Only Murders in the Building Season-Premiere Recap: Short ’n’ Streep

As a seasoned TV enthusiast who’s seen more shows than I care to remember, I must say this latest episode was a rollercoaster ride of suspense and intrigue! The return of Meryl Streep as Loretta was a delight, and her chemistry with Martin Short is truly something special. It’s like watching two master artists at work, painting the canvas of love with their exceptional acting skills!

Much like every stage actor harbors ambitions, following its successful run on Broadway, “Only Murders in the Building” is venturing towards grander opportunities out in sunny Los Angeles – at least for now. Currently in its fourth season, this series has skillfully maintained its essence without the limitations of its title restricting its expansion. Last season expanded our horizons slightly from the building itself to the realm of Broadway, and this time we’re going even further westward to L.A., where Hollywood executives are keen on transforming the group’s podcast into a feature film. Yet, despite relocating coasts, the show’s title remains relevant. As we discovered at the end of last season, this year’s murder indeed occurred within the building. Sazz, who stood in for Charles, was portrayed by Jane Lynch and was shot in Charles’s apartment – presumably by a gunman who mistakenly targeted him instead of Charles.

Although the audience is aware that Sazz has passed away, Charles is only concerned that she’s not responding to his messages. Upon returning to her apartment after her murder, they can’t find her body, and there’s no sign of the window bullet hole yet. Gravey, Howard’s new dog, seems to be the only one sensing something unusual, but we’ll discuss him later. The group is mainly focused on another sad event – their musical “Death Rattle Dazzle” from the previous season is shutting down. But as one opportunity ends, another begins (hopefully without a bullet hole). An email arrives in their inbox with exciting news for them and us. The good news for them is that Paramount Pictures wants to turn their podcast into a film, inviting them to L.A. The good news for us is that Molly Shannon will portray Bev Melon, a Paramount executive.

Initially uncertain, Charles receives a text from Sazz’s number confirming she returned to Los Angeles. This unexpected development makes the trip ideal for checking up on her. Not only that, but Oliver can trail after Loretta who has left for a TV show on the West Coast. As Mabel remains directionless with no job or home, it seems logical for her to tag along. In essence, the trio is heading to Hollywood, much like an American Idol winner with a golden ticket in hand.

In a continuation of its previous seasons that skewered both the true-crime world and Broadway, the show now takes aim at the film industry. To introduce this quintessentially New York production to the glamour of Hollywood, they’ve humorously recreated New York on a movie lot, complete with yellow taxis, thick accents, hot dogs, and all. As they navigate their way through this artificial New York to their meeting, they’re taken aback by how far along in development the project is. Bev Melon presents them to the creative team, including “The Brothers” – who are actually two sisters named Brothers, portrayed by Siena Werber and Cat Cohen. Interestingly, they’re identical twins, as pointed out by Bev, despite their obvious differences.

Primarily, the threesome discovers details about their character depiction, which significantly influences how they’ve been seen in the past and how they will be viewed moving forward – a clever method to create doubts about their identity within our characters. Bev describes Oliver as someone who provokes feelings of both wanting to hug and strangulate, Charles as being like an unamusing uncle, and Mabel as suffering from trauma, homelessness, joblessness, and babbling incoherently. Isn’t that relatable for many of us? All they require now is for them to grant rights to their lives.

After the identity crisis I mentioned, Mabel, who’s particularly touchy about her life falling apart, is swamped by the meeting and exits hurriedly. This movie not only reveals to her the harsh truth of her directionless existence, but she fears that portraying this character in the film will make it difficult for her to change course later on. On the other hand, Oliver is eagerly pursuing this profitable opportunity — a pattern familiar from past seasons where Oliver’s enthusiasm conflicts with Mabel’s reluctance persists.

They’ll work things out at the party hosted by the studio later tonight, but before that, they decide to visit Sazz at her apartment first. After grabbing a quick bite at In-N-Out (since it’s L.A.), they arrive at Sunset Swan apartment complex, which Charles, having lived there earlier, fondly reminisces about. This legendary building, like Melrose Place, is known for housing celebrities alongside local quirks – a setting that seems perfect for a potential West Coast spin-off series.

