TV Review: ‘Only Murders in the Building’ Season 5

The new season of the comedy murder mystery series remains resolutely entertaining, but some of the schtick is starting to feel a little careworn.

(L to R) Selena Gomez, Steve Martin and Martin Short in 'Only Murders in the Building' Season 5. Photo: Disney/Patrick Harbron.

Launching on Hulu on September 9th with the first three episodes (seven more debut once weekly), ‘Only Murders in the Building’ returns for a fifth season of mysterious death, quirky characters and, this time at least, the intersection of old mob ways with New York’s modern powerbrokers.

Only Murders in the Building

"The building always wins."

TV-MACrime Comedy

Review
Score

Air Date: August 31st, 2021

Networks: Hulu

Starring: Steve Martin, Martin Short, Selena Gomez

Watch Only Murders in the Building Online

With John Hoffman ('Grace and Frankie') once again acting as showrunner, series regulars Steve Martin (‘Roxanne’), Martin Short (‘Innerspace’) and Selena Gomez (‘Emilia Pérez') are joined by some returning favorites such as Meryl Streep (‘August: Osage County’) and Jackie Hoffman (‘Garden State’) with new recruits this year including Christoph Waltz (‘Django Unchained’), Renée Zellweger (‘Chicago’) and Logan Lerman (‘The Perks of Being a Wallflower’).

Initial Thoughts

Steve Martin in 'Only Murders in the Building' Season 5. Photo: Disney/Patrick Harbron.

For the last few years, ‘Only Murders in the Building’ has been a reliable provider of murder mystery mixed with the vaudeville comedy of Steve Martin and Martin Short, plus a side of eye-rolling millennial reactions from Selena Gomez. The combination has worked extremely well, providing confounding cases and lots of laughs.

The question is, however, does the fifth season do enough to differentiate itself from what has gone before, or should we be happy that we’re getting more of the same if it’s still entertaining?

Script and Direction

Renée Zellweger in 'Only Murders in the Building' Season 5. Photo: Disney/Patrick Harbron.

There remains a lot to like about ‘Only Murders’ –– the scripts remain witty and the central mystery thorny –– in this case, the death of longtime doorman Lester (Teddy Coluca).

Yet there are some problems with the season this time around –– it’s just not as fresh as it usually feels. The new characters are fine, but compared to previous examples of guest casting, they just don’t have the same amount of zing.

The show’s direction remains on point –– but with the focus on the Arconia once more (even given some new locations discovered), there’s only so much you can do to keep it interesting.

Cast and Performances

Christoph Waltz in 'Only Murders in the Building' Season 5. Photo: Disney/Patrick Harbron.

Martin, Short and Gomez are still great in the lead roles; the issue is that much of what they get to do here is a variation on previous work.

Naturally, Martin has some funny physical business, Short gets to be extra in all ways, and Gomez is still the best at a blend of vulnerability and heart, plus her ability to side-eye her older companions.

Of the new faces this year, Logan Lerman makes the most impact as a young billionaire, while the likes of Christoph Waltz and Renée Zellweger don’t get as much to, but have fun with their roles.

Final Thoughts

(L to R) Selena Gomez and Logan Lerman in 'Only Murders in the Building' Season 5. Photo: Disney/Patrick Harbron.

‘Only Murders in the Building’ is definitely starting to show its age –– the concept only has so much flexibility in it.

It’s still a very fun show to watch, but its best days may now be behind it.

‘Only Murders in the Building’ Season 5 receives 65 out of 100.

Tea Leoni in 'Only Murders in the Building' Season 5. Photo: Disney/Patrick Harbron.

What’s the plot of ‘Only Murders in the Building’ Season 5?

After their beloved doorman, Lester (Teddy Coluca), dies under suspicious circumstances, Charles (Steve Martin), Oliver (Martin Short), and Mabel (Selena Gomez) refuse to believe it was an accident. Their investigation plunges them into the shadowy corners of New York and beyond — where the trio uncovers a dangerous web of secrets connecting powerful billionaires, old-school mobsters, and the mysterious residents of the Arconia.

The trio discovers a deeper divide between their storied city they thought they knew and the new New York evolving around them — one where the old mob fights to hold on as newer, even more dangerous players emerge.