it a second thought for myself. But, as usual, Megan convinced me to watch it and within minutes I was hooked.

Only Murders in the Building stars Steve Martin (who also co-created it), Martin Short, and Selena Gomez. With Steve Martin and Martin Short in it, I knew it would be good, but I was surprised at how much I enjoyed seeing Selena Gomez on screen with them. This slightly strange trio works together perfectly to show this strange friendship. They are all residents of the Arconia, a fictional building on the Upper West Side. They have nothing in common, but quickly bond over a love for True Crime podcasts, and a desire to find out who killed fellow resident, Tim Kono.

The full trailer (above) for the show is very different from the previews I would see during commercial breaks while watching Buffy for the thousandth time. It doesn’t capture the comedic side of this show, but it does capture the absurdity.

*spoilers for the first episode of the series are in this post, but the rest of the show is unspoiled*

Oliver Putnam

Martin Short plays Oliver Putman, a former broadway director, who is struggling financially. Oliver is the one that proposes that the trio start their own podcast, while solving the recent murder that occured within their building. In the beginning of the show, he is the one that holds the group together. What he lacks in money, he makes up for in enthusiasm and genuine kindness. You can’t help but love him as a character. And his first appearance on-screen (pictured below) is pretty fabulous.

Charles Haden-Savage

Charles Haden-Savage, played by Steve Martin, is the former star of Brazzos, a detective show. Despite his arrogance, you can’t help but feel connected to him. He has no real friends or family, and he thinks he needs to keep it that way. It isn’t until he meets Oliver and Mabel that he begins to crave more human interaction.

Mabel Mora

Selena Gomez joins comedic pros Steve Martin and Martin Short as Mabel Mora. Mabel is a true crime fanatic, and admits that to fall asleep she imagines killing an attacker with her knitting needle. But, underneath her cool persona is an anxious girl with a couple of secrets of her own.

Should You Watch Only Murders in the Building?

In short, yes. You absolutely should watch Only Murders in the Building. If the 3 main stars aren’t enough to convince you, there are guest appearances by Sting, Tina Fey, Jane Lynch, Nathan Lane, and more.

When the trio goes to the murder scene, they begin talking to detective, who ruled the death of Tim Kono a suicide. I couldn’t help but laugh when she realizes they were ‘true crime nut jobs’ who want to know the gory details. It’s what I imagine doctors think when a patient starts telling them what their diagnosis is… all based on the knowledge of one or two seasons of Grey’s Anatomy. Because obviously that’s the equivalent of medical school, internships, and years of experience. There’s just something about this ‘reality check’ that pulls you in.

Oliver insists that the second episode of their podcast make you care for Tim Kono. But, I don’t think the show made Tim a likeable character. I never really cared about him. Instead, I cared for Oliver, Charles, and Mabel, and wanted them to succeed in solving the murder.

3 lonely people becoming best friends is the more compelling storyline. The series begins with a flash-forward to the last few moments of the season. So you know from the beginning that Oliver and Charles would be protective of Mabel and stand by her. But, watching their friendship grow is one of the true highlights of the show.

You can stream the entire first season of Only Murders in the Building now on Hulu.

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