DISCLAIMER: This recap of the Only Murders in the Building episode “Hello, Darkness” has spoilers. Prepare to send the investigation into a whole new direction and proceed at your peril.
Welcome back, Arconiacs! We’re reaching the home stretch now on Only Murders in the Building. “Hello, Darkness” unveils the identity of Glitter Guy in a shocking twist. While it’s not quite as action or plot-heavy as previous installments, there’s a solid balance between heartwarming scenes, unbridled levity (especially anything related to Oliver) and a few white-knuckled moments (i.e., getting chased by the killer).
I love how this show develops the Arconia’s eccentric residents. The building itself feels like a supporting character. The broadened focus beyond the three leads is a refreshing palette cleanser every once in a while, especially when you have a strong supporting cast like this one.
Ready to delve into “Hello, Darkness”? Let’s get to it.
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OMITB for Life
We open with a voiceover from Marv (Daniel Oreskes) as he gushes about the always-unexpected murder cases running rampant in New York City. Then, we see Marv sitting with fellow Arconiacs Paulette (Ali Stroker), Sam (Jaboukie Young-White) and Superfan Grant (Orson Hong) at The Pickle Diner. Paulette, Sam and Grant believe our sleuthing trio is losing their touch; however, Marv knows better. He’s not a “fairweather fan.” Marv is an OMITB follower for life.
Suddenly, Mabel (Selena Gomez) barges into the diner, embracing Charles (Steve Martin) and Oliver (Martin Short) with all her might. It’s a sweet moment. Marv continues narrating, explaining to the audience that he believes the “6th Avenue Slasher” is behind Bunny Folger’s murder. Charles frantically calls Lucy after Mabel finds a photo of her among Glitter Guy’s belongings.
Suddenly, the power goes out in the diner. It’s rolling blackout time, baby! Our trio prepares to depart, making a beeline for the Arconia to ensure Lucy’s safety. Before they leave, Ivan (Ariel Shafir) gives Oliver the rest of the dips on hand since he can’t store them with no electricity. Oliver’s in dip heaven.
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Hanging Out in the Lobby
Next, we arrive at the Arconia, wherein Ursula (Vanessa Aspillaga) pacifies the anxious masses by supplying them with Gut Milk. Nina (Christine Ko) phones Lester (Teddy Coluca) and asks him to deliver her package. Unfortunately, he must take several flights of stairs, as the elevators are out of commission.
Mabel, Oliver and Charles return to the Arconia, and a dismayed Oliver braces himself for the physical exertion the stairs will bring. Howard (Michael Cyril Creighton) chats with Dr. Stanley (Russell G. Jones) about the new cute guy on his floor. The good doctor encourages Howard to ask the man out on a date.
Meanwhile, Oliver struggles to make the trek upstairs to Charles’s apartment. As usual, Charles and Oliver go on a tangent about where they got their knee replacements. Thankfully, the no-nonsense Mabel keeps our fellas on task.
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Howard tries to persuade his cat Sevelyn to eat, but to no avail. I about lost it when he said, in all seriousness, “Sevelyn Marie Morris … num-num.” Sevelyn is not having those num-nums tonight. Noticing he doesn’t have batteries for his lantern, Howard works up the courage to ask Cute Neighbor Guy (CNG) to “light his lantern.” Lo and behold, CNG (Jason Veasey) also needs batteries for his flashlight!
Lighting the Lantern
Howard offers CNG full use of his extensive and varied candle collection in lieu of flashlight batteries. Lester finally makes it to Nina’s apartment with her package. She offers him a place to sit and rest amid the sweltering heat of the blackout. Plus, she just forced an older man to take the stairs.
Then, Lucy (Zoe Colletti) hears a sound outside Charles’s door. It’s the killer! Lucy makes a break for the secret passageway in Charles’s bathroom. The murderer follows hot on her heels with a knife in hand. Uh-oh.
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Later, Charles, Oliver and Mabel arrive at the former’s home to find Lucy missing. Mabel urges the guys to check out the passageway, as there’s a good chance Lucy’s hiding from the killer.
Meanwhile, Howard informs CNG all about his “Yodel-shop Quartet.” CNG compliments Howard’s voice, and we learn that CNG performs on Broadway in The Lion King. However, CNG confesses another passion of his — to be a children’s librarian. Howard’s a librarian, y’all!
Hiding From a Killer
Lucy hides from the killer while Lester assembles Nina’s package for her baby. Nina apologizes for snapping at everyone’s fave doorman earlier. The pair chat about life, Lester’s family and who murdered Bunny. Does this person have it out for apartment board presidents?
