Name: Only Murders in the Building season 3
Director: John Hoffman, Adam Shankman, Chris Koch, Cherien Dabis, Shari Springer Berman, Robert Pulcini, Jamie Babbit
Released: 2023-08-08T12:30:00

Only Murders in the Building season 3 revolves around the murder of Ben Glenroy, the star of Oliver’s Broadway return, and the trio’s attempts to once again solve the case. The episodes are streaming on Hulu.

Story

Ben Glenroy dies on the opening night of their show and the trio has to dig into his pat and his fellow cast members to find out who might be the killer. They have their own distractions this time, as Oliver is keen to keep his play alive, and Charles has a new woman in his life.

Mabel feels a little wayward in her life and questions where she’s headed. The three grow a little distant as their priorities diverge but the hunger for the truth and their immeasurable bond eventually brings them back together again.

With Oliver reworking the play as a musical, the stars have new challenges to overcome, and the mystery behind Ben’s murder turns out to be the biggest challenge of them all.

Performances

Martin Short, Selena Gomez, and Martin Short once again shine in a brilliant season that pulls in the musical stylings of many of its stars. Each of them gets their chance to show off their chops and they do not disappoint.

The additions of Meryl Streep and Paul Rudd as guest stars for the season are masterstroke. They bring high quality to an already stellar ensemble and are absolutely amazing in their roles.

Performers like Ashley Park, Jeremy Shamos, Wesley Taylor, Jesse Williams, and Linda Emond, as well as returning regulars Jackie Hoffman and Michael Cyril Creighton, round out a power-packed cast.

Positives

The Broadway musical setting adds so much more artistic flair to the season, and the directors have so much fun with the theme. Watching Oliver stress over his direction and the various stars belting out mesmerizing numbers is a thrill.

The characters also go through wonderful subplots individually, especially Mabel, who goes through a bit of a mid-life crisis that is incredibly relatable and refreshing.

The “heist” theme in the penultimate episode, the jazz influence throughout the season, and the creative ways in which each suspect is explored are all examples of the freedom with which the directors are operating and it is fantastic.

The pacing of the episodes and the overall structure of the season is executed well. The season builds up to a worthy climax with adequate twists and turns for the audience to be enraptured by.

Negatives

There’s the issue of Oliver’s heat condition which is established right in the first episode but then rears up again only once before it is conveniently resolved without too much of a fuss. It reads as a minor criticism in a great season.

Verdict

Only Murders in the Building season 3 is a fine addition to an already marvelous series and this season takes things up a notch with stars like Meryl Streep and Paul Rudd lending a hand. However, it is the lead trio of Martin Short, Selena Gomez, and Steve Martin raising the banner once again with magnificent performances and they are supported by an able cast, a fun setting, and impressive direction.