Only Murders in the Building Recap: Perfect Strangers

As a seasoned armchair detective and long-time fan of both obscure sitcoms and intriguing mysteries, I find myself utterly captivated by this unfolding tale. It appears we have a classic case of deception and subterfuge on our hands, with each character revealing layers that are as complex as the plot twists in my favorite episode of Twin Peaks (the one where they found the log).

The only thing worse than a murder is being followed around by actors. This week, the trio has to deal with both when the cast of their forthcoming movie arrives to shadow them. But before that happens, an actor we’re always glad to see arrives — Da’Vine Joy Randolph as Detective Williams, who oddly enough wants to help Charles, Mabel, and Oliver with their investigation. Since the Feds have taken the case, she’s not involved and decides to pass off what she knows to hands more capable than said Feds. She tells the trio that they think Jan hired someone to carry out the murder from jail, that the shooter was a very good shot, and they found one shell casing in the apartment belonging to “M. Dudenoff,” a retired professor whose neighbors claim is away in Portugal (where, if you recall, their bathroom ham is from). She adds that Rudy (a.k.a. Christmas All the Time Guy) is the only one who heard the bullet because the other neighbors were playing a card game. This debrief is interrupted by the movie stars, including Zach Galifianakis, who Detective Williams calls “scrumptious, fuckable baklava.” An absolutely beautiful collection of words.

The unexpected arrival of this acting group stirs mixed emotions among the group about whether to allow them to stick around. Mabel, who is all about professionalism, doesn’t want Eva Longoria disrupting her routine, while Oliver believes it’s crucial for the actors to prepare accurately for the movie. Eugene Levy being a fan favorite of Charles as Brazzos tips the scale in favor of welcoming them. Consequently, the actors get to witness an iconic OMITB gathering. Charles suspects that Vince (Pink Eye Joe) might be concealing something other than just an eye patch, while Mabel believes Christmas All The Time Guy could have wanted to eliminate Charles for attempting to ban real Christmas trees in the building. In classic OMITB and Scooby-Doo fashion, they decide to investigate separately.

Charles Levy and Eugene Levy visit Vince’s place to try convincing him to take off his eye patch, checking for any hidden injuries. Instead of Charles’ idea of making a mocking spit-take gesture to remove it, he proposes an alternate plan. Upon opening the door, they both greet Vince while donning their own eye patches. This scene is so hilarious that I must legally acknowledge it, as Steve Martin is a comedic genius. Their strategy is to pretend they also have pink eye and offer Vince miracle drops. Unfortunately, he uses the drops in the bathroom, leaving them with no choice but to attempt the spit-take maneuver. Neither Charles nor Eugene wants to spit on a potential murderer, but the spit-tossing game ends up landing on Eugene, who gets punched after spitting on Vince. Despite his aggressive behavior, when he removes the patch, there’s no sign of injury; just conjunctivitis. For now, Vince is off the hook, but as they exit, they notice a photo of the entire floor with someone’s face scratched out. The missing person appears to be holding a pig, leading them to suspect the elusive Dudenoff (unless this building has more than one wandering pig).

Along the corridor, Mabel prepares to examine Christmas All the Time Guy’s solo case, having just parted ways with Eva Longoria. “Mabel works independently,” she says, which is an unusual statement considering the show’s history. In truth, the series spans three seasons that contradict this claim. However, Mabel approaches to discover that Eva has already entered Rudy’s apartment, intent on solving a murder. Mabel proceeds with caution, observing a gun on the wall and a ham radio in the room, but Eva is unwilling to wait. She plunges headfirst into the investigation, and after exchanging a few words with Rudy, she accuses him of attempting to kill Charles due to his dislike of Christmas. However, in one of the show’s famous plot twists, Christmas All the Time Guy actually despises Christmas. His Christmas persona is a facade; he’s actually a fitness influencer who gained fame from a viral Christmas-themed video. Despite this, he still has knowledge about the holiday, so Mabel seeks his opinion on the tinsel found at the crime scene. He uses a lighter to test it, and since it doesn’t ignite, he informs Mabel that it isn’t genuine tinsel (which is highly flammable). Rudy, however, what if it was real tinsel? Wouldn’t you have just destroyed crucial evidence with fire?

