Editor's note: This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the show being covered here wouldn't exist.
Once again, a shocking murder has been committed, and once again, Hulu's Only Murders in the Building returns for a hilarious new season. Fresh off a sophomore run that was more jam-packed but still retained its heart, the series co-created by John Hoffman and Steve Martin proves it still knows how to make its winning formula work. There are some growing pains in season 3, and in this case it's almost literal, as it comes from Only Murders in the Building stretching beyond the Arconia. However, thanks to a winning cast (that now includes two major A-list stars) and an enticing new mystery, the show still remains light on its feet.
The new season picks up right where Only Murders in the Building season 2 left off: World-famous actor Ben Glenroy (Paul Rudd) collapsing onstage on the opening night of Oliver Putnam's (Martin Short) grand return to Broadway. With a cast full of suspects and a very prominent victim in their laps, it seems like the perfect opportunity for Oliver and his friends/podcast co-hosts, Mabel Mora (Selena Gomez) and Charles-Haden Savage (Martin), to jump into a new season of their hit show. However, while Mabel is eager to get to the bottom of who killed Ben, the others are distracted. Oliver is more concerned with the state of his play and a new relationship with budding actress Loretta (Meryl Streep), while Charles has his own problems with his role in the play. Whether the trio can get to the bottom of Ben's death is almost as big a mystery as who committed the crime.
Oliver's play, which goes on to be reimagined as a musical, serves as the foundation for Only Murders in the Building season 3. The characters who make up the cast and crew, including newly-upped series regular Michael Cyril Creighton as returning Arconia resident Howard, form the bulk of the main ensemble this time around. This adds a new level of intrigue to the ongoing mystery, as nearly everyone is a stranger with motives to be uncovered. However, it also has the unfortunate side effect of drawing the series away from the cast of characters we have come to love within the Arconia. Episode 7, which brings back some familiar faces, is a sharp reminder of one element that has been lost this time around. Still, the creative team deserves credit for pushing the boundaries of the show's universe. Plus, it's hard to beat a sprawling Broadway theater as a set piece for a murder mystery.
The play has the added advantage of ensuring the many characters involved in Only Murders in the Building season 3 have a true purpose within the plot. Last season, the series struggled to properly integrate its buzzy guest stars, and with big names like Rudd and Streep joining the cast (both playing characters so unlike themselves, it's quite funny), there was always a chance the same mistake would be made. The opposite is the case here — newcomers like Streep, Ashley Park, and Jesse Williams all having established ties to Oliver's struggling production. The production also adds new layers to the core trio's dynamics. With Charles and Oliver both consumed with the show, Mabel is left to be the driving force behind the investigation, and this leads to cracks in their friendship. It's not the first time they have fought, but it does feel like their most urgent conflict yet. On top of that is Ben's murder, which as usual offers up plenty of red herrings and twists for us to parse over. Episode 8, the last one sent for review, features some major plot developments that set up season 3's endgame in a thrilling way.
Through it all, season 3's success remains grounded in the perfect chemistry between its main characters. Though certain episodes, namely episode 5, keeps them apart for various reasons, Short, Martin, and Gomez still know how to play off each other, and their scenes crackle with humor and heart. Short once again gets to play to both his comedic and dramatic strengths; with the latter, Oliver's life takes a drastic turn in the second episode that, while somewhat ignored later on, looms over his arc and grants Short the opportunity to discover new sides to the impassioned theater director. Martin gets an excellent showcase through a "patter song" Charles must perform for the show, and he continues to play Charles' more understated brand of comedy perfectly. Finally, Mabel is at a crossroads in her life, and this allows Gomez to stretch her dramatic chops, particularly in a poignant scene with a figment of Ben's memory in episode 2.
With its first two seasons, Only Murders in the Building established a clear formula and style it largely continues to adhere to in season 3. At the same time, it isn't afraid to push past the familiar walls of the Arconia and test its characters in new ways. If occasionally season 3 feels like it's lost the magic, Only Murders in the Building is quick to swerve and bring back the charm. There's a lot to enjoy here, whether it be Charles' oddly-manifesting stage fright, the delightful returns of multiple characters, or just watching Martin, Short, and Gomez banter with each other. With that trio intact, it feels almost impossible for Only Murders in the Building to lose.
Only Murders in the Building season 3 premieres Tuesday, August 8 on Hulu. The season is comprised of 10 episodes, with the first two debuting at once. Subsequent episodes will release weekly.