DISCLAIMER: This recap of Only Murders in the Building Season 3 Episode 10, “Opening Night,” contains spoilers. Proceed at your peril.
Welcome back, Arconiacs! It’s season finale time on Only Murders in the Building, and, as per usual, there’s a dose of twists and turns for us viewers. “Opening Night” confirms Donna is one part of the “Kill Ben” equation, but there’s another facet: Cliff actually murdered our fave a-hole CoBro. While it’s not entirely unpredictable, and the “heat of the moment” aspect to each act takes away some of the calculative fun, it’s better than making another woman the sole murderer for a third season in a row.
There’s certainly a crop of consistently wonderful moments in this season finale. Thankfully, Hulu has renewed Only Murders in the Building for Season 4, so we’ll get closure for that jaw-dropping cliffhanger.
Ready to delve into “Opening Night”? Let’s get to it.
RELATED: Check out our recap for Only Murders in the Building Season 3 Episode 9, “Thirty”
We open with Donna (Linda Emond) providing narration for the episode. We glimpse her prolific career as a producer, including her rattling off a list of impressive credits. We also see her give birth to Cliff, who she vows to protect. Later, she sits in the audience at the Goosebury Theater, where she grabs Cliff’s (Wesley Taylor) hand. Now, we watch Charles (Steve Martin), Oliver (Martin Short), Mabel (Selena Gomez) and Loretta (Meryl Streep) brainstorm how they’re going to elicit a confession from Donna.
Thankfully, they stopped Loretta from confessing to killing Ben, and Charles paid her bail. Loretta is excited to watch our sleuthing trio work their magic. Side note: I need Mabel’s sweater. It’s perfect for fall. Anyway, after a few mushy-gushy moments with Oliver and Loretta/Mabel revealing she’s dating Tobert, the gang pulls out notecards.
Why? To help them stay on track and to get Donna to confess at Death Rattle Dazzle‘s opening night. Loretta whips out Ben’s bloody hanky that Dickie gave her when he visited her in jail. She asks the trio if it would count as evidence. Based on their slack-jawed expressions, I’m guessing there’s something significant on said hanky.
RELATED: The Besties Are Back: Best Quotes From Only Murders in the Building‘s ‘Thirty’
Later, Howard (Michael Cyril Creighton) performs his requisite opening night ritual: sweeping the floor to welcome the ghost of Gideon Goosebury. Kimber (Ashley Park) prepares for the show while Ty (Gerald Caesar) and Bobo (Don Darryl Rivera) hit the red carpet for photos.
Jonathan (Jason Veasey) sits in his dressing room, taking the “leading man” pills cocktail courtesy of Dr. C. Mabel finds Donna and Cliff standing on the edge of the red carpet. Donna kisses Cliff’s hanky before putting it in his breast pocket. Mabel approaches them with flowers for Donna and a note card stating there’s another review in K.T.’s office. Side note number two: Mabel slays again with this adorable dress.
Of course, the note is a device to lure Donna into seclusion, away from the crowd. Mabel, Charles and Oliver are waiting for her. Well, and Tobert (Jesse Williams), but he’s a coat rack recording the proceedings for the podcast. They pull out the hanky, which has a lipstick kiss on it that matches Donna’s lipstick. Mabel’s disappointed — she spent all that time writing their notecards, only for Donna to confess to murdering Ben almost instantly. Initially, she insists the rat poison wasn’t meant to kill him. She administered a non-lethal dose to ensure it merely knocked him unconscious.
RELATED: The Best True Crime Shows on Netflix
Then, Donna claims she also pushed Ben down the elevator shaft at the Arconia, but something is amiss. She admits to murder almost too quickly. Next, she confirms what Loretta suspected earlier: she’s sick. Donna has stage four lung cancer, so she has limited time to ensure Cliff’s career will be successful. She asks our trio for one request. She urges them to call the police after opening night. Donna wants to watch her son’s first Broadway show as a producer go off without a hitch. They honor said request.
Next, Howard barges into the office to reveal a massive problem. Jonathan is too high to go onstage. Dr. C’s cocktail is too potent. When you think Howard suggests he go on in Jonathan’s place, we see he was actually referring to Oliver. Sure enough, Oliver takes to the stage as the leading man and the director. Meanwhile, Uma (Jackie Hoffman) sits beside Matthew Broderick and Jerry (Paul Bartlett). I want to see more from this trio.
During the delightful opening number, Tobert informs Mabel that he’s accepted a job on an indie flick in LA. He asks her to join him. After all, she’s felt stuck in life, so why not get “unstuck” by changing the scenery? Mabel promises she’ll think about it. After Loretta’s gorgeous solo tune, she chats with Dickie (Jeremy Shamos) backstage. She doesn’t say she’s his mother point-blank, but Dickie fills in the blanks. He claims he knew from the beginning that she was his mom. Aw. This scene definitely tugged at my heartstrings. Mabel watches the exchange with a smile.
RELATED: Who Killed Ben Glenroy: Our Latest Only Murders in the Building Suspect List
Then, Loretta’s statement about how a mother will do anything for her child switches on a lightbulb in Mabel’s head. She spots Donna with Cliff in the audience, presumably informing him of her fatal prognosis. Sobbing, Cliff departs the theater. Mabel follows Cliff to the attic while Charles performs his patter song onstage to thunderous applause. He did it! Anyway, Mabel realizes Donna’s confession to shoving Ben was to protect Cliff. Sure, she poisoned him, but Cliff delivered the fatal blow.
