Summary
“The Show Must…” is a near-perfect opener. The writers lay out their entertaining setup, introducing the new cast members and the new mystery with apparent ease, while employing the show’s standard, addictive style of comedy and ending with a shockingly wicked plot twist.
We recap the Hulu series Only Murders in the Building Season 3 Episode 1, “The Show Must…” which contains spoilers.
Hulu’s hugely successful comedy-drama series Only Murders in the Building returns with a brand-new murder mystery that is just dying to be solved and two cracking new additions to the cast too.
Season opener, “The Show Must…” really gets the series off to a fantastic start as the scene is set for a new, enticing murder investigation.
Only Murders in the Building Season 3 Episode 1 Recap
We start off in the sixties as a young girl watches a Broadway production at Goosebury Theater. She’s entranced by the performances and vows to become a Broadway star herself.
The girl becomes a woman, training and auditioning for endless roles, but she fails to land her big break. Instead, the woman becomes bitter and old, having never made a name for herself.
Who is Loretta Durkin?
That very same woman auditions for Oliver’s new Broadway play in the present. The wannabe actress is called Loretta Durkin, played here by Meryl Streep. She takes to the stage, auditioning for the role of the nanny. Loretta wows Oliver with her authentic and passionate performance. Oliver hands her this dream role straight away. Loretta is overcome with emotion.
After the opening credits, we fast-forward to the opening night of Oliver’s Broadway play, Death Rattle. Disaster strikes early on, though. Lead actor Ben Glenroy (Paul Rudd) collapses and dies on stage only seconds into his opening monologue.
Mabel thinks it could have been caused by poisoning, but Charles saw blood instead of any foaming coming from the mouth.
Ben’s corpse is carted out of the theater. Oliver is completely overwhelmed; his murder mystery has started off with a real-life death.
Four months earlier, Oliver prepared for his first table read-through with the cast. Everyone is introduced to each other, and Oliver points out the producers, Donna and her son Cliff. While Howard is Oliver’s assistant for this production.
READ: Will there be a Season 4 of Only Murders in the Building?
Charles makes a rather egotistical speech, and Mabel narrates about her own distaste for the theater. Then Ben Glenroy makes his grand entrance. He’s a charismatic, big presence.
Ben immediately flirts with cast member Kimber (Ashley Park) and introduces his team.
Who is on Ben Glenroy’s team?
He’s joined by his assistant and brother Dickie, as well as cameraman Tobert, who is filming a documentary about Ben’s Broadway debut. The movie star has the team sign an NDA for the documentary. He mentions his strict diet for his leading role in the CoBro film franchise and that he will be moving into Amy Schumer’s apartment.
The read-through finally gets underway. Loretta puts on an inaudible Scottish accent and then a French-Canadian one as she tries to find her voice. Oliver asks her to use her own voice in the end.
Ben is not impressed by Loretta’s nervousness; he asks Oliver to fire her right away. Oliver comforts Loretta, saying that he will never give up on her.
Back in the present, the gang heads back to the apartment block for the saddest opening night party ever. Ben’s death is already trending online, and the cast discusses the controversy.
Mabel suggests starting a new podcast about Ben’s death. Then there seems to be some flirtation between Loretta and Oliver, but this is interrupted by Ben’s sudden return.
The movie star is very much alive. He storms into the party, announcing his miraculous recovery. Ben says that he was pronounced dead and was only resurrected after an hour out cold.
He ponders if it was something that he ate. When asked about the blood, he admits that he bit his tongue when he fell.
Only Murders in the Building Season 3 Episode 1 Ending Explained
The cast and crew are in complete shock. Ben’s brush with death has changed him, though. He wants to be a better person now. Ben apologizes to everyone that he has wronged. Although he will not change his opinion of Loretta, these two hate one another with a passion.
Ben leaves to shower, and the guests quickly disperse. Mabel invites Charles and Oliver back to her apartment, feeling particularly lonely herself. She tells her friends that her aunt has sold the apartment and that she will be moving out in four weeks’ time.
It seems the trio will be going their separate ways after all.
How does Ben Glenroy die?
In the elevator, Charles comments on Ben’s initial death. They couldn’t have done a podcast on it as it didn’t occur within the building. Then the blood starts to drip onto Charles’ head. Ben’s body collapses through the elevator ceiling, landing on the floor. Ben Glenroy appears to be definitely dead this time around, having fallen down an elevator shaft.
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