Only Murders in the Building Recap: Crank That

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Occasionally, the series Only Murders in the Building mixes things up by presenting an episode unlike its typical format. In this particular episode, it delves into Lester’s past at the Arconia through a documentary-style framing device that allows us to hear directly from Lester himself. This approach is strategic because, despite being a recurring character throughout the series, Lester’s presence has mainly been superficial. By delving deeper into his story, the show aims to capture our attention and investment in his murder investigation. They employed a similar technique with Jane Lynch’s character, Sazz Pataki, who initially served as comic relief but was later developed and explored more profoundly as her investigation unfolded.

In this episode, it feels like a 30-minute recap or fast-forward, taking us from Lester’s first day to his last, much like watching the progression of a city being built on an elevator ride up a skyscraper, with LED walls showing you the city’s growth over time. We swiftly move through Lester’s life and work at the Arconia, providing glimpses into the lives of those he interacts with throughout his journey. Characters such as Charles, Oliver, and even Mabel are shown in different phases of their lives, including Charles during the peak and trough of his Brazzos fame, Oliver when happily married and divorced, and a young Mabel.

Throughout the whole episode, I found myself wondering why the young Lester actor felt so recognizable until it dawned on me. It turns out to be Emory Cohen, who portrayed Debra Messing’s son on Smash, and chances are you too had that realization. He convincingly handles the wide age range he needs to play, making him one of the few characters recast (along with baby Mabel, as expected). Most of the other actors portray their younger selves in the series (with some help from hair and makeup). This means we see Martin Short sporting a Luann de Lesseps bob, and most disconcertingly, Steve Martin with black hair. The idea of aging back Steve Martin, a man who is renowned for his unchanged appearance throughout his life, is amusing to me. However, it’s essential to remember that while Steve Martin had white hair in the ‘90s, Charles-Haden Savage did not.

Regarding the revival of aged characters in this flashback, it brings back some beloved characters who previously passed away, making “OMITB” an exceptional choice for actors to exit on because they continue to receive payments. Jane Lynch reappears as Sazz Pataki with a black dye job similar to Charles, and Jayne Houdyshell’s Bunny also returns. Notably, the original victim, Tim Kono (played by Julian Cihi), is back too. Mabel and Tim are the characters that introduce newcomer Beanie Feldstein, who plays a member of the young group vital to the first season’s plot. Given that we delve deeper into the building history (including an underground casino), it seems logical that we will encounter this initial cast again, possibly through Beanie’s character.

Instead of discussing Lester, let’s shift our focus towards him. It turns out that when Lester started this position, he harbored ambitions of being an actor (much like Charles’ ongoing dreams), but those hopes faded over time. However, there’s a brighter side to his story. He encounters his wife, whom we know as Raine, in the courtyard where she was singing opera. A significant occurrence, for Lester personally and the Arconia collectively, was when the elevator became automated, freeing him from having to manually crank it – though he retained the manual crank as a memento.

As Lester witnesses George, his supervisor, receiving envelopes from Nicky, he grows impatient to be part of the action. However, his opportunity arrives only after George retires and Lester assumes his role. Nicky advises him to maintain friendly relations with others and keep a low profile, as knowing less is generally beneficial. Despite its financial rewards, things reach a critical point when Lester requests one Saturday off for his anniversary with his wife, which Nicky denies. The situation worsens when Lester suggests retiring, but is told that he must continue working until Nicky gives him permission. This situation might lead Lester (or perhaps Loraine, who missed their anniversary dinner) to have a valid motive for wanting to eliminate Nicky.

Moving on, we get a glimpse into Lester’s perspective as murders unfold – the first one in particular haunts him for letting a potential killer slip onto the premises. However, his wife attempts to console him by reminding him it was just a single murder over three decades. Cue: “That’s a lot of murders!” exclaims Loraine! This is when Lester decides it’s prudent to enlist reinforcements, eventually hiring Randall who would later become his successor. It appears that he hires Randall due to feeling overwhelmed and in need of assistance, but perhaps he senses something ominous looming and a replacement will be needed to step up when the time comes.

We too catch glimpses of his death scene where he seems to be fleeing the courtyard. Interestingly, before his demise, he lets go of a treasured elevator handle. His killer then picks it up. Now, one might wonder why he had such a handle on him since he didn’t operate any elevators. This leads me to ponder if maybe that handle means more than just sentimental value. Perhaps there’s something significant concealed within the Arconia building that still requires this handle for access or protection, making it worth taking someone’s life over.

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2025-09-09 20:59