We see a flashback featuring Ben (Paul Rudd) and Cliff. Ben’s standing near the elevator in the Arconia, on the phone with his doctor. Cliff asks him about his phone convo. Ben reveals his toxicology report was strange. He had the usual drugs in his system but also rat poison. Ben starts to put two and two together — Donna served him the poisoned cookie to protect Cliff. Admittedly, this scene feels too over-the-top, although perhaps that’s intentional. It runs simultaneously with Loretta confronting Oliver’s character onstage and is equally heated. Maybe the theatrical element is supposed to be there.
That aside, it also feels like Ben correctly guessing why Donna did it was planted to give Cliff a motive (protect his mom). It’s all too … convenient. Ben and Cliff get into a physical altercation. In the present, Cliff opens a door on the attic floor, revealing the main stage. He threatens to jump through it if Mabel gets closer to him. We see his legs dangling through the square-shaped hole in the floor. During Loretta’s and Oliver’s tune, Cliff is taken aback to see Ben in Oliver’s place. Of course, this is his guilt manifesting itself. Ben is very much dead.
Cliff’s flashback syncs up with the present, as Cliff pushing Ben down the elevator shaft happens simultaneously with the nanny killing the murderous constable onstage. That’s pretty creative. Unfortunately, Cliff is damn close to falling through the attic door. K.T. (Allison Guinn) and Howard hurriedly close the curtain so the audience doesn’t witness another potential death.
Then, Charles and Oliver join Mabel in the attic while Cliff dangles by his hands through the door. Ultimately, Donna, who pulls him back to his feet, saves him. They embrace. Cliff feels remorseful for doing what he did. However, it’s time for the curtain call, so everyone clambers down the stairs and makes their way to the stage.
Later, the police cart the handcuffed Donna and Cliff to the station. Oliver gathers the cast and crew for “Opening Night Party: Part Deux” at his apartment. He reads Maxine’s review, which is overwhelmingly positive this time. Everyone cheers. Afterward, Loretta and Oliver share a tender moment at the piano, just as they did in the season premiere. I love it when things come full circle. Dickie approaches the couple with good news. The Grey’s Anatomy spin-off people really want Loretta for the show. Also, there’s talk of her starring in a production of Hedda Gabler. I would love to see a Streep-headlined Hedda Gabler in real life.
RELATED: Top 10 British TV Comedies
Now, the spin-off would take her to LA. Oliver encourages Loretta to take this risk. Her career is finally blossoming. However, Loretta admits she wants to stay in New York with him. Oliver promises to visit her in LA. He likes the city … in small doses. Tobert asks Mabel if she’s thought about going with him to LA. She needs to sort things out in NYC but will visit him. She, too, likes Los Angeles … in small doses. Ha.
Later, Sazz Pataki (Jane Lynch) pops in to congratulate the Death Rattle Dazzle crew on a smashing opening night. She poses for a selfie with Charles. Charles claims he received a “romance” text from Joy, but she merely tells him that Scott Bakula, her new boyfriend, says “Hi.” Uh, that’s not romantic, bro. Sazz asks to chat with Charles about a “sensitive matter.” But first, Charles heads to his apartment to grab a 1966 Argentinian Malbec he’s been saving for a special occasion.
RELATED: Gift Guide for True Crime Lovers
Next, we see Charles’ dark, empty apartment. Oh, this isn’t ominous or anything. Charles enters. Suddenly, a bullet whizzes through his window. While Mabel and Oliver chat excitedly at the party, we see Charles on the floor as blood pours from his chest. Actually … it’s Sazz, who presumably volunteered to grab the Malbec in his place. Howard asks Mabel and Oliver about Charles’ whereabouts. Then, Charles wanders into the room. He asks about Sazz. What’s taking her so long to retrieve the Malbec?
Meanwhile, a dying Sazz touches the bleeding wound on her chest. She tries to write a message in blood on Charles’ floor, but it seems like she probably died before finishing it. The scene cuts to black. Ah!
RELATED: Catch up on the Arconia antics with our Only Murders in the Building recaps!
All in all, Season 3 is probably the weakest of the bunch. However, Only Murders in the Building is still one of the most delightful comedies on TV. Season 3 takes on a more melancholic tone, and I love Mabel’s arc because it resonates so profoundly with me. I did enjoy the writers experimenting with our sleuthing trio’s dynamic and introducing a conflict for them to shake up the formula.
Plus, this season, hands down, has the strongest showing on the celebrity front. Meryl Streep, Paul Rudd, Matthew Broderick and the legendary Mel Brooks? How does one top that for Season 4? Streep delivers my favorite performance this season, too. I love her scenes with Jeremy Shamos.
Despite some narrative/pacing inconsistencies and the story surrounding the killers’ reveal being too predictable, Season 3 is a good time because of our core trio. Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez are so great together. OMITB for life.
Only Murders in the Building Seasons 1 through 3 are now streaming on Hulu.
https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/mabel-mora-only-murders-in-the-building/
[email protected]
What I do: I'm GGA's Managing Editor, a Senior Contributor, and Press Coordinator. I manage, contribute, and coordinate. Sometimes all at once. Joking aside, I oversee day-to-day operations for GGA, write, edit, and assess interview opportunities/press events.
Who I am: Before moving to Los Angeles after studying theater in college, I was born and raised in Amish country, Ohio. No, I am not Amish, even if I sometimes sport a modest bonnet.
Bylines in: Tell-Tale TV, Culturess, Sideshow Collectibles, and inkMend on Medium.
Critic: Rotten Tomatoes, CherryPicks, and the Hollywood Creative Alliance.
- YELLOWJACKETS Recap: (S03E07) Croak - March 21, 2025
- THE WHEEL OF TIME Recap: (S03E04) The Road to the Spear - March 20, 2025
- Shohreh Aghdashloo Talks Elaida’s Motivations in THE WHEEL OF TIME Season 3 - March 20, 2025
