A more personal case reminds us why we love this show

Murder mystery fans, rejoice! It’s just about time to return to the Arconia for another twisty season of Only murders in this building. After three seasons of podcast hijinks that, admittedly, started to feel increasingly routine, the hit Hulu comedy switches things up with an even more star-studded and personal season 4. I’m seven episodes into the latest fall, and I’m happy to report That after a familiar (yet still enjoyable) season 3, Only murders in this building Rediscovered his creative spark.

To recommend: Only murders in this building Season 3 ended with a two-punch twist. A man who closely resembled Charles-Haden Savage (Steve Martin) entered the former television actor’s apartment and was shot by an unseen sniper. However, the victim is revealed to be Sazz Pataki (Jane Lynch), Charles’ longtime stunt double and friend. The stage is set for Charles, Oliver (Martin Short) and Mabel (Selena Gomez) to dive into this new mystery, but from episode 1, the new season presents many twists that make Sazz’s fate much more complicated.

Only Murders in the Building season 4 is his most personal mystery yet

This gives the show a renewed sense of urgency

On top of the underlying mystery, the Arconia trio is dealing with something they’ve never faced before: Hollywood. Paramount wants to turn the titular podcast into a movie, and they’ve already lined up actors to portray the three main characters. Eugene Levy, Eva Longoria and Zach Galifianakis, playing fictional versions of themselves, shadow Charles, Mabel and Oliver as they dig into what happened to Sazz, who may have deeper ties to the Arkonia and the trio than anyone could have guessed.

Initially, the movie plot is more silly than substantial, however The real strength of it comes in the character of the season. The actors become mirrors for the trio, and so Charles, Oliver and Mabel are forced to confront their deepest insecurities. Charles pushes back against the claim that he is the least fun person in the group, while Mabel, currently homeless, is trying to find her place in the world. For his part, Oliver is forced to be vulnerable in his personal life with now-long-distance girlfriend Loretta (Meryl Streep).

The character-driven threads are only enhanced by the series’ latest mystery, a murder that proves to be the most personal and emotional case yet. Lynch’s Sazz has been a recurring character throughout the show, and it smartly keeps her around now. As Charles digs deeper into the mystery, he must also dig into his friendship with Sazz, only to realize that it is perhaps more one-sided than he realized. In the development of the dynamic, Only murders in this building Takes on a heightened sense of urgencyPurely because we care about Sazz too.

With season 3, it seemed like Only murders in this building fell into a familiar formula in which each episode ended with a new suspect that would be quickly debunked the following week. Season 4 manages to mostly avoid this by opening up more mystery in the Arkonia. The trio is led to the West Tower, where some eclectic residents are hiding many secrets of their own. Perhaps the most refreshing part of the plot is the road The Arconia, a building we loved and know quite well, transformed into a more mysterious and unsettling place.

Only Murder season 4 is staffed with major actors

But the focus remains on the main trio

The concept – Arconia doesn’t feel so safe anymore – may seem like a foregone conclusion since several murders have occurred there, but The show still manages to ramp up the tension with a chilling sequence that caps off episode 6 and spins Only murder In its oldest installment yet. Season 4 is packed to the brim with big-name actors. Even beyond those already named, newcomers to the cast include Richard Kind, Kumail Nanjiani, Melissa McCarthy and Molly Shannon. This does not even come to the names that I am not allowed to mention here.

As a result, Only murders in this building Does the risk of relying too much on cameosGive the impression of a Marvel movie rather than a grounded murder mystery. Overall, though, the fun guest actors don’t overstay their welcome, playing roles that fit like puzzle pieces in the overarching story surrounding Oliver, Mabel and Charles. The entire cast brings their A-game to the season, especially when it comes to the performers playing themselves. Longoria is particularly funny, and Galifianakis proves to be a good sport, willing to poke fun at himself.

At the end of the day, though, Only murders in this building What follows is the story of three unlikely friends solving murders. I’ve said this in every other review I’ve written about this show, though The chemistry between Kurtz, Martin and Gomez remains a highlight. Nothing is more entertaining than watching the three bounce off each other, and after four seasons, it’s clear that the performers have really found their groove.

It’s hard to say how Only murders in this building Season 4 will end, but I feel encouraged by what I’ve seen so far. With a much more personal case in play, a wide range of colorful personalities and truly satisfying twists interspersed throughout, the latest episodes of the Hulu show are a return to form. Whether this will be his last remains to be seen, but the creative team has set itself up for an exciting conclusion either way. Here’s hoping it goes through.

Only murders in this building Season 4 premieres Tuesday, August 27 on Hulu with its first episode. Subsequent episodes are released weekly on Tuesdays.