Only Murders in the Building Recap: Most Dangerous Game Night

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Starting a TV episode with Becky Ann Baker is always a strong choice. When she appeared, I actually jumped up and applauded for a full ten minutes! And then to see her husband, Dylan Baker, join her? It was a wonderful surprise. Especially since they played Karen Cartwright’s parents on *Smash* – it felt like a special moment for fans. However, that brief appearance at the beginning was just a taste of what was to come.

Before we learn what brings these acclaimed actors to our screens, the scene flashes back to them getting ready for an interview with Mayor Tillman. This shift to an interview podcast format is due to the terms of their contract with Wondify, which places certain restrictions on what they can discuss. These restrictions are so strict that when the mayor attempts to discuss the murder case, they’re forced to stop him and explain they can no longer cover it because the suspects purchased Wondify to silence them. Mayor Tillman is initially surprised to hear Bash is a suspect, but after asking his assistant to leave, he confidently tells them, “Bash Steed is your murderer.”

It turns out the aide is actually Bash’s niece, planted in the mayor’s office to gather information for him. Tillman doesn’t have solid evidence of Bash’s wrongdoing, but he’s known him for years and believes he’s capable of anything, even murder. Understanding how much control Bash has through his wealth, Tillman urges them to continue the investigation and provides a new clue: he happened to hear the aide mention that Bash is holding an exclusive event for billionaires at his estate.

Oliver was hesitant to go on what quickly felt like the start of a murder mystery, but Mabel and Charles convinced him to come along, appealing to his vanity by pointing out it was a chance to wear the cowboy boots Linda Lavin gifted him. I appreciate how the show constantly gives Oliver opportunities to make theatrical references, seemingly just for my benefit. However, once they arrive, it’s clear Oliver had a valid reason to be worried. The estate looks like something out of *The Traitors*, but with a genuinely menacing vibe, as if Alan Cumming might actually be dangerous. And the creepiest part? They see a small boy in a suit sharpening a knife, who turns out to be Bash’s son. Seriously, someone get that child an Emmy, or at least give him his own show written by Julio Torres.

Having snuck onto the property, the trio discovered the three billionaires – who, from behind, could easily be mistaken for Kendall, Shiv, and Roman Roy – playing the board game Operation. It wasn’t the elaborate, potentially dangerous experiment one might expect, but a simple game night. The billionaires claimed it was just a casual evening, but Mabel tried to convince them to let her watch. As it turned out, a normal game night, complete with a competition for a small plastic trophy, is exactly what happened. Perhaps they’ll have more success trying to separate them this time?

That’s precisely the situation: each person is having private conversations with their billionaire partner. Camila quizzes Oliver about his apartment, and quickly becomes angry that he never thanked her for completely renovating it. Predictably, her threat to harm him if he doesn’t appreciate her design skills is enough to scare Oliver off from pursuing any further investigation.

Charles fares better when he confronts Bash outdoors, accusing him of both catfishing and murder. Bash insists he didn’t kill anyone, explaining that he’s deeply afraid of death. We learn his focus on staying young isn’t about vanity—he doesn’t want his son to experience the loss he felt when his own father died. However, Bash still doesn’t explain why he pretended to be someone else online.

Mabel is currently facing off with her old crush, Jay, upset that he bought Wondify in order to silence her. However, Jay is incredibly charming, and even this tense confrontation quickly turns flirty. He’s skilled at hiding his questionable background and reputation, and Mabel, despite being experienced, finds herself falling for his act. He claims they’re just eccentric friends trying to resolve a bet, but then reveals a little too much – or perhaps intentionally so – mentioning, “The same one we were trying to settle the last time we were at that gaming parlor.” This finally provides a new clue about what happened that night.

Mabel makes a deal with the billionaires: a three-person game. If Mabel’s team wins, the billionaires have to answer their questions. But if the billionaires win, they’ll drop the case and end the investigation. It’s a gamble, because if they *did* commit a crime, they might not keep their word, but it’s worth trying.

