DISCLAIMER: This recap of Only Murders in the Building Season 3 Episode 1, “The Show Must…”, contains spoilers. Proceed at your peril.
Welcome, Arconiacs! Only Murders in the Building is back with a less action-packed season premiere that contains a handful of fun twists. The writers find a unique way of getting the murder back into the building. “The Show Must…” hones in on our main players and new characters, ensuring we get to know those at the center stage of Ben Glenroy’s death.
Not only do we have the delightful dynamic between our core trio, Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez, but special guest stars Meryl Streep and Paul Rudd give it their all. Streep’s Loretta is already a fascinating character, while Rudd delivers a hilarious performance. He plays smug douche a little too well.
Ready to delve into “The Show Must…”? Let’s get to it.
We open in 1962 at the Goosebury Theater on Broadway. A young Loretta watches a performance from the audience in complete awe. She wanders through the aisles and stands near the stage, watching a gorgeous actress sing her heart out. The actress smiles at little Loretta. Charles (Martin) narrates as Loretta trains in dance and acting during her adolescence and young adulthood. Then, she embarks on auditions as a burgeoning actress. Unfortunately, she endures decades of rejection, always close to the spotlight but never feeling it on her skin. She stands on the periphery of her dream.
Next, we see Loretta (Streep) auditioning for Death Rattle, Oliver’s (Short) directorial return to Broadway. She blows him away. I mean, she’s Meryl Streep. Oliver asks her where she’s been. Initially, she doesn’t understand the question until it dawns on her that he’s giving her the part. Now, she’s elated.
Then, we return to the present, with Ben Glenroy (Rudd) dead onstage. Charles, Oliver and Mabel (Gomez) reunite outside the theater as Ben’s carted away. Ben’s manager/brother Dickey (Jeremy Shamos) sobs over the phone. Mabel asks Charles if Ben was poisoned, but he just saw blood pouring out of Ben’s mouth. Oliver urges Howard (Michael Cyril Creighton), now his assistant, to organize the opening night party as if nothing’s amiss. Howard doesn’t believe anyone’s in the partying mood, but what Oliver Putnam wants, Oliver Putnam gets. So much for his “splashy” comeback (Get it? His last Broadway production was the monumental failure, Splash!).
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We rewind four months into the past. Mabel accompanies Oliver and Charles for Death Rattle‘s table read. She’s excited to meet Ben Glenroy. We learn our fave true-crime-loving trio hasn’t spent much time together since solving Bunny’s murder. Upon their arrival, Oliver greets his actors. Loretta, Kimber (Ashley Park), Ty (Gerald Caesar) and Jonathan (Jason Veasey) are present, along with Death Rattle producers Donna (Linda Emond) and Cliff (Wesley Taylor). They’re a mother/son duo that can kiss on the lips because Cliff’s gay. Hey, those are Donna’s words.
While waiting for Ben to arrive fashionably late as the star, Oliver unveils the plans for the set design and the costume sketches. Charles embarrasses himself by delivering a speech about how he’s “normal” like the unknown actors in the room. Oh, and did you know Brazzos’ first name is Aristotle? That checks out. Finally, Ben arrives with his entourage: his brother Dickey and his cameraman Tobert (Jesse Williams). It’s like “Robert,” but with a “t.” Ben has everyone sign NDAs so he can turn his Broadway debut into a documentary.
Ben makes his way around the table and flirts with everyone. Well, he bypasses Charles. That must be when their feud started. He’s also weird with Loretta. I’m guessing that’s plain envy. Anyway, during the table read, Loretta puts on a variety of accents, such as Scottish and French-Canadian, to find the voice of her character, the nanny. Oliver advises her to speak with her own voice, like in her audition. Afterward, Ben tries to persuade Oliver to fire Loretta. But our director insists she’s merely nervous. He chats with Loretta, who confirms this. She’s bad at table reads.
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Later, we return to the present. Howard informs Oliver that Loretta’s in her dressing room and is unhappy. Everyone arrives at the Arconia. Lester (Teddy Coluca) attempts to calm Arconia residents, including Uma (Jackie Hoffman), regarding the malfunctioning elevator. Thankfully, the other one still works but can only hold seven people simultaneously. While riding up to Oliver’s apartment, Uma tells Charles that at least the murder occurred outside the building this time. Famous last words…
At the party, Mabel broaches the idea of reviving the podcast to Oliver. They can use it to solve Ben’s murder and spend quality time together. Oliver approves. Also, he knows he’s Mabel’s favorite “old.” Charles reunites with Joy (Andrea Martin), who was hanging out with Lucy. Meanwhile, Loretta and Oliver get cozy at the piano. They sing a lovely duet together. Loretta proposes they try the dating thing since Death Rattle has essentially been put to death. Continuing the show after their lead died onstage on opening night would be silly. Oliver seems eager to embark on a new romance with Loretta. I ship it.
Suddenly, Ben bursts into Oliver’s apartment. He’s alive! He claims he was dead for an hour. Ben assumes he ate something that didn’t agree with him. Yeah, that’s usually how it goes. As for the blood pouring from his mouth, he apparently bit his tongue. Anyway, Ben addresses everyone from the cast and crew individually. While he was dead, he saw the light. It made him realize he needs to be a better person. He apologizes to everyone except Loretta. Ben claims Loretta is a “snake.” Harsh.
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When Ben reaches Charles, the latter proposes they let bygones be bygones. Why can’t they start over from scratch? The two men embrace, mending fences. Before Ben departs, he expresses his excitement at going for round two with Death Rattle. The show is back on. Everyone is, understandably, shocked. Bewildered, even. Once Ben leaves, Mabel asks Loretta if she’s ready for a second chance at opening night. She’s not as happy since Ben is an asshole. She storms out.
Later, Mabel arrives at her lavish apartment. It looks gorgeous. I’m envious. She texts her boys to see if they want to meet at The Pickle Diner. Charles and Oliver chat about stuff that makes Mabel feel like she’s out of the loop. She wants them to spend more time together. Then, she reveals her aunt is selling her apartment, which is why it looks so fancy. Mabel has four weeks to move out. No! Mabel can’t leave the Arconia. Mabel insists it’s time for her to move on and live her own life. She mentions the possibility of the guys visiting her in Brooklyn or Queens, but she thinks better of it and vows to visit them. Side note: I love her coat.
While in the elevator, our trio chats about the podcast and life stuff. Charles claims it wouldn’t have made sense to resume the podcast since Ben didn’t “die” in the Arconia. We see blood slowly drip down onto Charles’ face while he talks. He looks down and spots a puddle of blood on the floor. Mabel, Oliver and Charles look up to see a shape on the elevator’s ceiling. They run out of the elevator as said ceiling cracks. Our trio notices the shape is a body — it’s none other than Ben Glenroy, who’s dead for real this time. Uma steals Mabel’s Season 2 finale line, saying, “You’ve got to be f*cking kidding me.”
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I love the plot twist of reviving Ben, only to kill him in a terrifying manner in the final moments of the premiere. Again, it’s a great way of keeping him related to the Arconia, a character in its own right. Plus, it gives our trio more incentive to restart the podcast.
“The Show Must…” is a nice character-driven introduction that sets the stage (hee hee) for what’ll surely be an intriguing third season. Perhaps a little more introspective and lighter on the laughs, but entertaining all the same.
Will Mabel actually move out of the Arconia? Who’s on your suspect list regarding Ben’s murder? Will Oliver keep Death Rattle going sans Ben? Only time (and more episodes) will tell.
Only Murders in the Building streams new episodes every Tuesday on Hulu.
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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.
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