Who was the murderer on Only Murders in the Building season 3?

We’ve finally learned which of the Pickwick triplets did it — well, we’ve finally learned who killed egotistical actor Ben Glenroy (Paul Rudd) on this season of The Building Only Murders.

[Ed. note: This post contains major spoilers for Only Murders in the Building season 3]

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It turns out that the people who poisoned Ben, and who pushed Ben into the elevator shaft, were in fact different. It was mother-son duo, Donna (Linda Emond) and Cliff DeMeo (Wesley Taylor), the producers of Oliver’s Broadway show, who respectively committed the deeds.

(As for the Pickwick triplets mystery within the play, it was the detective character, aka the role Ben Glenroy was hired to play — gasp!)

The murder is solved, but this season’s mystery and reveal felt a little flat, especially compared to Only Murders seasons past. Considering the whole “mother covering for her son” reveal already played out in the previous two episodes, the big twist became pretty obvious early on in the finale. Foreshadowing was to blame. The same goes for the other way around. The rest of the show felt like it prolonged the inevitable. Compared to last season’s cleverly staged sting and the first season’s bait-and-switch, the central mystery was underwhelming.

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The season is upon us. The Building Only MurdersIt was actually quite light on murders, buildings and other central themes that shaped the first two season. The show had previously delved into the Arconia mysteries and unraveled past deaths which haunted its main characters. But season 3 only really had one murder to solve (albeit, Ben Glenroy did “die” twice), and much of the action took place far away from the Arconia itself. It was surprising how little the in-show show podcast, which was the title, was featured. And the entire true crime genre was very thin.

No, you are not mistaken. Only Murders may have pivoted from its foundation, and the mystery may’ve been the least satisfying one yet, but this season was still perhaps the most fun the show has ever been.

It was all about the business this season. It was not necessary. Death Rattle The Musical The cast had a wonderful opportunity to showcase their skills in musical theater. Steve Martin and Martin Short were among the stars who pushed themselves to the limit. The evolution of Charles’ patter song from a debilitating embarrassment to a magnificent performance (that was The following are some of the reasons why you should consider hiring someone else this season’s best detective work moment) was triumphant and satisfying. The earworm is in every song. La La Land music scribes Benj Pasek and Justin Paul delivering banger after banger, fully committing to the show’s theater kid energy.

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Only Murders has always leaned on the metatextual, with in-universe fans of the show chiming in with theories and the main trio referring to “last season” when discussing their podcast. That takes on another level in season three, where the sidelining of the main murder mystery is, in fact, central to the character’s arcs. Oliver and Charles care more about salvaging their careers and show than they do solving the murder. Mabel, on the other hand, is lost and trying desperately to find her place. Unlike last season, where a lot of their inner turmoil came from secrets from their pasts, this season’s tension comes from the main trio’s different goals. This means they’re interacting more, even if a lot of those interactions are arguments.

The food is great, and each actor gets a turn to shine. Martin’s role this season is more than just battling loneliness. Martin holds his own with comedy legends. Oliver’s director-side allows Short to be fully on the edge.

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The whole point of the podcast — and by extension, the show — is Charles, Oliver, and Mabel coming together to investigate a murder that happens in their building (of which, there are surprisingly many for a cushy Upper West Side luxury complex). The season begins with an apparent murder outside the building might’ve ruined the quaint formula. The show was in need of a change. A new location, new characters and new challenges.

Death Rattle Dazzle is a reimagined version of the original. Only Murders season three was a murder mystery that was pretty light on the murder mystery, one that was more musical theater and brilliantly acted character moments than twisty-turny-puzzle-box. The show, like Death Rattle Dazzle needed this to stay fresh, and most importantly, fun.