15 Reasons Why "Only Murders In The Building" Is One Of The Best Shows On TV Right Now
OK, so Selena Gomez, Martin Short, and Steve Martin are the terrific trio we never knew we needed, and now they're totally crushing it on Hulu's Only Murders in the Building.
Steve Martin and Martin Short have been kicking it together for a while, but Selena Gomez adds such a fun, dry-witted, freewheeling vibe to this dynamic!
Anyway, the show's all about them as neighbors at this ritzy apartment building called the Arconia. They really could care less about one another until, one day, a neighbor named Tim Kono allegedly dies by suicide. When they're evacuated, they discover their love for true crime and decide to start a podcast of their own. Because who isn't starting a new podcast these days?!
In addition to the show unfolding in pithy half-hour episodes, there are a handful of legit reasons why Only Murders in the Building should be your next binge today. Ahead, we've rounded up our favorites!
Hulu / Via giphy.com
(No major spoilers ahead, by the way.)
1.Obviously, the cast rocks: There's Steve Martin, Martin Short, Selena Gomez, and Amy Ryan!
We've got extremely talented cast members who are all in — no one's phoning it in, unless someone's being held hostage and needs to send a little SOS.
2.Only Murders in the Building also features a stellar list of directors.
We've got seasoned directors such as Jamie Babbit (But I'm a Cheerleader), Gillian Robespierre (Obvious Child), Don Scardino (30 Rock), and Cherien Dabis (Ramy) at the helm.
3.The chemistry among Charles, Oliver, and Mabel genuinely works.
Sticking together three funny people on a show may or may not work, but it really creates something special on this series. The trio starts out as neighbors at the Arconia who really have nothing in common. However, their obsession with a true crime podcast and shared interest in the Tim Kono case binds them together for a dynamic that oddly works!
4.We have the endearing, ever-so-slightly gross relationship between Charles and Jan.
The relationship between Charles and Jan (Amy Ryan) is super cute, and Jan's just as lovely as her pizza rolls! That said, I can never hear the word "Brazzos" the same way again.
5.The cameos and guest roles kinda rule — we've got one with Twitter's very own king, @jaboukie!
Only Murders in the Building features appearances from Tina Fey, Jaboukie Young-White, Ali Stroker, and, of course, Sting himself.
6.We have no choice but to stan Selena Gomez's stunning wardrobe!
From her Big Bird-worthy fuzzy coat to her understated black turtleneck, Mabel has the freshest fits, with only Oliver's snazzy ensembles to rival her sartorial sensibilities. Her pared down, but pretty makeup also kinda rules. Did I start looking at Selena's Rare Beauty line halfway through the season premiere? Yes, yes, I did.
7.Oliver's production sequences!
Oliver, Martin Short's character, may have trouble finding another show to direct, but he can helm hilarious and flashy dream production sequences to crack the Tim Kono case.
8.We've also got to mention the very clever setup used in Episode 7.
A mild spoiler, but this episode is mostly silent to underline the perspective of a deaf character, Theo Dimas (who is played by deaf actor James Caverly) — in addition to subtitles, most of this installation uses body language, ASL, and other means of communication.
9.The show features juicy twists and an ever-growing roster of suspects!
As we would expect of any solid mystery show, everyone is a suspect, even members of our darling trio.
10.The tinkly instrumentals and intro theme by Siddhartha Khosla will make you feel like Sherlock Holmes — or, you know, Sarah Koenig on Serial.
11.The show's a treat for true crime sleuths, but it also highlights the dangers and pitfalls of true crime fanaticism.
Only Murders in the Building shows how the trio's investigation offers a more rigorous alternative to what law enforcement can do, but it also reveals how true crime fans can draw wrong and dangerous conclusions.
12.We get meaningful depictions of each of the co-hosts' pasts.
We get deep dives into Oliver's family history, Charles' reservation about relationships, and Mabel's connection to the past (and how it impacts the case). But we're not just getting flashbacks for the sake of having flashbacks. Each character meaningfully develops from where they start in the show too.
13.There's Mabel throwing Gen Z and millennial slang at her fellow true crime nerds in their golden years...
Is it trite to enjoy this trope? Selena Gomez still has that effortless ability to pull off dry humor like she did as Alex from Wizards of Waverly Place.
14.In a weird way, it's a feel-good show (despite being about, you know, murder) because none of the main characters are downright awful.
Members of the trio may gently roast each other, but no comment ever really crosses the line. And if feelings get hurt, we have sincere(ish) apologies! And on top of that, the show still stays genuinely funny.
15.We've got legendary folks helming the series, including all three leads as executive producers.
Officially created by Martin and writer-director John Hoffman, Only Murders in the Building also features an executive producer roster that includes This Is Us's Dan Fogelman and But I'm a Cheerleader's Jamie Babbit.
So, what are you waiting for? Binge Only Murders in the Building now! Or if you've already watched the show, aren't you totally obsessed with it?! Let us know in the comments below.
Hulu / Via giphy.com
