Geek Girl Authority Crush of the Week: MABEL MORA

Melody McCune

Still of Selena Gomez as Mabel Mora in Only Murders in the Building.

Welcome to this week’s installment of Geek Girl Authority Crush of the Week, wherein we shine a spotlight on strong women who inspire us. These ladies are a prime example of female empowerment and how crucial it is for youth to have said example to follow.

DISCLAIMER: The following contains spoilers for Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building.

Mabel Mora 

Fast Facts: 

Still of Selena Gomez as Mabel Mora in the Only Murders in the Building episode "To Protect and Serve."
Only Murders In The Building — “To Protect and Serve” – Episode 106 — Mabel brings her new friends (and an old one) to her childhood home to meet her mother. Meanwhile, Detective Williams starts to have her doubts about the case as she prepares for motherhood. Mabel (Selena Gomez), shown. (Photo by: Craig Blankenhorn/Hulu)

Mabel Mora (Selena Gomez) grew up on Long Island, New York, but spent a good chunk of her time at the Arconia in Manhattan, where her aunt resided. She befriended Tim Kono (Julian Cihi), Oscar (Aaron Dominguez) and Zoe Cassidy (Olivia Reis) amid her formative years, and the quartet dubbed themselves “The Hardy Boys,” solving mysteries of their design in the Arconia. 

Later, Theo Dimas (James Caverly) pushed Zoe off a rooftop on New Year’s Eve. Unfortunately, Oscar, Zoe’s boyfriend at the time, was imprisoned for her murder for a decade. Mabel parted ways with Tim but returned to the Arconia 10 years later.

After the fire alarm inexplicably goes off in the complex, Mabel bonds with Charles Haden-Savage (Steve Martin) and Oliver Putnam (Martin Short) at a nearby restaurant over their shared love of true crime podcasts. The trio discovers that Tim Kono was murdered and thus begins their investigation and simultaneous podcast launch, entitled “Only Murders in the Building.”

Throughout the investigation, Mabel receives aid from Detective Williams (Da’Vine Joy Randolph) and embarks on a new romance with Oscar once the latter is freed from prison. Mabel also grows closer to Charles and Oliver, and the trio becomes unstoppable in their quest to track down Tim’s killer.

Inevitably, Charles and Oliver learn that Mabel knew Tim, which sends the case in a whole new direction. Initially, Mabel and the guys had Teddy Dimas (Nathan Lane) and the Arconia’s resident cat lover, Howard, on their suspect list. 

However, Jan (Amy Ryan), Charles’ girlfriend, revealed herself to be the murderer in the end. Thanks to Mabel securing Jan’s gun and punching her, Tim Kono’s killer is caught. 

After Tim Kono

Later, Charles and Oliver find Mabel in her apartment, hunching over a lifeless body that’s wearing a tie-dye sweatshirt. While audiences might think it’s Oscar, the body rolls over, and we see it’s Bunny, the Arconia’s big boss. A knitting needle, one of Mabel’s needles, protrudes from her neck. This moment leads to Mabel, Oliver and Charles’ arrests for the murder of Bunny, but we know they’re innocent. 

The Real Deal: 

Mabel’s the real deal, folks. While she might come off as stoic and icy at face value, Mabel adores her loved ones and possesses unwavering loyalty to her friends. She’s incredibly creative and harbors an innate artistic talent that most don’t have. In addition, Mabel’s keen eye for detail and inherent cleverness helps crack the Tim Kono case wide open and imbues it with a fresh perspective.

Her empathy, persistence and resilience know no bounds, and if there’s one thing Mabel understands, it’s the importance of never giving up. She’s tough as nails and epitomizes the New Yorker spirit in more ways than one.

Why She Matters: 

Still of Selena Gomez as Mabel Mora  in the Only Murders in the Building episode "Twist."
Only Murders In The Building — “Twist” – Episode 105 — Mabel slips away on a solo mission tracking the victim’s final days. Suspicious, Charles & Oliver follow her. Mabel (Selena Gomez), shown. (Photo by: Craig Blankenhorn/Hulu)

Why does Mabel matter? She’s a badass, multifaceted, brilliant young woman who stands up for what’s right and doesn’t suffer fools. She calls out misogyny and injustices as she sees them. Mabel is proof positive that we humans boast resiliency beyond comprehension, and with some tenacity, you can achieve your goals. She’s perfectly imperfect.

Even though her luck takes a drastic dip at the end of Season One, I have no doubt Mabel will rise victorious, clear her name and solve Bunny’s murder with her friends.

So, be like Mabel Mora. Be resilient and tenacious. Do the right thing, no matter the cost. Learn to lean on your support system when you need to. Utilize your creativity for good. Oh, and don’t be afraid to punch murderers; they (well, Jan) deserve it. 

RELATED: Looking for another badass female crush? Check out our Geek Girl Authority Crushes of the Week here!

RELATED: Catch up on all the Arconia antics with our Only Murders in the Building recaps!

 

https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/only-murders-in-the-building-season-2

 

 

Melody McCune
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