Only Murders in the Building: The Show Must...

August 8, 2023 9:28 PM - Season 3, Episode 1

After Ben Glenroy's collapse on stage, Charles, Oliver, and Mabel piece together the show's first days with a suspicious cast and crew to determine if foul play was involved.
posted by kitten kaboodle (13 comments total)

Good start. Paul Rudd -- who is very much a guy who generally looks like he's having fun out there -- is clearly having the time of his life.
posted by Etrigan at 5:49 AM on August 9, 2023 [7 favorites]

Is Cobro a dig at Ant-Man? He turns into a giant cobra that fights crime.
posted by fiercekitten at 7:50 AM on August 9, 2023 [3 favorites]

I don't know whether it's a dig or just a reference, but we're definitely supposed to believe that he's basically playing Mirror Universe Paul Rudd (minus Paul Rudd's actual stage credentials).
posted by Etrigan at 8:08 AM on August 9, 2023

When Ben staggered in and started apologizing--of sorts--wowza! That was amazing! So how'd he survive an hour of death, only to plummet?!?

Poor Mabel, being forced to move out and has less excuse to hang around her "guys." Awww.
posted by jenfullmoon at 9:33 AM on August 9, 2023 [2 favorites]

My favorite lines: "The lead of my play left my stage without a pulse, and all I can think about is my career. I don't know, Mabel. Narcissism should really be more fun than this."

Seconding that having Ben show up again, then immediately establish that everyone hates him, was a great moment.
posted by creepygirl at 11:24 AM on August 9, 2023 [9 favorites]

So glad this is back with an expanded cast! Meryl Streep is excellent, so convincing as a bad actress in the read through.

My favourite line was “He’s gay, so I can kiss him like that” 😂
posted by ellieBOA at 12:28 PM on August 9, 2023 [2 favorites]

I can't believe they scored Cobro for this!
posted by Acari at 5:26 PM on August 9, 2023 [6 favorites]

I love that Paul Rudd is the same generation as all of his castmates.
posted by thecaddy at 6:51 AM on August 10, 2023 [5 favorites]

My favourite line was “He’s gay, so I can kiss him like that” 😂

Meryl Streep's Scottish accent killed me as well.
posted by Literaryhero at 12:19 AM on August 12, 2023 [6 favorites]

Ben showing up at the party was a bit of a surprise, but you knew he was immediately going to die again, and it made sense in the context of "only murders in the building."
posted by rikschell at 6:48 AM on August 15, 2023 [2 favorites]

I don't have any trenchant commentary here, I'm just delighted the show is back.

I did find Mabel's very open FOMO about her two favorite olds hanging out doing theatre without her very endearing. And it's somehow simultaneously surprising and completely obvious how good Meryl Streep is at convincingly playing a bad actor.
posted by eponym at 6:36 PM on August 15, 2023 [3 favorites]

OMG, I hate Ben so much...and I barely tolerate Paul Rudd most of the time. I'm just glad I'm supposed to hate him

I love how Mabel is really the heart of the series, especially since last season. She's the sane one between the two olds, and the one whose life changes the most. Now she has to move, and is worried about being forgotten. The show is so good at showing how Charles and Oliver love her but are completely controlled by their own narcissism.
posted by lhauser at 9:58 AM on August 27, 2023

It's obviously Meryl Streep, so it can't be her.
posted by Naberius at 5:23 AM on August 30, 2023 [1 favorite]