Only Murders In The Building’s Season 5 Premiere Commits A Murder-Mystery Sin That I Don’t Think I Can Forgive

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Be careful if you haven’t seen the first episode of ‘Only Murders in the Building’, available on Hulu. There might be some spoilers ahead, so watch out!

After a hiatus, the popular TV show “Only Murders in the Building” is back for its Season 5, airing in 2025. The narrative picks up shortly after the events of the previous season’s finale, where we tragically lost the beloved doorman Lester. To add to the suspense, the premiere reveals another body, suggesting that all these incidents might be linked together.

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While immensely enjoying Téa Leoni’s addition as Sofia Caccimelio and reconnecting with the main trio, certain plot developments left me feeling uneasy from a narrative standpoint. In fact, I believe one such incident encapsulates what could be one of the most egregious storytelling mistakes in a murder-mystery genre.

OMITB’s Biggest Murder-Mystery Storytelling Sin: Oliver’s Dry Cleaner Scene

In the opening episode of their podcast, our main hosts find themselves navigating a rather intricate initial phase as they embark on an investigation. As the episode concludes, a twist that one might foresee for such a show unfolds: the husband Leoni’s character was seeking turns out to be the second deceased individual. It’s later revealed that Nicky Caccimelio, portrayed by Bobby Cannavale, was already dead when we first meet him in person, and undoubtedly his demise is linked to Lester’s.

It wasn’t through relentless police investigation, involving long hours of surveillance and meticulous examination of security camera recordings, that Nicky’s body was found. Mabel did indeed review extensive footage, but her actions didn’t lead to the discovery.

Instead, it was due to Oliver’s late-night dry cleaning attempt for Lester’s hat that led to the discovery of Lester’s body. Rather than looking for a new dry cleaner or waiting until morning, Oliver curiously opened the door which happened to be unlocked and ventured inside. Instead of leaving the hat on the counter with a note and payment, Oliver decided to switch on all the machinery to examine the rest of Lester’s uniform. It appears that he could have easily picked up the jacket after spotting it, but still used the conveyor system instead.

A common mistake that many mysteries make is depending too heavily on coincidences and illogical character actions to drive the plot, and in the Season 5 premiere, Oliver’s actions seemed to fit right into those contrived storylines. In a different era, like the ’70s or ’80s, I could possibly accept a neurotic character strolling into a closed business, tampering with equipment without being caught or causing an alarm. However, in today’s context, such events appear less believable and more like convenient plot devices.

It’s clear that there must be logical plot reasons for Nicky’s body being displayed in the family business and the mysterious unlocking of the door when Oliver was present, which will likely be explained in future episodes. However, it’s unacceptable for Oliver to engage in a questionably legal act like almost breaking into a business for personal motives. While he may be unstable, random impulses aren’t enough to sustain a murder-mystery where precise details are crucial.

I’m Also Not In Love With Another Big Reveal Being Tied The Arconia’s Secret Architecture

Enthusiast of puzzle-filled escape rooms here, I appreciate how shows like “Only Murders in the Building” sometimes satisfy my craving for intricate storylines. The premiere episode unveiled an exciting mystery when Charles and Mabel stumbled upon a hidden casino beneath their apartment building, the Arconia. This secret was partially revealed through a unique deck of cards, one of which had a magnetic card bearing a hidden map – because why not have such a mysterious artifact, right?

This find, however, seemed rather too convenient and contrived considering the storyline. It was puzzling indeed when Sofia handed Charles the deck as a “hint”. Had Charles been drinking something other than wine or not been in proximity to anything magnetic, he likely wouldn’t have discovered the map hidden within the cards.

The discovery felt too convenient and unrealistic for the story. It was strange when Sofia gave Charles a deck of cards as a clue. If Charles had been drinking something other than wine or not near any magnets, he probably wouldn’t have found the map on the cards.

Absolutely, those events sound plausible given they are part of a TV show. Yet, if the stairway leading to the casino was concealed within one of the janitorial closets on the lobby floor, it seems odd that a secret map would be necessary to locate it. A simple sign like “Broom Closet Near Elevators” could have been just as effective. Furthermore, I’m finding it hard to believe that anyone with access to the key for this hidden entrance would require such a reminder about where the casino is, given its proximity and prominence.

My main concern about this latest revelation is that it mirrors previous instances on “Only Murders” where the Arconia has hidden areas unknown to the characters, even though they’ve lived there for a long time (think of the secret tunnels used by Jan in Season 1). It’s intriguing to imagine a hidden casino, but I worry that the show may start to feel repetitive or self-parody if it keeps repeating similar ideas.

On one side, I understand why the apartment complex is still central to the show after so many years – it’s challenging to keep coming up with fresh ideas for a setting. However, if the creative team continues to rely on viewers accepting increasingly implausible events each new season, such as numerous murders around Charles, Oliver, and Mabel, they should be able to balance these unrealistic elements with more logical storytelling instead of repeating similar plots.

As a fellow movie enthusiast, I find myself speculating about the upcoming season’s twists and turns, one intriguing possibility being Keegan-Michael Key’s character revealing that Oliver was diagnosed with a unique condition in his youth, which compels him to enter businesses after hours. However, my skeptic instincts are slightly nudging me to question the authenticity of this rumor.

Only Murders in the Building streams new episodes every Tuesday on Hulu.

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2025-09-09 23:16