When is being alone the hardest? In youth or old age? And what about the loneliness that comes after failure? It’s true—success often draws people to you. But what happens when those same people disappear if you can’t sustain that success?
How do you rebuild your social life or find new friends when no one’s left by your side? By starting a podcast about a murder in your apartment building, of course!
Okay, maybe that’s not the solution for everyone, but in Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building, that’s exactly what gives meaning to the lives of its three main characters.
If anything is as ironic as Steve Martin playing a once-famous actor from the 1990s who can’t land a role in 2022, it’s the fact that he’s the creator of this show himself.
This series brilliantly weaves the modern obsession with true crime podcasts into a story of friendship. Selena Gomez, Steve Martin, and Martin Short have phenomenal chemistry. Add to that New York-style art direction, stellar production design, tightly edited episodes, and ever-deepening characters, and you have a winning formula.
Each season is also spiced up with guest stars like Meryl Streep, Zach Galifianakis, Téa Leoni, and Eva Longoria. Beyond the three leads, my favorite character is Howard Morris, played by Michael Cyril Creighton.
The fourth season of Only Murders in the Building wrapped up this summer. While the first season was a masterpiece in blending comedy, mystery, and suspense, the subsequent seasons have had looser connections in solving the murders. But the hilarious adventures and heartfelt friendship of Mabel, Charles, and Oliver—played by Gomez, Martin, and Short—keep you watching, making the whodunit aspect almost secondary.
By now, they feel like your neighbors, your friends. You find yourself hoping the murders (and their amateur sleuthing) never end so you can continue enjoying their delightful misadventures.
Selena Gomez brings her unique style to the role, holding her own alongside legends like Steve Martin and Martin Short. Her portrayal of Mabel is a joy to watch.
There was a study suggesting that friendships across generations increase happiness. I think this series proves that simply watching such friendships unfold can bring just as much joy.