The outstanding ensemble returns in fine form, and the season is off to a terrific start
with some clever writing and tons of potential.
I'm addicted!
With our trio of true crime fans learning they are inextricably connected to the murder
of the Arconia board president Bunny, the critically acclaimed Only Murders in the Building
is back for a second season.
The podcast's authors are each questioned separately about the incidental night as we
are thrust right into the action.
Suspect number one is Mabel (Selena Gomez).
She was discovered with the victim's bloodied body in her open arms and her very own knitting
needle poking out of the victim's chest as the murder weapon of choice.
The aftermath of this heinous crime and our trio's strategies for establishing their innocence
are the main topics of "Persons of Interest," the season opener.
The police play Mabel the podcast tape where the suspect discusses her recurrent dream
as evidence against them.
She is accosted by an enigmatic man in her dream, and she stabs him with her knitting
needle.
The trio are being confronted with mounting evidence that points to their ulterior motivations.
They all despised Bunny because she intended to kick them out of the building.
Mabel asserts what we are all contemplating: that they have been set up.
Inferring that a knife was actually used in addition to the knitting needle, the police
question Mabel about where she is concealing the murder weapon.
The gang is swiftly released from custody; they are no longer considered suspects and
are now listed as people of interest in the investigation.
They are essentially required to look for a new activity.
There will be no more research and podcasts.
Let's see how long that persists, hmm.
All three of them return to their residences.
The elder gentlemen are eager to resume their podcasting endeavors with a much-anticipated
sequel.
Oliver Putnam (Martin Short) and Charles-Haden Savage (Steve Martin) are visibly dazzled
by the spotlight and keen to expand on their recent success.
Mabel is content to be dull for a while, having had enough of all the death.
She had flashbacks to Bunny's terrible death while in her empty apartment; it is clear
that she cannot escape her troubled existence and that moving on will be challenging.
Charles and Mabel are now the talk of the town, and this has resulted in a surge in
their popularity.
Charles is informed that they plan to revive his 1990s crime series Brazzos, with him taking
on the role of the Uncle.
Mabel, on the other hand, is sought out by artist Alice (Cara Delevingne), who adores
her mural.
Both engage in conversation with their new friends, enjoying a change of pace from negative
attention.
In the meanwhile, Oliver runs across Amy Schumer, who is occupying Sting's empty flat, in the
elevator of all places (playing a crazy version of herself).
Amy brags about the podcast and suggests to Oliver that he acquire the rights to their
creation so that she may adapt it for her own television show.
It seems like things are going well for our captivating leaders.
In her most recent episode, rival true crime podcaster Cinda Canning (Tina Fey) trash talks
the three and reveals that she is beginning her own investigation into the mysterious
death of Bunny Folger.
With the group frantically trying to clear their reputations, it's a fantastic setup
for the series.
They get together to talk about Cinda's verbal abuse and decide to defend themselves and
show their innocence since their lives are finally going in the right direction and they
have a legacy to honor.
The group decides to enter Bunny's flat to look into this peculiarity after hearing Bunny's
voice via the vents.
They take advantage of the time to rummage about, expecting to locate some new evidence
and get rid of any potentially damaging notes they may have left behind, but it turns out
to be simply the voice of her favorite bird.
Particularly concerning to Oliver are several death threats he emailed her.
Two residents of Arconia enter the apartment and look about it while engaging in their
own illicit acts.
Uma and Howard are searching for a $1,000,000 erotic picture that was allegedly hung above
Bunny's bed.
The group conceals itself in Bunny's closet and stays undetected.
When Uma notices that the artwork is missing, she cries.
The group then uses a secret elevator to descend to the bottom floor.
In the concluding moments, Mabel has another flashback of Bunny's death, but this time
the deceased's final words to her are very obviously "Savage" rather than "fourteen,"
as she had before indicated.
The sensual picture is then discovered by Charles hanging on his wall in his flat.
Where did it come from?
Evidently, someone is attempting to frame the actor, or perhaps he was the real killer
all along.
It's a thrilling conclusion to an excellent first chapter.
The second episode, "Framed," opens with a brief history lesson on the Arconia in black
and white.
It clarifies how building designer Archibald Carter concealed several hidden staircases
and elevators, including the one in Bunny's flat.
It's revealed that Bunny was Archibald's granddaughter and that she lived there all of her life.
Charles' father, an ambitious actor who frequented the building, is introduced in another flashback.
This second installment tells his story.
The trio looks at Charles' wall-mounted accusatory artwork.
They examine the image itself before delving into the meaning of its enigmatic arrival.
Clearly, the picture was placed here to put Charles in the wrong.
The word "Savage" is written on the canvas's reverse, and Mabel takes advantage of the
chance to confess her resurfacing memories.
She claims that when Bunny passed away, she uttered the word "Savage."
There's a knock on the door before I can analyze this information.
The three scurries crazily back and forth in a panicked attempt to hide the artwork.
Howard greets Charles as he opens the door and is wearing what seems to be a terrible
black eye.
He informs Charles that he enjoys their podcast and invites him and Charles to an unplanned
wake for Bunny that will be conducted in her opulent apartment.
The trio has a well-thought-out plan to return the picture to Bunny's apartment at the party
via the secret elevator.
Nina Lin welcomes everyone and declares herself the new Board President.
Strangely, Howard explains to the group how much worse this expectant mother is than Bunny
ever was.
This Nina figure, in my opinion, will be a challenging case for our podcast detectives
and maybe a new antagonist.
Bunny's mother interrupts the celebration and demands that her artwork be given back
to her right now.
On their first encounter, she actually "sniffs out" the trio and claims they are not the
murderers.
See, a mother always knows, which reminds me of an Outer Range scenario.
When Charles unintentionally locks them out of the building by the dumpsters during the
attempt to replant the artwork, everything goes horribly wrong.
In a fit of panic, they throw away the expensive artwork among the trash and go home before
being seen.
Our two new characters are then given more attention by the creators.
Mabel pays Alice a visit, and Oliver introduces Amy Schumer to his television show.
Alice gives Mabel a work of art that she created after reportedly being inspired by Mabel.
She is given an axe by Alice, who orders her to destroy the object.
Mabel uses it as a form of therapy before having a sexual encounter with Alice.
In the meanwhile, Oliver approaches the comic with his rendition.
Amy is interested in playing Jan (season one's serial murderer, spoilers).
Oliver observes the sexy picture on her wall as they are talking.
Amy describes how she came upon it and was drawn to it among the trash cans.
Then she offers, saying that she won't accept the series agreement until the true killer
is apprehended.
These two new additions haven't truly won me over yet.
Both of them are utterly out of place in this environment, and it shows in their performances
as well.
Oliver discusses Amy's ownership of the picture to the group.
Bunny's mother insists that the picture be given back to her as they all march up to
her apartment.
The three examine the ramifications of a replica once it is discovered to be a fake upon closer
scrutiny.
This strengthens the theory that Charles is being set up.
He is open and honest about his own father, who she knew, with Bunny's mother.
It has been shown that his father had an affair with both Bunny's mother and Rose Cooper,
the artist of the artwork.
The man was mobile.
Sadly, the play eventually devolves into absurdity in its closing scenes.
According to the will, Oliver receives Bunny's beloved parrot, which speaks and declares,
"I know who did it."
The program enters unnecessarily sillier area as a result of this finale, which really spoils
the entire idea.
The third chapter should put us back on course.