Summary
The main cast have fun with their A-lister cameos in another thrilling chapter of OMITB.
Only Murders in the Building Season 4 has established the plot, so Episode 3 is having fun with it, including its guest stars. It’s not as eventful as Episode 2, but the cameos are serving their purpose.
Even though the true crime podcasters are back at work investigating the murder of Sazz Pataki, the FBI is also involved, mainly due to Jan’s prison escape. Police Detective Donna Williams cannot be involved but provides the trio with the latest information. One theory centers on Rudy, a man in the West Tower who is obsessed with Christmas. Charles petitioned for zero Christmas trees one year, so there’s a motive.
Charles is fully onboard that he was the target of Sazz’s murder and does not believe it could be related to anything to Sazz personally. But before the trio can get accustomed to the latest theories, their movie counterparts (Eugene Levy, Zach Galifianakis, and Eva Longoria) help them with their investigation as part of a “character study.” The podcasters, especially Mabel, do not look best pleased, but what other choice do they have?
And so, Season 4, Episode 3, sees the trio split up yet again, a sentence I am getting far used to saying.
Mabel and Eva Longoria
Much to Mabel’s irritation, Eva Longoria heads to Rudy’s apartment before her. She’s trying to do a character study on Mabel but exaggerates her personality, reducing her to an early-day drinker.
Mabel does not like Eva’s approach, as the actress rushes to solve the case. Eventually, they prove that Rudy cannot be the murderer because he secretly hates Christmas and would not have killed Charles as a result of an anti-Christmas tree petition. Rudy keeps up with the ‘Christmas fanatic’ act for his fans – it’s all about the money and keeping up with the appearance. Also, Mabel learns that the tinsel found in Charles’ apartment is not actually a Christmas decoration, as she first thought.
Mabel is going through a rough time in Season 4, especially as she’s having a self-assessment of her own life. She warms to Eva Longoria by the end of the chapter because the actress is determined to crack the case, but you always get the sense that something is on her mind.
Charles and Eugene Levy
Eugene Levy is a fan of Charles and helps him investigate Vince Fisher from the West Tower. They believe Vince Fisher wears an eye patch for no good reason, which could have led to accidentally shooting Sazz instead of Charles. They believe Vince may have a grudge against Charles.
Hilariously, they try to give Vince Fisher fake eye drops to eliminate pink eye. Eventually, Vince gets frustrated with the whole ordeal and busts Eugene’s nose.
However, Charles learns that Vince does not dislike him; in fact, they made wrong assumptions about each other, and Charles leaves the apartment with a new friend after they hug it out.
Oliver and Zach Galifianakis
Oliver eventually bonds with Zach Galifianakis, but it does not help that Zach does not want a role in the movie as his counterpart, and he has no respect for Oliver whatsoever. Eventually, they spend the day together, and all seems to be going well until Oliver and Howard overhear Zach talk to his agent, criticizing Oliver for being a one-dimensional narcissist. Howard defends Charles’ character in response, which seems to bring peace as Zach tells him he’ll embrace the perfect, lonely, pathetic version of him, Oliver…
…I’m not sure that’s the outcome Oliver wanted.
Squatting and the strange radio message
Feeling inspired by her experiences with Eva Longoria, Mabel decides to scope out the empty Apartment F that belongs to Dundenoff, who has not returned since (and is a key suspect). She researches Squatter’s Rights in New York City and settles in it herself.
So, Mabel hosts a housewarming party with the trio. She hopes that Dudenoff finds out she’s squatting and returns. The topic of Ham Radios comes up, a frequent feature so far in Season 4. They realize the number “445” is a frequency given to them, so they amend the radio’s settings.
Suddenly, someone talks to them via the radio and tells them that if they do not stop poking around, they’ll be murdered next.
Only Murders in the Building continues to impress with an intriguing, wholesome story, with plenty of scope to give from the characters. The cameos work, too, even if a little cheesy. Despite suspicions that Charles is the key target, Mabel’s story is certainly the most important.
Read More: Only Murders in the Building Season 4, Episode 4 Recap
