Only Murders in the Building Episode 9 “Thirty”: Kept On Tenterhooks

This piece was written during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. Without the labor of the actors currently on strike, the series being covered here wouldn’t exist.

Only Murders in the Building Episode 9 comprises the clues from the entire cast in the run-up to opening night in hopes of accelerating the investigation. The penultimate episode’s standout moment is the podcast, which makes a full return! The heart of the show is restored (quite literally) and this time, it looks to be for good.

*Warning: Spoilers ahead for Only Murders in the Building Season 3, Episode 9*

Only Murders in the Building Episode 9 ties up the loose ends following last week’s chapter. Oliver (Martin Short) is making a speedy recovery after his heart attack as a result of Loretta’s (Meryl Streep) false confession. Whilst the dramatics of Oliver’s health strike as being inane, or at the very least overlooked, it works in the show’s favor.

Restoring Oliver’s health means that the main trio bands together again and is ready to tackle Ben Glenroy’s (Paul Rudd) death. It’s about time too — this dynamic is a far more successful formula for the show. This episode is closer to the content that the first two seasons provide and naturally, more authentic. Despite being noted in previous weeks, it’s worth mentioning once more that these three protagonists have such an excellent relationship.

There are plenty of laughs even inside the first five minutes of Only Murders in the Building Episode 9, chiefly between Charles (Steve Martin) and Oliver. Their back-and-forth is so charming and curated so excellently throughout three seasons. It mostly implicates Oliver poking fun at Charles for his age — despite being the same age, which adds to the hilarity of the pair’s relationship. It’s one of the most charming friendships in the vast collection of iconic duos, and easy to find agreement when Oliver tells Charles to “admit it, you’re obsessed with me.”

The trio continues their investigation by interviewing Dickie (Jeremy Shamos) before finding that he has a sound alibi. Ben’s adoptive brother was caught on CCTV moments before Ben was pushed to his death down the elevator shaft. The trio heads back to the Arconia to put together a timeline and cross-examine motives.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t give many clues as to who the killer could be. So far in Only Murders in the Building Season 3, there’s a rather wide hole of knowledge to help assess who the killer may be. Previous seasons have left the suspect in the dark until the penultimate, or in certain cases the final episode, but there’s often more information available.

The trio being apart and the investigation being regularly stunted has made the murder slightly hazy. It’s concerning that the show is putting all of its eggs into one basket, and there has to be a large plot twist to deliver a strong payoff. With the series’ strengths in plot twists, there’s still much to be optimistic about.

Oliver’s stage director Howard (Michael Cyril Creighton) pieces together a clue from opening night — a piece of paper that was heard being shredded behind a locked door on opening night. Oliver instantly recognizes the phrase “it just didn’t sing” and identifies it as the initial review from theater critic, Maxine (Noma Dumezweni). The ensemble ascertains that the only individual able to access these early doors is Donna Demeo (Linda Edmond), the leading producer assisting her son Cliff (Wesley Taylor) in producing his first Broadway show.

The motive is Maxine’s review, stating that Ben is the hitch in the show. Responding to this threat and seeking to avoid failure at the beginning of her son’s career, Donna laces a cookie with poison and sets it up in Ben’s dressing room. There are wonderful parallels between Donna and Loretta, who is still in jail (now unnecessarily) taking the fall for her long-lost son.

Given that these two characters were introduced at the beginning of the season, it feels predictable that one of them would eventually be presented as a suspect. Hopefully, writers Steve Martin and John Hoffman have a trick up their sleeve and later deflect from this in the final episode, in traditional Only Murders in the Building style.

Oliver, Charles, and Mabel (Selena Gomez) share a tender moment in which Mabel informs her older friends that it’s her 30^th birthday. She can’t think of a better way to spend it than solving crimes and recording a podcast with her “besties.”

Soon after, the trio disguises themselves as a bride with her two fathers to enter the courthouse where Loretta’s arraignment is taking place to stop her pleading guilty now that they have identified a concrete motive. There’s another sweet moment between Oliver and Loretta, which serves as a reminder of why it’s been so easy to root for them throughout the season. The affection they hold for each other is visible in all their scenes together.

Loretta questions who committed Ben’s murder when Mabel gets Oliver’s attention, who turns to see Donna standing up on the opposite side of the courtroom. Only Murders in the Building Season 3 has major stakes and is relying on a huge twist for the outcome to be entirely worth the payoff.

Only Murders in the Building is now streaming on Hulu and Disney+. Follow the Agents of Fandom socials for the latest Only Murders in the Building content.