Only Murders in the Building: Valley of the Dolls
October 8, 2024 1:46 PM - Season 4, Episode 7 - Subscribe
Terrified by a threat inside the Arconia, the trio race out of the city. A member of Charles' family provides refuge, and yet, this safe house proves to be anything but.
I think Meryl Streep did that flip over the sofa herself?
I loved the whole episode. As always, it's character-driven. The mystery is fun to follow but really we just love those three nuts.
posted by BlahLaLa at 7:15 PM on October 8 [4 favorites]
I loved the whole episode. As always, it's character-driven. The mystery is fun to follow but really we just love those three nuts.
posted by BlahLaLa at 7:15 PM on October 8 [4 favorites]
A fun episode overall, but a bit of a dull week for #onlymirrors fans. The sister's house had a mirror way off to the side in a shot or two, but it was never in focus enough to let us see Richard Kind's cycloptic gaze spying through it, magic mirror style, so we're still left contemplating this season's most crucial mystery without any new breadcrumbs to follow. We're hoping next week we'll see whether his second cellphone's got its logo printed backwards.
posted by nobody at 12:24 PM on October 9 [2 favorites]
posted by nobody at 12:24 PM on October 9 [2 favorites]
This was a really solid episode. After last week's lovely visual shenanigans, it was nice to calm down in a suburban house. The other story, of Howard finding out that the Westies were cashing Dudenoff's checks, was also really nice. I loved that Howard used his ridiculous podcast idea to get access to the ledger, and I hope that by the end of the season, whether he turns out to be the murderer or not, he gets to launch it.
When Charles' sister was introduced, I was skeptical that it would add much to the story, but I found their relationship touching. Their conversation about their mom was really sweet, and Doreen's story about going to see Charles' perform was heartbreaking.
posted by Kattullus at 3:31 AM on October 10 [3 favorites]
When Charles' sister was introduced, I was skeptical that it would add much to the story, but I found their relationship touching. Their conversation about their mom was really sweet, and Doreen's story about going to see Charles' perform was heartbreaking.
posted by Kattullus at 3:31 AM on October 10 [3 favorites]
How ‘Only Murders in the Building’ Pulled Off Meryl Streep and Melissa McCarthy’s Living Room Brawl: interview with co-creator and executive producer John Hoffman.
posted by Orange Dinosaur Slide at 8:51 AM on October 10 [5 favorites]
posted by Orange Dinosaur Slide at 8:51 AM on October 10 [5 favorites]
Was anyone else waiting for one of the lifesize dolls to turn out to be Jan in disguise?
posted by Paragon at 3:33 AM on October 11 [3 favorites]
posted by Paragon at 3:33 AM on October 11 [3 favorites]
This was one of the best episodes I've seen in a long time. McCarthy and Streep together blew me away; McCarthy on her own was nuts. She can really lose herself in a character.
posted by dlugoczaj at 6:55 AM on October 11 [1 favorite]
posted by dlugoczaj at 6:55 AM on October 11 [1 favorite]
I'm obligated to point out that there's only one orientation for holding a bassoon, so they don't actually have any info on Jan's handedness....
posted by bassooner at 9:21 AM on October 11 [9 favorites]
posted by bassooner at 9:21 AM on October 11 [9 favorites]
Nobody: A fun episode overall, but a bit of a dull week for #onlymirrors fans.
(Opens Orange Dinosaur Slide's link to interview with producer John Hoffman..)
"This episode is a clear moment where everything sort of pauses the case until the last third, but it gave great opportunity for reflection — which this entire season is about.
As someone who acted in my high school's production of The Mouse That Roared I hereby give the Detective's Stamp of Approval to nobody's line of investigation. #onlymirrors
posted by Inkslinger at 6:29 PM on October 11 [3 favorites]
(Opens Orange Dinosaur Slide's link to interview with producer John Hoffman..)
"This episode is a clear moment where everything sort of pauses the case until the last third, but it gave great opportunity for reflection — which this entire season is about.
As someone who acted in my high school's production of The Mouse That Roared I hereby give the Detective's Stamp of Approval to nobody's line of investigation. #onlymirrors
posted by Inkslinger at 6:29 PM on October 11 [3 favorites]
I love that the actors created a murder wall and got somewhere. That's freaking great.
I love the brawl.
I love the proposal. I'm not sure it's a great idea to marry a guy who's presumably making up stories all the time, but that's entertainment for ya.
The line about he's yakking it up on the podcast with his friends and then he's all "we're reporting on murders of our neighbors."
