Summary
More twists and turns as the podcast trio continues their investigation. It’s a fun thirty minutes of TV with a clever setup and shocking finale.
This recap of the Hulu series Only Murders in the Building season 2, episode 5, ” The Tell,” contains spoilers.
Read the recap of the previous episode.
In episode five, Oliver uses his special skill set to weasel out a possible suspect and Mabel hosts a rather unusual party at her empty apartment. It’s another entertaining instalment that brings us ever closer to figuring out just who this elusive killer could be.
Only Murders in the Building season 2, episode 5 recap
“The Tell” starts off with a flashback to a youthful Oliver back in the seventies, narrated by his son Will. It’s clear that Oliver always loved solving mysteries, even back then. At parties he would play a whodunit card game called Son of Sam, where he could always spot the killer. See, Oliver was and still is a very observant individual, who can point out a person’s tell – the clues that prove someone is lying. This clever introduction plays a larger role in the episode than you’d think, setting the scene perfectly.
Charles and Jan continue their conversation from episode four’s twisty finale. Jan worries about their relationship and Charles is gobsmacked by his ex’s tenacity. He calls her a maniac and asks who she believes killed Bunny. Charles brings her up-to-date with a retelling of the facts. He mentions the knife, the planted knitting needle and their suspicions over Nina. Jan laughs off the idea of Nina stabbing Bunny to death and says that the murderer is a storyteller, an artist. She tries to reconnect with Charles, who has to remind her that she tried to kill him. Jan’s final piece of advice is to look into anyone close to Bunny and the trio.
Alice is back and she flirts with Mabel over the phone. Mabel is currently traversing the hidden passageways of the Arconia, hunting for clues. Alice states that she was supposed to be hosting an art gathering, but a leak in her ceiling has ruined things. She asks if Mabel would host and she cautiously accepts. The podcaster then finds a possible clue, a bloodied matchbook. The trio ponder this new piece of evidence. Is that blood or ketchup on the box? Did the killer drop this the night of the murder? Charles wonders if Bunny’s final words were actually ‘passage’ not ‘Savage’ and then they go for a bite to eat.
The gang discuss who Bunny was associated with and ask waiter Ivan for a list of regulars from the local café she frequented. A table of fans overhear their conversation and chime in. It gets a little too meta for my liking, but makes for a humorous exchange. Mabel receives a text message from Alice and the men grow suspicious of this new friend, who also happens to be an artist. The alarm bells are ringing for our amateur sleuths. Mabel mentions the party she is hosting and adds that she is in a relationship with Alice. The aging men decide to attend the party, even though Mabel clearly hasn’t invited them.
At the party, Oliver and Charles are introduced to Alice. She compliments them both before Mabel whisks her away. Charles is elated by their chat, yet Oliver is highly suspicious. His magical powers are working overtime. He suspects that she is up to something. Oliver uses the party as an opportunity to test Alice and brings out his trusty Son of Sam party game. With the flick of a light switch the party descends into the seventies, in the attire of the era. They go along with Oliver’s game, as he secretly searches for Alice’s tell.
The ending
It’s all fun and games, until he accuses the art dealer of hiding something. Oliver announces that Alice’s tell involves her playing with her hair, something Mabel says Alice does all the time. Oliver calls her a liar and she eventually admits that she didn’t go to Oxford and that her parents aren’t artists. It was all just an act to help further her career. Alice is well and truly humiliated by this ambush and the party guests leave.
As the episode comes to a close, Charles and Jan have another conversation, Oliver investigates further and Mabel makes up with Alice. Oliver speaks with Ivan in private and they watch through grainy CCTV footage, searching for the killer. A shadowy man spoke with Bunny and picked up a matchbook as he left. Oliver feels on top of the world and heads home to chat with his son. Will provides the big twist of this episode, stating that he took a DNA test for his son’s school project and found out that his father was Greek not Irish. Oliver is suddenly hit with the realization that Teddy could be Will’s actual father.
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