‘Only Murders In The Building’ Season 2 Episode 4 Spoiler Recap/Review

The Following Recap/Review Contains Spoilers for Episode 4 of ‘Only Murders In The Building’. Check out our review of Episode 3 here.
Arguably, the best part of any murder mystery is getting to know the subjects at the center of it all. Victims, suspects, and those attempting to solve the case all have individual traits and quirks that make them fully fleshed out and realized characters. This makes following them through what should be a dark situation so much fun at times. Following in the footsteps of films like Knives Out is episode 4 of Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building. Effectively using flashbacks and otherwise unseen perspectives, the latest installment of the series shines by further peeling back the curtain on Charles Haden-Savage (Steve Martin).
Beginning in the past, viewers are finally introduced to the mysterious Lucy, who has been mentioned in previous episodes. Turns out, Lucy is Charles’ former stepdaughter and fans are treated to him playing his original song, “Angel in Flip-Flops”, and busting out a duet with a young Lucy in the kitchen of his Arconia apartment. Suddenly, a slightly older Lucy is recording a video within a dark tunnel, professing how hard it is to return to a place that used to be home.
By getting to know Lucy within this episode, viewers get to see Charles at his happiest. For a man so hellbent on being alone, consistently and falsely acting as an independent lone wolf, Charles’ relationship with his father and his quasi-daughter seems to be more important than ever before. However, what has been known is Charles’ desire to work as an actor. Getting the chance to reprise his role of Brazzos in a reboot, Charles faces more disappointment stemming from the death of Bunny. What was designed as a shining return to glory as Uncle Brazzos turns into a sad case of his character is now in a wheelchair with dementia.
Elsewhere, Oliver (Martin Short) finds himself in the middle of a tense reunion with Nathan Lane’s Teddy. Quick reminder: Oliver, Mabel, and Charles were convinced that Teddy and his son Theo killed Tim Kono in season one and were responsible for their short stint in prison. This sudden return from a character so vital to the first season adds another layer of doom and gloom for Oliver. After terrifyingly threatening to f*ck Oliver in the elevator, fans are left wondering what Teddy, and his son, are truly capable of. That is the fun of this series. The ghosts of the main characters’ past continue to affect their present as well as their ability to accomplish their task of clearing their names.
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The big turning point for episode 4 is the discovery of a crimson-stained knife, believe to be the murder weapon used on Bunny. As Lucy, who happens to be a big fan of the Only Murders podcast, finds the knife in Charles’ kitchen, Mabel astutely notes that the killer keeps hiding clues in their apartments. This is done to play mind games with the main characters as well as continue to attempt to frame them for Bunny’s murder. However, it must be asked: how does this killer have access to so many apartments within the Arconia? Well, Lucy continues to be a beneficial addition to the team with another massive discovery.
A secret passageway exists in the bathroom and the gang discovers vast, hidden tunnels that take them throughout the Arconia unseen by the building’s inhabitants. The team wanders corridors and discovers a string of weird peepholes in a number of their neighbor’s homes. Not only this, they overhear the new building manager Nina angrily telling her husband that “she needed to go,” as the group surmises her involvement in the murder. They also come across a heated exchange between Teddy and Theo as their evergrowing lists of potential suspects grow.
Perhaps the highlight of this episode is Lucy. Played by Zoe Colletti, Lucy is quick-witted and sharp. However, there is a shroud of sadness about her as she revealed a disgruntled relationship with her mother and her new stepfather. turns out, that Lucy skipped her mother’s wedding to seek out Charles. This is all the same night Bunny was killed. Her emotional appeal adds not only to the man Charles is now but also to why he needs his name cleared. Desperate times call for desperate measures and the episode ends with Charles reaching out to his ex-girlfriend and currently imprisoned murderer, Jan (Amy Ryan). Apparently, Jan has been attempting to contact Charles and now he needs to know why.
The mystery lives! With a new list of suspects and clues, the fast-paced season continues to add layer upon layer of confusion and excitement. – Christian Hubbard
Rating – 8.5/10
Episode Clues:
- The murder weapon (knife) belongs to Oliver.
- Nina tells someone that “she needs to go” (Bunny?).
- Lucy overhears Bunny’s murder and glimpses/hides from the killer.
Current Suspects:
- Teddy & Theo
- LUCY?!
- Alice (very conspicuous by her absence)
- Nina
- Mabel
- Charles
- Dr. Stanley (Katie’s guess)
- A Podcast Fan (Still my guess)
Only Murders in the Building premieres Tuesdays on Hulu.
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