Only Murders in the Building Recap: It Takes Two

As a seasoned movie critic with over two decades of experience under my belt, I must say that “Only Murders in the Building” continues to impress me week after week. This latest episode was no exception, as it managed to keep me guessing until the very last scene. The plot twists and turns were reminiscent of a classic Agatha Christie novel, with each character harboring their own secrets and motives.

As a devoted fan of “Only Murders in the Building,” I eagerly anticipate each new episode, especially when they leave us hanging with a surprising cliffhanger – like Bev Melon brandishing a gun and seemingly pointing it at Charles, Oliver, and Mabel. But as the season is still young, it’s only natural for these tense moments to be unraveled gradually. True enough, this week’s episode started off by shedding light on the mystery: Bev, whose office is adorned with posters of “Ice Age 2,” “Garfield 2,” and “Rio 2,” was not, in fact, intending to harm them. Instead, it seemed she was just startled.

Initially, one may wonder why Bev was hanging around the abandoned trampoline park owned by Sazz in Paradise, New Jersey. This is a question that has been asked for quite some time. Though Bev claims she didn’t kill Sazz, she worries that someone else involved in the movie production might have done so. On the night Sazz passed away, Bev was attending the Variety‘s Power Women party in L.A., and received a foreboding voicemail from Sazz. “You need to call me urgently, there seems to be a problem with your ‘Only Murders’ movie, a major problem,” Sazz cautioned. Since then, Bev has been on edge, fearing that another piece of bad news is coming her way and could potentially disrupt her film, and she’s determined to find out what it might be.

Interestingly, this call means Sazz knew about the movie before the trio did. But what could Sazz be so concerned about that she would go to Bev Melon before bringing it to Charles? Personally, I think it was just business — maybe Sazz wanted a gig (you’d think she’d be a shoe-in after doubling for Charles for so many years). That call now connects Sazz to the film, which opens up a whole new pool of suspects we haven’t yet considered since they’re based in LA. The killer might just be the most dangerous thing of all: bicoastal.

At a crucial moment, this fresh clue arrived – the investigation on Dudenoff Westies had stalled. Although Charles, Oliver, and Mabel appear content with the information obtained from that group, I remain skeptical. Somehow, I sense they’ll resurface in our discussions soon. Meanwhile, they’re off to explore the film production offices, hoping to find someone acting suspiciously upon their arrival.

Following the Brothers Sisters inviting them for the film’s promotional photo session, there appears to be a significant, slender suitcase that catches the camera’s attention, which we should note for later. Another noteworthy aspect is Cat Cohen’s captivating eyebrow acting – it’s as if every line she delivers is a beautiful dance that reveals so much about her character. Moving on, let’s return our focus to the nervous suspects…

In the scene, when Marshall, the movie’s writer, spots Mabel, Charles, and Oliver on set, he becomes flustered and attempts to slip away. However, they manage to corner him and begin questioning him about the murder. Initially, he feels anxious because he thought they might have additional script notes, but then he is relieved to discover that he’s merely a suspect in a murder investigation. What a relief! This episode provides insights into Marshall’s personality, particularly his severe imposter syndrome. To cope with these feelings, he adopts a false beard and glasses, emulating the appearance of Charlie Kaufman, whose work encompasses the film Adaptation, which this episode is titled after. Interestingly, that movie was inspired by Kaufman’s struggle to transform Susan Orleans’ book The Orchid Thief into a screenplay, with Meryl Streep playing one of its leading roles.

In this scenario, Mabel’s storyline about imposter syndrome is relatable – it seems like she’s been grappling with the same issue for a long time. Despite the podcast’s success and the paycheck she receives for selling their life rights, she finds it hard to accept her professional status. If given a substantial payment from Bev Melon for someone like Eva Longoria portraying her, Mabel would only wonder if she could receive it in gold coins to swim in, just like Scrooge McDuck. However, this opportunity helps Mabel to establish a better understanding of herself and realize that she is indeed a podcast producer. Congratulations, Mabel! After three and a half seasons, you’ve finally recognized that you do have a job!

Though Marshall hasn’t progressed much in overcoming his imposter syndrome, he’s currently engaged in an activity more questionable than murder – attempting stand-up comedy. However, Charles intends to exhibit their murder boards, expecting it would help enhance the character’s cunning depiction. Regrettably, this backfires as Marshall swiftly debunks the only reliable segment (the timeline), arguing that moving from one part of the building to another and cleaning up the crime scene within a span of 12 minutes is highly implausible – or is it?

To demonstrate his capabilities despite Loretta’s new co-star gaining attention, Oliver decides to reenact the murder to test the timeline’s validity. He boasts about his fitness, often chosen as a pallbearer, but falls short during the attempt — even encountering an outburst from John McEnroe, a star from 30 Rock and tennis player, along the way. If this timeline is flawed, could there be two killers? One firing from the Dudenoff apartment while the other was poised to clean up the crime scene? Given the season’s focus on stunt doubles and stand-ins, it seems like a fitting twist. Just as expected, Mabel discovers something intriguing in Charles’s photos of the production office: a footprint on the tacky mat that matches one found in the Dudenoff apartment, suggesting either a popular sale at DSW or a killer present on that film set.

Off they go to the photoshoot, where Eva Longoria lends a hand to their cause investigating footprints by using her influence as a celebrity to request unsightly mats be placed. “Oh darling,” she says, “I’ve asked for more outrageous things before. In season eight of Desperate Housewives, I demanded they legalize gay marriage, and do you know what happened? They did it.” When the footprint they seek finally appears, Mabel realizes it belongs to Tawny Brothers – who, unsurprisingly, has her sister Trina as an ally. However, just as she figures this out, gunshots are heard and the episode concludes. If the start of this week’s episode is any clue, we might learn that the noise was simply a car backfiring or something similar.

Could it be that the Brothers Sisters are plotting to eliminate either Sazz or Charles for the sake of publicity for their movie? Alternatively, could Tawny have teamed up with someone other than her siblings? My suspicions remain focused on Marshall, whose disguise and eyewear might hold a secret purpose. His casual remark about having excellent vision seems significant — a trait that would be useful to an expert marksman. Perhaps he rented the Dudenoff apartment under false pretenses to keep tabs on his targets while writing the script. Somehow, I sense there’s a link between the film and Dudenoff, and it’s this connection that will ultimately reveal the truth.

2024-09-24 08:54

Only Murders in the Building Recap: It Takes Two

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