Only Murders in the Building Recap: Keep Shooting

As a devoted fan with a penchant for detective shows and a soft spot for quirky characters, this latest episode of Only Murders in the Building had me hooked from the very beginning. The shift in format to found-footage documentary was initially jarring, reminiscent of bumping into your favorite teacher at the grocery store or stumbling upon Jack Donaghy in a sitcom about dog grooming. But much like the Brothers Sisters themselves, it proved to be off-kilter yet intriguing, adding a layer of mystery that kept me on the edge of my seat.


Initially, let’s address the matter at hand: The voice of Tawny Brothers is remarkably similar to that of Gigi Hadid. Quite remarkable, wouldn’t you agree? Now, the intrigue arises as this Gigi Hadid-like voice could potentially belong to our suspect. However, it was confirmed last week that the gunshots were indeed real, with unfortunate consequences for two Olivers. The bullet, deflected by Glenn Stubbins’ metal plate, struck Zach Galifianakis instead. Fortunately, everyone managed to escape unscathed. Unfortunately, it appears that Oliver might be joining Charles as a potential target. Surprisingly, this shooting incident receives limited attention in this episode. Instead of delving into details such as the type of weapon used or the shooter’s location, the episode chooses to zero in on the Brothers Sisters, doing so in an unprecedented manner.

Instead of a regular episode of “Only Murders in the Building,” this week’s installment is structured as a documentary-style production, compiled by the Brothers Sisters from various sources such as their on-set documentarian Howard and hidden cameras. The inspiration for this project comes from an old film professor’s advice to always “keep rolling” or continue filming, as the narrative will gradually unfold. The mention of a “professor” may hold significance that will become clear later (*clears throat* Dudenoff *throat clear*), but the emphasis on continuous filming and its dual meaning of both recording and potentially dangerous situations is also noteworthy.

Initially, this shift in style for “Only Murders” felt jarring due to its usual sleek and stylish filming approach. Seeing these characters transition into rough cuts and raw footage was unexpected – much like spotting your teacher at the supermarket. It brought to mind the “Queen of Jordan” episode of “30 Rock,” or the opposite scene from the finale of “The Comeback,” when Valerie Cherish ditched the camera crew and the show switched from mockumentary to single-camera. Although it’s a bit visually confusing, it keeps us engaged and, in the end, the format fit the episode’s theme well. It was as odd as the eccentricities of the Brothers Sisters themselves (I can’t help but think of the Sally Field family drama if I say “Brothers Sisters” one more time).

Since it’s evident that podcasters are being targeted, the group decides to hide in Oliver’s apartment. Here, Detective Williams delivers Sazz’s remains and informs them that Dudenoff and Jan have returned to New York. However, they discover that an emergency meeting for the production team has been arranged upstairs. Realizing that the camera following them could potentially act as a protective shield, they believe it will prevent the Brothers Sisters from harming them – thus allowing them to conduct their investigation freely, although this assumption may be incorrect, it keeps the story progressing!

Marshall seems to be subtly suggesting they review The Brothers’ student movie as a possible diversion from him and focusing instead on them. Although the trio has ruled him out as a suspect, I remain unconvinced. The film appears to be reminiscent of “Poor Things,” featuring an elderly artist and twin sisters under his control, which he manipulates for his purposes. Interestingly, Vince Fish portrays this character – quite similar to the surprise of seeing Richard Kind in a production. Moreover, there seems to be a link between the Dudenoff units and this movie production.

However, let me add this additional detail: When they ventured over to question Vince about his role in the movie, they discovered an intriguing fact – Dudenoff was a film professor, and both Vince and the Brothers were among his students. Incidentally, Rudy was also present, assisting Vince with a drone setup, but he felt compelled to explain that they had attended classes at different times. Despite this, Rudy appeared well-informed about the Brothers, labeling them as unconventional and claiming they filmed dying animals and set things ablaze. He also mentioned they were overly obedient towards Dudenoff, his favorites, and referred to them as ‘kissasses’ – terms that seem a bit too critical considering the context. Moreover, Rudy assisted in opening the apartment window, allowing them to fly their drone. This is peculiar because it was previously established that Vince’s windows were painted shut, which had been a crucial point in clearing him as a suspect. Now, these windows suddenly open – raising suspicions about the situation.

In an unexpected turn of events, Howard’s autopsy dog accidentally knocks over Sazz’s ashes – quite fitting for a stunt person who had endured so much before. Upon examination by Gravey, it was discovered that there were two left shoulder replacements present. This revelation indicated that the remains in the incinerator were not solely those of Sazz. Instead, it pointed towards another murder within the building, suggesting that someone harbors a deep-seated grudge against individuals with artificial shoulders.

As time runs out, my group and I hasten to question the Brothers Sisters. It’s curious this season how suspects have been answering our queries in a straightforward manner – almost too straightforward, as if they anticipated them. Vince spoke freely about the film, and now these sisters are disclosing everything without hesitation as well. They confess that they were in the building the night Sazz was killed to see their former professor, someone they claim they’d be willing to kill for. It’s peculiar to admit such a thing to people who believe you’re a murderer. Even if it’s true, why reveal it during an ongoing murder investigation? Come on, use some common sense!

The trio remains unaffected until they receive a call from Detective Williams, who identifies the shoulder’s owner using the serial number. It turns out not to be someone Dudenoff had killed, but Dudenoff himself. This revelation, that their cherished mentor has passed away, is what causes the sisters to break down. They reveal that he disowned them when they relocated to Los Angeles to sell out many years ago. It appears their plan to see him the night Sazz died never came to pass.

Regarding the mysterious suitcase that seemed suitable for a rifle, it turned out to contain cameras secretly placed by the trio for their documentary. However, when they were dismantling all the hidden cameras, they stumbled upon one that didn’t belong to the Brothers Sisters. As they figured someone else was spying on them, they received messages from Sazz’s number, featuring clips of themselves and the message “I’m watching you.

It appears that the person responsible for the crime may have been well-informed about the first half of this investigation, enabling them to stay one step ahead throughout. This could mean they manipulated and guided the investigation as it unfolded, or they might have known what questions would be asked during interrogations beforehand. In essence, it seems that the initial information has been compromised, setting us back to where we started. However, starting afresh is not feasible in the seemingly monitored Arconia building.

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2024-10-01 08:54