Despite her emails accumulating and Sazz remaining absent, Charles is determined to dispel the “unenjoyable” image being imposed on him and brushes off his concerns as they all proceed to the grand event. It’s here that they encounter the cast who will portray them – Eugene Levy as Charles, Eva Longoria as Mabel (whose age was increased following focus groups finding the age difference uncomfortable), and Zach Galifianakis as Oliver. The casting of Galifianakis appears to be a nod to the spiritual link between Jiminy Glick and Between Two Ferns. In any case, we witness a hint of their shared style when Oliver fails to recognize Galifianakis – prompting him to consider leaving. However, Bev Melon manages to keep him involved by promising to greenlight his cherished project: “Erin Brockovich, but it’s me.” If only the film industry were as welcoming to more Erin Brockovich-like productions.

However, the main attraction makes an appearance – Meryl Streep reprising her role as Loretta, who has given up her classic Willie Nelson braids for a chic Los Angeles makeover this season. Fresh from filming “GNOrFBUn” (Grey’s New Orleans Family Burn Unit), Loretta and Oliver engage in an endearing rooftop romance. Meryl Streep and Martin Short are incredibly skilled at portraying a couple, showcasing their acting prowess. They’re experts at pretending and playing make-believe, as seen here. To continue, Loretta suggests the possibility of Oliver joining her in Los Angeles, an idea he seems unsure about. Despite his concerns about Loretta leaving him behind, he might give it some thought.

As this unfolds, Mabel shares her apprehensions about surrendering her life rights with Eva Longoria, who empathizes since the script portrays her character as a down-on-her-luck individual. In the end, Eva Longoria suggests demanding a large sum from the studio and using it to create something new, which could help Mabel break free from this stereotype rather than solidifying it. So, Mabel meets with Bev Melon, slides her a note outlining her request, and the deal is sealed. All’s well that ends well, but if I were having a chat with Eva Longoria, I would surely inquire about the backstage happenings at Desperate Housewives. I’m not interested in business strategies; I want to hear juicy stories about Teri Hatcher – though I’m happy things worked out for Mabel.

Discussing stars, it so happens that Charles encounters Scott Bakula under a misunderstanding – he thought him to be their shared stand-in, Sazz. However, Bakula confesses the same issue with tracking down Sazz, validating Charles’s worries. The threesome swiftly return to Sazz’s apartment complex in search of answers. Upon entering her unit, they find a sanctuary dedicated to Sazz’s numerous stunt-related injuries, including multiple joint replacements from Bulgaria, which Charles offhandedly mentions. Though this series typically weaves hints seamlessly, it’s clear that the tidbit about Sazz’s foreign joints will resurface later. They delve into her desk, littered with mysterious, ominous indications and messages, one of which is addressed to “Charles.”

Before thoroughly examining all the documents, an unexpected call from the Arconia’s doorman interrupts Charles regarding his supposed request for a new kitchen window – which he hadn’t made. Upon investigation, they discover a bullet hole in the glass. Meanwhile, Mabel learns from Howard that Gravey had a past as a cadaver dog, explaining his strange reaction at the apartment. They then return to New York, where Gravey guides them to the building’s incinerator. There, Charles uncovers metal parts from Bulgaria among the ashes – suggesting that Jane Lynch might not even receive payment for portraying a corpse.

Charles sends a text message to Sazz’s phone, inquiring about who he is talking to, and gets a chilling response: “Not your pal.” Since Charles doesn’t have many friends, this revelation doesn’t help much in identifying the season’s murderer. However, if we can draw any conclusions at this stage, albeit prematurely, it seems that the shooter may have intended to target Charles. This is because Sazz resembles Charles and was in his apartment. But what were those notes on Sazz’s desk? Will the killer attempt to complete the task? Could it be Eugene Levy aiming for a more intriguing conclusion to his character’s storyline? For now, we can only speculate – more answers are yet to come!

2024-08-27 16:54

Only Murders in the Building Season-Premiere Recap: Short ’n’ Streep

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