The case of who killed Ben Glenroy is closed, and with it, another sensational season of Only Murders in the Building comes to an end. But with such rousing critical praise and a fandom that not only watches and sleuths, but also giddily visits pop-up activations, this cozy crime show has no signs of stopping! The very day that Season 3’s finale episode aired, Hulu announced Season 4 has been greenlit.
Now we have a string of questions about what comes next for Mabel Mora (Selena Gomez), Oliver Putnam (Martin Short), and Charles-Haden Savage (Steve Martin). So, let’s get to cracking the case of Only Murders in the Building: Season 4.
What’s the case for Only Murders’ fourth season?
Credit: Hulu
Season 3’s finale, “Opening Night,” saw Ben’s killers kiss in cuffs as the cops carried them off Broadway and into infamy. But just as in Season 1 and Season 2, the finale’s final moments teased the next homicide that would haunt the Arconia’s quirky residents.
Back in Oliver’s apartment, the cast of Death Rattle Dazzle are gathered once more for an opening night party. The reviews are in: The show is a hit! And that’s not all.
Oliver gets to celebrate “the night of my dreams with the girl of my dreams” — meaning the lovely Loretta (Meryl Streep). But she is a star on the rise, as her son/manager Dickie (Jeremy Shamos) is fielding calls not only from Grey’s Anatomy: New Orleans: Family Burn Unit but also for the lead in a Hedda Gobbler — a movie about animated turkeys (naturally). This “heat” — as Oliver calls it — could pull her away from him and New York, as she follows her dream to Los Angeles.
Mabel’s documentary-making beau Tobert (Jesse Williams) is also headed to L.A. to shoot an indie film.
“Los Angeles, a city so nice they named it Los Angeles,” Charles muses, as Oliver laments how “everyone” is going there. Hell, even he and Mabel admit, “I like L.A…. in small doses.”
But just when it seems this New York City–set show might make the leap to the West Coast for its next case, a fresh corpse turns up in the Arconia.
Who killed Sazz Pataki?
Credit: Hulu
Making her first appearance in Season 1, episode 9, “Double Time,” Sazz Pataki (Jane Lynch) has been a friend and occasional rival for Charles, for whom she was a body double on his old cop show Brazzos.
In Season 3, Sazz popped by Oliver’s party with a “cold case” of beers. But when she went to Charles’ apartment to get some wine, she took a bullet that might have been meant for him! After all, she was dressed just like Charles and in his apartment when someone fired through the window. Or maybe the death was intended for her?
Sazz did tell Charles she had something to tell him — something “a little sensitive.” Did they have a chat on the way upstairs? Why did she enter the apartment alone? Did Charles get another text from his ex, Joy (Andrea Martin), which diverted his attention? Has she moved on to Scott Bakula — or was she creating an alibi? Was there a relevance to Sazz whistling “Drunken Sailor” as she entered the dark apartment?
Seemingly fatally shot, Sazz spends her last moments poking at the blood coming from her chest to begin to write something on the tile floor. What will it say? Where will this clue lead Charles, Oliver, and Mabel? Could it be that this case — though in Manhattan and the Arconia — could pull them to Los Angeles after all? And if so… does that mean Meryl Streep and Jesse Williams are coming back?
When will Season 4 of Only Murders in the Building air?
Credit: Hulu
Variety reported the renewal for Season 4, noting “Only Murders in the Building is Hulu’s most-watched original comedy series to date, and its third season had the most-watched premiere day of any Hulu scripted original in 2023 thus far.”
But girl, the strike! Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG/AFTRA) is still on strike against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). So, there’s no clear answer on when Only Murders In the Building could roll back into production. However, with the Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike settled, Season 4 can begin development, drafting episodes and yarn-walling out the Sazz murder investigation. But casting — including big-name cameos like Sting, Amy Schumer, Matthew Broderick, and Mel Brooks — would have to wait.
Traditionally, Only Murders In the Building has thrived by debuting in late summer and running into fall. Season 1 debuted on Aug. 31, 2021. Season 2 premiered on June 28, 2022, while Season 3 began on Aug. 8, 2023. To hit those marks, production would likely need to begin in January. Here is yet another reason to hope the AMPTP comes to the negotiating table with a deal that’ll appeal to the actors guild.
How to watch: Only Murders in the Building is now streaming on Hulu.