In the meantime, Oliver’s attention shifts away from the investigation and towards trying to impress Zach Galifianakis. The reason being, he fears that if Galifianakis doesn’t care about him, his opportunity for a biopic that immortalizes him could be jeopardized. Given that Galifianakis believes no preparation is needed to portray Oliver Putnam, Oliver devises a test, the ultimate test for Oliver Putman himself. During a night out at Joe Allen, he tests Galifianakis by asking, “Who do you think is the definitive Mrs. Lovett, Lansbury or LuPone?” Galifianakis guesses incorrectly and answers LuPone, causing dismay from Oliver and Howard. This alone makes one feel nauseous. Truthfully, Ashford would have been a better choice.

In a humorous attempt to mimic his counterpart, Galifianakis inquires if all of Oliver Putnam’s extraordinary tales, which often border on Jenna Maroney-esque humor, are factual. To this, Oliver admits that while some elements may not be entirely true, they carry a degree of truthfulness, as he strives to make them real. He then imparts the rules for crafting an effective tale. This revelation seems to soften Galifianakis, suggesting that the authenticity of Oliver’s honesty offered him something genuine to connect with. Subsequently, they enjoy a fruitful sequence (accompanied by the theme song from “Perfect Strangers“) where their bond flourishes.

Isn’t it surprising? On the contrary, it was all untrue. The actor was merely pretending, and Oliver and Howard secretly listened to him on the phone, criticizing him harshly to his agent, labeling him as a narcissist. While that might be accurate, Howard can’t tolerate it and swiftly defends Oliver, showcasing his resilience in a way that unfortunately makes him appear pitiful. I dislike seeing Oliver Putnam sad; in truth, I detest it. He is such a comical character that it has an even greater impact when he appears downtrodden and embarrassed like this. However, as it transpires, Howard’s brutally honest assessment of Oliver is exactly what Galifianakis needs to see Oliver as a tragic character worth portraying. I suppose victory comes in many forms.

Following in Eva Longoria’s footsteps, I find myself inspired to take a daring leap, much like Mabel does. Abandoning caution, she decides to venture back into the deserted Dudenoff apartment. Yet, unlike before, her intentions aren’t about uncovering mysteries but rather claiming it as her new residence. She delves into the intricacies of Manhattan’s squatter’s rights and boldly moves in.

Attending an unconventional housewarming at Mabel’s new abode, which happens to double as a pig’s temporary home, finds Oliver and I discovering an intriguing coincidence – we both have the catchy tune from “Perfect Strangers” echoing in our minds. This is due to its repeated broadcast via Dudenoff and Rudy’s ham radios. However, what truly catches our attention is a cryptic message Oliver picks up on that same frequency: “meet me at 445.” Recognizing this as a code for a specific channel, we promptly tune in, only to hear a stern voice advising us to stay away. This ominous warning suggests that the last individuals who dabbled with this frequency met an unfortunate end, possibly alluding to Sazz, whom Dudenoff had been tracking. The chilling message concludes with a veiled threat: “Drop this, or you’ll meet the same fate.” Interestingly, the voice seems to have recognized the pig’s distinctive grunt and extends its well-wishes.

It’s uncertain who the voice belongs to, but it seems clear that this person is well-acquainted with the pig. They hold a deep affection for the pig, as they expressed their love. Given the pig doesn’t seem to go out often, it’s plausible to assume that this voice on the radio (let’s call it Delilah) has visited the Dudenoff apartment, or possibly even is Dudenoff himself. Since we have a photo from Vince’s place showing everyone on that floor has spent time with the pig in question, it’s not surprising if this voice has too.

But I’m honestly still hung up on Perfect Strangers. That has to be something, right? The ’80s sitcom was about a midwestern American moving in with his distant cousin from the Mediterranean. Could Sazz have been a body double for Bronson Pinchot? Or maybe that was a Mediterranean accent we heard over the radio? The Balki character on Perfect Strangers was originally a shepherd, and “Dudenhöffer” is a German name that roughly means “farmer,” so maybe that means something? Or maybe they just wanted to use the theme song for that montage!

2024-09-10 17:54

Only Murders in the Building Recap: Perfect Strangers

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