There are two central reasons that people tune in to watch the Hulu hit “Only Murders in the Building.” First, like any great whodunit, you watch for the mystery. Second, you watch for the hilarious interactions between the show’s main leads, which has garnered critical and audience praise over the show’s run. So why does season three of “Only Murders” have so little of both?
“Only Murders in the Building” season three returns with more homicidal shenanigans centered around Charles (Steve Martin), Oliver (Martin Short) and Mabel (Selena Gomez) as they try to solve the mystery of the murder of leading man Ben Glenroy (Paul Rudd). With a host of suspects, each with more motive than the last, the trio attempts to figure out who did it, all while dealing with a host of their own problems.
After last season’s lackluster showing, the beginning of season three provided some hope that the show would remedy some of the issues of the past season. And while season three has a strong opening, the middle section of the show becomes almost dull, nothing more than a waiting act for the climatic reveal.
There are some bright spots in the show. Both Rudd and Meryl Streep (who plays aspiring actress Loretta Durkin) bring their signature talent and charms to their roles. Following season two’s rather unsatisfying murder reveal, the ending of season three feels much more earned, and it’s a much more entertaining result. The comedy, when it’s there, is still funny. And despite how distracted some of the episodes feel, there is a desire to come back every week, if only to finally see whodunit.
Unfortunately, rather than focusing on the mystery, “Only Murders” tries to fill up its time with half a dozen B-plots that go nowhere, and have little to no emotional impact on the viewer. From romantic interests for each of the three leads (each less interesting than the last), to Oliver’s health problems, to Mabel’s housing situation, to Charles’ stage fright, to the trials and tribulations of half a dozen supporting characters, almost every episode is at least half-filled with fluff that does nothing to advance the central plot. Even the comedy seems to take a backseat this season, instead focusing on dramatic moments that I can only assume are supposed to be compelling, but instead provoke little emotional response at all.
Once again, the length of the show makes it challenging to make a compelling murder mystery. By this point in the show, seasoned fans are well aware the murderer won’t be revealed until the finale. Therefore, any character that is suspected before episode 10 is almost certainly innocent. One feels that this entire show might work better as a two-hour movie that keeps the viewer rooted to their seat, rather than 10 episodes of sitting around waiting for the murderer to be revealed.
Most unfortunate is the decision to split up the central trio of the show — the characters spend most of the episodes apart from one another, either chasing down clues themselves or (more frequently) dealing with their own personal problems. Considering one of the main draws of “Only Murders” was the dynamic between the three protagonists, choosing to separate them for much of the season is a baffling decision.
I loved the first season of “Only Murders,” I was disappointed by the second, and I had high hopes for the third. But while “Only Murders” is still entertaining, the overwhelming focus on the non-mystery aspects of the characters’ lives makes the show feel sluggish. Many of the problems I recorded in my review of season two have only gotten worse in season three, and as the show continues, the biggest mystery is why we’re still watching.