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Next, our sleuthing trio runs into a wall in the passageway — literally and figuratively. Oliver panics about the results of the DNA test he took to determine whether Will is his biological son. He was about to receive said results when the blackout took NYC by storm. Our crew stews in their misery as they wonder whether Marv and the Arconiacs were right. Maybe they are stuck in a rut.
Hello, Darkness, My Old Friend…
CNG convinces Howard to sing a few bars of “The Sound of Silence” by Simon & Garfunkel, the grand finale of Howard’s upcoming Yodel-shop performance. Howard has reservations regarding solo singing, but CNG swoops in for a glorious duet. The crowd in the lobby overhears Howard and CNG singing, and everyone joins in for an impromptu performance of one of the greatest folk rock tunes of all time (not hyperbole). Ursula gets really into it.
The singing lulls Nina’s baby to sleep while Oliver and Mabel join from the passageway. As Howard finishes the song with a sweet yodel, he leans in to kiss CNG. Unfortunately, CNG sneezes, and we learn he’s deathly allergic to pets. No!
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Suddenly, Lucy runs toward our crew, and Charles breathes a sigh of relief. Lucy finally tells Charles about her trip to the Arconia on the night he was arrested for Bunny’s murder, a.k.a. the night she saw the killer. Said killer sneezed before running away. Charles, Oliver and Mabel help Lucy identify the murderer.
Is There Anything Dips Can’t Do?
Then, the killer spots our heroes, and they flee for the lobby. After descending the stairs, Mabel waits for Bunny’s killer while armed with Oliver’s dips. She knocks the person unconscious. Is there anything dips can’t do?
The gang removes the killer’s mask to find none other than Marv!
Meanwhile, Nina tells Lester that he’s not in danger of unemployment. She promotes him, making for a nice feel-good moment.
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Next, Howard vigorously applies a lint roller to his sweater before knocking on CNG’s door. Howard presents a hypothetical to him. If Howard gives up Sevelyn, vacuums his apartment and removes all the cat hair from his sweaters, will CNG consider going on a date? CNG suggests they start that date now and urges Howard to keep Sevelyn. They can work around the allergy thing. How sweet!
The Protective Mold Inspector
Marv explains that he was trying to protect Lucy from the 6th Avenue Slasher. He’s a mold inspector, hence the outfit, and he’s worked for the Arconia for years. Lucy reassures our trio that Marv’s not who she saw the night Bunny died. This time, Marv drove away the murderer, who we saw pursuing Lucy earlier. Marv admits he only wanted to be part of the action. Oliver promises to feature Marv on the next podcast episode. Hey, Season 2 is in a slump at the moment.
Later, Mabel, Charles and Oliver find Lucy chatting with Detective Kreps (Michael Rapaport). She discloses their passageway adventure to Kreps, which might not be the best idea in hindsight. Oliver and Charles thank Kreps for checking in on them and leave with Lucy in tow.
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Questioning Kreps
Mabel questions why Kreps is at the Arconia, while Kreps retorts that he wonders what’s stopping him from arresting her now. Marv runs into Kreps’s left arm, and Kreps clutches it in pain. He claims that’s where he got a new tattoo. Mabel spots a splash of crimson glitter on Kreps’s neck as he turns to insult Marv. Uh-oh.
Kreps is Glitter Guy!
That damn Kreps! I had a sneaking suspicion about him from the get-go. His vehement diatribe about podcasts screamed, “I’m the murderer; don’t look at me!” However, I don’t think he acted alone. Another player lurks in the shadows, and it’s only a matter of time before our sleuthing trio finds them.
I love the meet-cute between Howard and Cute Neighbor Guy (I couldn’t find his character name anywhere in the credits!). Howard’s evolution is fun and surprisingly heartfelt. Creighton’s comedic timing is also pitch-perfect (much like his yodeling). I hope we see more of Howard and CNG’s budding romance.
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Again, I dig the focus on the supporting players — the lifeblood of the Arconia. It establishes this series’s beating heart, its crux: finding your people and clinging tightly to those who make you whole. That’s what it’s all about (well, that and solving murders).
Do you think Detective Kreps is the culprit, and did he act alone? Or is this another red herring? Did Oliver refrigerate his dips in time? Will Sevelyn ever eat her num-nums? Join me while I continue recapping Only Murders in the Building, only on Geek Girl Authority.
Only Murders in the Building drops new episodes every Tuesday on Hulu.
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