I recently enjoyed watching Only Murders in the Building on Hotstar. I love crime mysteries and romantic comedies, but I have never seen a show perfectly combining these two genres.
I also loved the chemistry and humor between the age gap protagonists – Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez (never having seen her on screen before, she was a delightful surprise).
This fun TV series has a generous dose of twists, satire, crime investigation, podcast culture, and New York glamour.
What worked well
- Beautiful setting and old-world glamor – I loved how the Arconia (the apartment complex where the story is set) is so full of charm and warmth. I usually don’t care about movies/shows set in New York (always been a London person when it comes to setting), but I fell in love with the city as depicted here.
- The guest appearances – Sting and Amy Schumer were exciting and unexpected. I loved how the show wove in Sting as an actual legit suspect.
- A superb silent episode in season 2 with absolutely no verbal dialogue – just highlighted the excellent acting by the entire cast.
- Ode to slapstick – This is not a slapstick comedy, but there is something in the very physical acting style that is a throwback to an older acting style.
- Background score – Brilliant, contributes heavily to the show’s mood and tone.
- A unique mix of various interests – I never knew true crime podcasting was a thing; this show has now made me curious to explore this genre. I was also surprised to see Hardy Boys books featured so strongly in the show. A crazy mish-mash of tastes, but it all works somehow.
What didn’t work well
- The second season is noticeably weaker than the first. Although there were some superb moments, the plot was sluggish overall.
- Selena Gomez‘ acting was especially uneven in the second series, and her character development was unconvincing. Also, very little chemistry between her and her love interests in both seasons.
- The mystery in the second season started out promising but eventually fizzled out because of too many side plots. However, the final denouément and the uncovering of the killer were exceptionally well done.
The second season ends on an interesting cliffhanger and introduces an intriguing new character played by one of my favorite actors. This means that weak season or not, I am signed up for season 3.
What about you? Have you watched the show? Plan on watching the next season?
I haven’t watched it yet, but it’s definitely on the docket! I’ve heard many glowing things, and it sounds really fun.
It’s a bit overhyped, for sure. The first season sparkles, the second one dragged a bit. Still, it works just because of the acting and the novelty of the story line.