The Online Article – Series Review » Hulu’s Cluedo-like comedy is back for a second season just as brilliant as the previous one.
The trio of podcasters (left to right: Mabel, Charles and Oliver). ©Hulu
Published on 22.08.2022
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
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As of this writing, season 2 of Only Murders in the Building is still not finished, the last two episodes having not yet been broadcast. Because yes, the series created and produced by Steve Martin and John Hoffman, the second part of which has been available on Disney+ since the end of June, follows a weekly rhythm, with an episode every Tuesday. A format (unfortunately?) not conducive to binge-watching, but rather ingenious for the genre, since fans can investigate at the same time as the characters, as the story progresses. They are also invited to vote for the one they believe to be the culprit.. While waiting for the ultimate outcome, a look back at this second season, for the moment just as brilliant as the first.
Before going any further, a brief reminder of the facts is in order. The story ofOnly Murders in the Bulding picks up exactly where we left off. While the celebration of the resolution of the investigation around the murder of Tim Kono is in full swing on the roofs of the Arconia, the residence building of our protagonists, a terrible event comes to cut the party short. Mabel (Selena Gomez), having gone down to refuel with champagne in her apartment, is found by her friends Charles (Steve Martin) and Oliver (Martin Short) in their sweaters stained with blood, a lifeless Bunny in her arms (Jayne Houdyshell). The budding detectives then become the main suspects in the murder of the one who was still the day before the president of the board of directors of the Arconia. Arrested then interrogated by the police, they were finally released for lack of evidence. To prove their innocence and restore their image, they decide to investigate on their side and, as they are now used to, to narrate their investigations in their podcast. Only Murders in the Building.
In this second season, the bulk of the action once once more takes place at the Arconia. But the New York building hides a peculiarity, hitherto only known to certain insiders. The revelation of it to other protagonists allows the plot to renew itself despite the similar setting in which it takes place. The series also offers us some insights into the past of our heroes, thus giving them more relief and making them even more endearing. New faces are added to the cast, in particular that of the young Lucy (Zoe Colletti), the former daughter-in-law of Charles, a worthy representative of Gen Z, who fits perfectly into this strange trio of boomers/millenials. Others, less convincing, also make their entrance, such as that of Alice (Cara Delavingne), the enigmatic English artist who falls in love (a little too quickly) with Mabel.
As in the previous part, the moments of suspense are counterbalanced by humorous scenes, offering the viewer a nice mix of comedy and mystery. The soundtrack, the same as in the first season, is still a hit. The opening credits, in particular, remain in the head. But where the series stands out in particular is in its ability to interest viewers in its characters, including secondary ones. We remember for example the silent episode of season 1, in homage to the character of Theo, deaf. This time, we will remember the one that recounts the last day of old Bunny, the manager of the Arconia apartments, unfriendly, even downright detestable, but ultimately so human. Where some series struggle over several seasons to make their heroes interesting, Only Murders in the Building manages to do it in a poignant way in a single episode of regarding thirty minutes for a secondary character. If that’s not proof of a good series…
Faithful to its DNA while having been able to renew itself, the second opus ofOnly Murders in the Building is a success. It remains to be seen if the final episode will be able to do as well as that of the previous part. One thing is certain: the series has already been renewed for a season 3.