Hulu’s Unmissable Mystery Series Is Finally Back, Here’s Everything You Need to Remember

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The catchy theme song is back, signaling the return of Hulu’s popular mystery series, *Only Murders in the Building*. After a year-long hiatus, season five premiered on September 9th, bringing viewers back to the quirky world of The Arconia apartment building and its amateur detective podcasters: Charles (Steve Martin), Oliver (Martin Short), and Mabel (Selena Gomez). *Only Murders* consistently offers a winning combination of suspense, comedy, and relatable characters, making it a standout show among all the streaming options.

As a huge fan, I’m completely hooked on this show! But honestly, after four seasons of twists, turns, and a growing number of quirky characters – played by some seriously famous actors – some of the smaller details leading up to season five are starting to blur together for me. So, before I jump into the new mystery, I thought it would be a good idea to quickly recap what happened in the first four seasons to get my memory refreshed.

Our Beloved Trio Has Investigated Multiple Murders and Countless Personal Crises

At the center of *Only Murders in the Building* is the changing relationship between three unlikely friends: Charles, a former TV actor hoping for another chance; Oliver, a cheerful but often broke Broadway director; and Mabel, a somewhat guarded artist with a hidden past. Their fascination with true crime podcasts led them to start their own when a resident of their building, The Arconia, died under suspicious circumstances in Season 1. As they investigated, they uncovered a complicated story involving drugs, stolen jewelry, and secret relationships, eventually revealing that Jan Bellows-Charles’s girlfriend and a bassoon player-was the killer. Driven by jealousy and a flair for the dramatic, Jan poisoned the victim and even tried to kill Charles, proving that appearances can be deceiving and anyone could be hiding a dark side.

In Season 2, the mystery deepened when the trio themselves became suspects after Bunny Folger, the president of their building, was found murdered with Mabel’s knitting needle in her apartment. The season explored the strange history of the building and its residents, introducing Lucy, Charles’ stepdaughter, and revealing more about Oliver’s relationship with his son, Will. Their investigation-and the second season of their podcast-led them through hidden passages and tunnels, all revolving around a valuable painting. Ultimately, they discovered that Poppy White, an assistant to popular podcaster Cinda Canning, was the killer. Poppy had actually faked her own death years earlier, using the alias Becky Butler, to give Cinda a sensational story for her successful podcast.

Season 3 took a glamorous turn with a murder on Broadway – actor Ben Glenroy (Paul Rudd) was found dead on opening night of his return performance. We met Loretta Durkin (Meryl Streep), an ambitious actress who caught Oliver’s eye, and Kimber Min (Ashley Park), a TikTok-famous performer juggling her show with a thriving online business. The investigation led Oliver and the team behind the scenes, exposing the intense competition and hidden resentments within the theater world. After many red herrings and a long list of potential suspects, the mystery was solved: Loretta was covering for Dickie, her long-lost son. Dickie had a complex history with Ben, but wasn’t the killer, making Loretta’s efforts misguided. The real murderer was Donna DeMeo, the show’s producer, who poisoned Ben to protect her son Cliff’s struggling production. Donna feared Ben’s unpredictable behavior and declining health would ruin the show and jeopardize Cliff’s Broadway debut.

Okay, so Season 4 starts right where Season 3 left off – total cliffhanger continuation! This time around, the victim is Charles’ stunt double, Sazz Pataki, played brilliantly by Jane Lynch, and she’s found shot in Charles’ apartment. It kicks off a whole new mystery that sends Mabel, Charles, and Oliver out to Los Angeles. Sazz managed to write a really cryptic note with her last moments, and we follow them as they try to decode it. Things get *really* meta when they discover a Hollywood studio is making a movie about their podcast! And it’s not just *any* movie – Eugene Levy, Eva Longoria, and Zach Galifianakis are playing Charles, Mabel, and Oliver *in* the movie, and they’re constantly following our trio around, getting way too into their roles and hilariously messing with the investigation. Seriously, it’s like they’re method acting their way through a murder mystery, and it’s amazing!

Okay, so the killer turned out to be Rex, Sazz’s old stunt double who became a screenwriter! It was all about revenge and ambition – Rex was desperate to make it big and blamed Sazz for holding him back. He killed Sazz to steal the screenplay for *Only Murders in the Building* – apparently, Sazz was the real writer! It was a crazy motive. And the season ended on a sweet note with Oliver and Loretta finally getting married, though she had to leave right away for a movie shoot. We all breathed a sigh of relief when Oliver, Mabel, and Charles thought they’d solved the case and could relax… but then they found Lester, the doorman, dead in the fountain! Seriously?! Just when you think it’s over…

The Arconia apartment building is more than just a backdrop for the show – it feels like a character itself, full of history, secret spaces, and a constantly changing group of unusual residents who always seem to be suspects. Characters like the eccentric Howard Morris (with his cat and now a pig named Sevelyn!), and the show’s dedicated podcast fans, are just as important to the series’ appeal as the main characters. As Season 5 begins, expect these relationships and the building’s mysterious past to be central to the new investigation. It’s time to start sleuthing – the mystery is on again!

So, Season 5 is just around the corner, and I’m dying to know what everyone thinks is going to happen! Head over to the ComicBook Forum – the link is below – and let’s chat about it! Seriously, join the discussion now, I want to hear your predictions!

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2025-09-15 17:11