I had Issues viewing the show--it crashed with 14 minutes to go and refused to fix on my laptop and I was forced to watch it off a phone--but I'm glad I figured out a workaround.
posted by jenfullmoon at 11:27 AM on October 13
I love the brawl.
I love the proposal. I'm not sure it's a great idea to marry a guy who's presumably making up stories all the time, but that's entertainment for ya.
The line about he's yakking it up on the podcast with his friends and then he's all "we're reporting on murders of our neighbors."
I had Issues viewing the show--it crashed with 14 minutes to go and refused to fix on my laptop and I was forced to watch it off a phone--but I'm glad I figured out a workaround.
posted by jenfullmoon at 11:27 AM on October 13
I'm loving the theme -- reflections, mirrors, identical pairs, stand-ins, doubles, east and west -- but I'm not sure where it's going. Charles thought of Sazz as his double (they look alike, they work in coinflip roles in the same industry, they even dated the same woman). But who does Sazz think of as hers?
Doreen's daughters Danielle and Dina are possibly twins, yet another pair/reflection. Their room was decorated with fans, dreamcatchers, and butterflies. Doreen's kitchen tile had a fan pattern as well. Is this some sort of hint about the podcast fans in Season 1? (This show's sets people have me obsessed -- like, there's a panel of Doreen's living room wallpaper that doesn't line up and I'm like WHAT DOES IT MEAAAN. I think the rewatch will be really fun when the season is over.)
I have a feeling Sazz's murder has something to do with Bev Melon, who is clearly unhinged (and why does her name feel like an anagram?). We still don't know why Bev was at the trampoline park. Sazz had clearly run out of money before completing the park -- was she wrapped up in something that would set her up financially?
The last scene in the boat made it very clear that Mabel is left handed. The check cashers signed with their right.
posted by mochapickle at 7:13 PM on October 14 [1 favorite]
Doreen's daughters Danielle and Dina are possibly twins, yet another pair/reflection. Their room was decorated with fans, dreamcatchers, and butterflies. Doreen's kitchen tile had a fan pattern as well. Is this some sort of hint about the podcast fans in Season 1? (This show's sets people have me obsessed -- like, there's a panel of Doreen's living room wallpaper that doesn't line up and I'm like WHAT DOES IT MEAAAN. I think the rewatch will be really fun when the season is over.)
I have a feeling Sazz's murder has something to do with Bev Melon, who is clearly unhinged (and why does her name feel like an anagram?). We still don't know why Bev was at the trampoline park. Sazz had clearly run out of money before completing the park -- was she wrapped up in something that would set her up financially?
The last scene in the boat made it very clear that Mabel is left handed. The check cashers signed with their right.
posted by mochapickle at 7:13 PM on October 14 [1 favorite]
Also, Loretta's notably busy-patterned dress was totally symmetrical, down to the perfectly matched seam in the back.
posted by mochapickle at 7:15 PM on October 14
posted by mochapickle at 7:15 PM on October 14
> I have a feeling Sazz's murder has something to do with Bev Melon, who is clearly unhinged (and why does her name feel like an anagram?).
It looks like it anagrams to "Ben, lov'em", which could tie into Ben Glenroy?
posted by Pronoiac at 7:52 PM on October 14 [1 favorite]
It looks like it anagrams to "Ben, lov'em", which could tie into Ben Glenroy?
posted by Pronoiac at 7:52 PM on October 14 [1 favorite]
Ooh, maybe?
I mean, depending on how creatively you spell Bev Melon (Beverlay Melon?) you end up with something awfully close to BLAME EVERYONE.
I’m still laughing about “I can skin a deer, someone get me a deer.”
posted by mochapickle at 8:14 PM on October 14
I mean, depending on how creatively you spell Bev Melon (Beverlay Melon?) you end up with something awfully close to BLAME EVERYONE.
I’m still laughing about “I can skin a deer, someone get me a deer.”
posted by mochapickle at 8:14 PM on October 14
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* AV Club, by Saloni Gajjar: Only Murders In The Building is thrown into chaos. “Valley Of The Dolls" is messy, heartwarming, and very entertaining.
* Vulture (Wayback), by Tom Smyth.
Dang, Howard.
Melissa McCarthy played Doreen; her husband - Big Mike - was played by Jason Kravits, of The Practice.
Oh, great skills from the actors.
“Crystal Light got on top of me”
It looks like this is the first time Meryl Streep and Melissa McCarthy have been in the same show!
Discussion from season 1:
> Who left the note on Jan's door?
posted by Pronoiac at 2:50 PM on October 8 [2 favorites]