I’m Officially Sold On Only Murders In The Building Season 4’s Big Change

Summary

• Only Murders in the Building season 4’s move to Los Angeles is surprisingly fitting after the initial skepticism.
• The incorporation of real celebrities in the Hollywood setting adds humor and depth to the upcoming season.
• The blend of comedy and mystery in the new season promises to be enhanced by the star-studded cast and change of scenery.

Only Murders in the Building has convinced me that shifting the setting to Los Angeles in season 4 could work well. Since season 1, Hulu’s popular murder mystery-comedy series has taken place in New York City, with the main death in each season taking place in the Arconia apartment building. Even though the most recent victim, Sazz Pataki (Jane Lynch), was also murdered in the Arconia in Only Murders in the Building‘s season 3 ending, season 4 will partially take place in Los Angeles.

Before revealing Sazz’s death, season 3 teased the potential setting change as Loretta Durkin (Meryl Streep) and Tobert (Jesse Williams) moved to Los Angeles for new career opportunities, and Oliver Putnam (Martin Short) and Mabel Mora (Selena Gomez) discussed the possibility of visiting. With Loretta returning in season 3, Oliver, Mabel, and Charles-Haden Savage (Steve Martin) going to Los Angeles makes sense, but I was skeptical about the setting change, as the series is deeply intertwined with New York City. Because of Only Murder’s in the Building‘s season 4 trailer, I’ve come around to the idea of the show making such a big change I was once skeptical of.

Only Murders In The Building Season 4 Is Taking Full Advantage Of Its Hollywood Setting

Hollywood Is A Major Part Of Season 4’s Story

The Only Murders in the Building season 4 trailer emphasizes how Charles, Oliver, and Mabel are not only going to Los Angeles to visit Loretta, but are traveling there because Hollywood is adapting the podcasting trio’s story into a film. For the film, Eugene Levy is playing Charles, Zach Galifianakis is playing Oliver, and Eva Longoria is playing Mabel. Beyond featuring these well-known actors playing themselves, I appreciate how the trailer spotlights the glamor and sometimes artificial nature of Hollywood’s celebrity culture.

Charles’ career in television and Oliver’s career in musical theater have provided insightful commentary and amusing scenarios based on both of these industries. Season 4 is taking this further with the culture surrounding Hollywood blockbuster films, which is ripe for meta commentary given much of the star-studded cast’s experiences. I am also glad to see that the trio will not be restricted to meeting with producers and movie stars as they are seen in many different locations across Los Angeles as well.

Using Real Celebrities In Its Murder Mystery Is Selling Me On OMITB Season 4

It Will Enhance Season 4’s Comedy

Only Murders in the Building could have cast anyone to play Charles, Oliver, and Mabel in their Hollywood movie, but this plot is made more compelling with the series casting actual celebrities in Levy, Galifianakis, and Longoria. Poking fun at celebrity culture will work much better with real celebrities in these roles and is consistent with the series’ often self-deprecating humor. This is already demonstrated in the trailer when Levy asserts that he is not a child and then asks Mabel if she can open his snack since his assistant is not present to do so.

With season 4 also revolving around solving Sazz’s death in New York City, I am hopeful that Levy, Galifianakis, and Longoria can also be incorporated into the overarching mystery, which seems more likely with the trailer showing Longoria’s eager reaction to learning that Mabel and her podcasting partners have a new death to solve. They can be important in Los Angeles and when the story goes back to New York City. The potential teased in the Only Murders in the Building season 4 trailer makes me think the Los Angeles setting could be really effective.