Oliver had had enough and was determined to leave, even though his friends tried to make him feel guilty about abandoning Lester. He pointed out that, unlike them, he had someone he cared about – Loretta – and stormed off after making that comment, leaving Mabel and Charles to deal with things on their own.

To make matters worse, the game is Celebrity, and the category is Broadway – something Oliver would have easily aced. Ironically, he’s outside enjoying his freedom, singing Sondheim, while they’re struggling. They really could have used his help, especially after the billionaires surprisingly did well with “historical figures” by sharing stories about their connections to dictators. Mabel has a slow start giving clues, but then she suddenly gets the hang of it, identifying the stage actors using quirky, personal stories about Oliver. He ends up leading them to victory even though he’s not there, forcing the billionaires to reveal what happened in the Arconia’s game room that night.

It makes sense that the wealthy characters on the show were essentially gambling over a big opportunity: the chance to build New York City’s first casino. That’s why the show has been emphasizing that the building’s potential casino is a “gaming parlor.” This storyline feels particularly relevant right now, as a recent proposal to build a casino in Times Square was rejected – and the show makes it clear that such a development would be just as harmful to the neighborhood within the world of *Only Murders in the Building*.

It turns out the whole situation revolved around a casino deal and a small trophy. When Mabel picks up the trophy, she notices the billionaires are incredibly nervous. Ignoring their pleas to put it down, she smashes it open, revealing the missing finger that was stolen from Charles’s apartment. It’s amazing how far that finger has traveled! Honestly, I’m surprised anyone didn’t notice it before now.

I was on the edge of my seat as Jay tried to keep Mabel and I from leaving with the fingerprint. He kept warning us about how much trouble we were in, telling us someone had paid a fortune for it, but he wouldn’t say *who*. It made me wonder – was this about fingerprint recognition technology? And how did they even get it from Charles’s place? But then, Jay made a surprising choice: he let us go instead of trying to take the finger back. Honestly, I’ve been suspicious of Jay ever since he started working on the podcast, but this moment… it felt like a glimpse of the real person underneath all the maneuvering. It was a small thing, but it made me think maybe he’s not as bad as I thought.

Lost in the Connecticut woods, Oliver is desperately trying to find his way back to civilization and cell service. When he finally gets a signal, he discovers a worried Loretta has reported him missing. Just then, he stumbles upon Becky Ann and Dylan Baker at their farm, right as they receive a Silver Alert about him. As he explains what happened, it starts to sound like he’s wandered away from a care facility, but he suddenly remembers he left his friends alone with a dangerous group of billionaires. He races back to the manor on a tractor to rescue them, planning a slow but determined escape.

Returning to the Arconia with the severed finger, they thought they were safe from further interference, but then Camila arrives to resolve their dispute. It’s a bit much – doesn’t the building have a buzzer? She explains that, unbelievably, this finger somehow determines who wins the contract for the city’s first casino. I’m curious about how that’s even possible, but for now, I’m willing to accept it. She outlines each of their casino plans: Jay wants to open his at the 92nd Street Y, which would undoubtedly drive Fran Lebowitz crazy, Bash envisions a spaceship casino over Times Square, and Camila boasts hers will be so stylish that “Gwyneth Paltrow will be horrified” – a line that cleverly references Renée’s performance as Roxie Hart, who sang, “Sophie Tucker will be furious to see her name listed below…”

Whether they like it or not, Camila won’t get what she wants – a specific finger – unless she threatens them with a gun. Once she does, they have no choice but to give it to her. With the finger secured, Camila’s casino plans are moving forward, but the surprising part is *where* she intends to build it. It turns out her offer on Oliver’s apartment was just the first step in a larger plan to buy the entire Arconia building and transform it into a casino. She even taunts them, hoping the next building they live in will also experience murders.

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2025-10-07 20:00