Weekend Watch: Only Murders In The Building Season 4

The podcasters return for more murder mayhem

Image Credit: Hulu

Welcome to the latest edition of Weekend Watch, where I recommend (or occasionally warn against) movies or TV shows I’ve been checking out. This week, everyone’s favourite crime podcasters are back on the (off)beat. Follow James on Twitter: @jamwhite and Threads/Instagram: @jammerwhite

If you’ve been reading this column for a few years, you’ll no doubt know my history with Only Murders In The Building. I was a (slight) latecomer to Season 1, but devoured it, delighted by the kooky charms of Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez as three unexpected crime-solving partners in a fancy Manhattan apartment building.

I enjoyed both Season 2 and Season 3, and as the fourth dawns, I’m happy to report that I had just as much fun with the show expanding into a new locale and finding a another story to tell. In the new season, former (and occasionally current) TV actor Charles-Haden Savage (Martin), enthusiastic theatre director Oliver Putnam (Short) and reserved artist Mabel (Gomez) finally discover the horrifying truth (as revealed to audiences at the end of Season 3) that Sazz Pataki, Charles’ long-time stunt double and friend (played with typical gusto by Jane Lynch) is the latest murder victim.

And to add to their issues, Hollywood has come calling following the success of the case they solved back in Season 1. And yes, while there are a few predictable tropes as our trio rock up at Paramount Studios to be greeted by producer Bev Melon (Molly Shannon) and her obsequious gaggle of executives and creatives, showrunners Martin and John Hoffman keep the show feeling like it should.

There are a lot of guest stars to be juggled once more, with Eugene Levy, Zach Galifianakis and Eva Longoria playing versions of themselves as the talent hired to play our heroes in the movie that Melon and Paramount want to rush into production on, plus the likes of Scott Bakula (as himself) and a returning Meryl Streep as formerly struggling actress Loretta Durkin, who is now gainfully employed on a Grey’s Anatomy spin-off shooting in Los Angeles.

But for the first episode at least, the focus remains on the lead trio as it should, switching between slapstick (Charles going to great lengths to slide his pay demands across the table), silliness (pretty much everything with Oliver) and more sombre reflection (Mabel and the new murder). It’s consistently funny, but takes Sazz’s death and her connection to Charles seriously. Plus, it has one of the darkest final moments this show has yet attempted.

I’m hopeful that Only Murders can keep the quality level high while attracting more A-list talent, and the first episode of the new season certainly gives me that feeling.

Only Murders In The Building Season 4 has one episode up on Hulu in the US and Disney+ in the UK. New episodes will drop weekly on Tuesdays.