When it debuted in 2021, Only Murders in the Building — partnering the iconic comedic duo of Steve Martin and Martin Short with pop singer/actress Selena Gomez — quickly became a fan favorite for its blend of witty banter and twisty mystery. Now in its fourth season, the show has started to lose some of the former but is still one of the most entertaining series on the air because of its outstanding cast.
Only Murders in the Building Season 4 Review
As with past seasons, this season of Only Murders in the Building picks up where the last one left off, having been teased with a new murder for our favorite crime-solving trio to unravel. Meanwhile, the trio deals with Hollywood-itis as their past investigations are adapted into a major motion picture, and there may be more to this than it seems.
At this point, the formula of Only Murders in the Building is pretty well-known, and this fourth season doesn’t do much to subvert expectations in that regard. Yet, something is comforting about the familiarity of a new season of this show. It might not be surprising or subversive anymore, but it’s still fun to go on another adventure with these characters we have grown to love, largely thanks to the charm and talent of the three leads.
With each passing season, it feels like Only Murders in the Building is getting further from its self-referential origins. In a way, it makes sense — as Charles, Oliver, and Mabel become better “detectives,” their investigations become more proficient and conventional. However, a series made as a comedic riff on the murder mystery genre slowly transforming into a generic murder mystery is a great loss for the world of comedy.
Another thing that fans will notice about this season of Only Murders in the Building is that it is much less focused on the dynamic between our central trio. Instead, we are much more focused on their individual arcs. While splitting up the characters can often be a fatal flaw for ensemble-driven pieces like this, Only Murders in the Building works because each lead has the requisite screen presence to carry their portion of the show. The three storylines are shockingly well-balanced, with legitimate stakes that keep viewers invested in the story.
Martin, Short, and Gomez are obviously as good as ever in this new season, with Martin being the biggest highlight, as he has the most vulnerable of the arcs. It’s also refreshing to see supporting player Michael Cyril Creighton continue to get more to work with each season. He’s been an excellent character actor for years, and it’s nice to see him get his due as a comedic performer. Jane Lynch also gets an expanded role this season, and while it’s always nice to see her, it’s particularly refreshing to see her in something like this that allows her to let loose and have some fun.
As far as new additions go, this season’s batch is somewhat underwhelming, not in star power butt in execution. Plenty of A-listers join the cast — Kumail Nanjiani, Zach Galifianakis, Eva Longoria, Eugene Levy, Richard Kind, and Molly Shannon among them — but none make much of an impact. The trio of Galifianakis, Longoria, and Levy are novel at first but wear out their welcome quickly. Unfortunately, after the massive one-two punch of Paul Rudd and Meryl Streep last season, more does not necessarily equal better.
Is Only Murders in the Building Season 4 worth watching?
With its fourth season, it does feel like Only Murders in the Building is starting to lose some of its freshness, but this was an inevitability. Yet despite this, the show remains fun and enjoyable. After all, who would turn down more outings with the trio of Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez?
Only Murders in the Building streams on Hulu beginning August 27, with new episodes streaming on subsequent Tuesdays. Seven out of ten episodes reviewed.
8/10
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