"Only Murders In The Building" Season 1 Review: A Fun Twisty WhodunIt With Three Great Leads

There are currently 3 seasons of "Only Murders In The Building" available on Hulu. The show was created by Steve Martin and John Hoffman. It has garnered critical acclaim with nominations for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series and Golden Globe for Best Television Series- Musical or Comedy. The three leads have also been nominated for Golden Globes and Primetime Emmy Awards.

Spoilers Ahead: Turn Back Now If You Haven't Seen Season 1 of "Only Murders In The Building"

The first scene of the series opens with a SWAT team entering a building. Next we see Oliver Putnam (Martin Short) and Charles Haden-Savage (Steve Martin) encounter Mabel Mora (Selena Gomez). She is kneeling over a dead body. Flash back two months. The three residents of the Arconia (on New York's upper east side) bond over true crime and the death of fellow building resident-- Tim Kono. The police say it's a suicide. The threesome dont believe it. They start a podcast about the case and of course they call it "Only Murders In The Building". They must peel back first the crime, then the characters, then their secrets. This adds a new mission to the three who were each very isolated in their own way.

At the end of the first episode we learn Mabel knows more about the case than she's saying. She has a pic of her and the deceased Tim. Written on the bottom of the Polaroid is "My Hardy Boys".

Another resident of the building, Teddy Dimas, sponsors their podcast. He wants air time for his chain of delis. Teddy has previously sponsored some of Oliver's shows (he's a Broadway director). Unfortunately many flopped. As time goes on it seems the Dimas (father and son) may be involved in Tim's death.

The show is very meta at times with fans congregating outside the Arconia. They even get to participate in a brain storming session (a dream come true for every true crime fan). The podcast hosts have ship names such as the Mabellines, Haidens Maidens, Putnuts and Arconiacs.

Charles meets a nice bassonist who is also a resident of the building. Jan tries to join the crime solving group but Mabel and Oliver find her less than helpful. They encourage her to leave.Then Jan is stabbed by some mysterious stranger.

In the end, it turns out the killer of Tim Kono... wait for it... it's Jan. She was having an affair with him. She didnt take his breaking up with her too well. She poisoned him and made it look like he shot himself in the head. Jan is officially cuckoo. She poisons Charles. For Jan's grand finale she plans to blow up the building and everyone in it. Wow. Luckily Mabel and Oliver figure out her plan and save Charles in the nick of time.

The three are allowed back into the building (after previously being kicked out). They are celebrating on the roof when Mabel goes for more champagne. Oliver and Charles get texts saying "Get out of the building now!!!". They run to get Mabel. She is kneeling over a very dead Bunny.. She has Mabel's knitting needle in her chest. Remember that first scene with the SWAT team storming the building? That depicted this moment. It has nothing to do with Jan. The three are paraded by the police in front of all the other tenants and off to jail.Police Detective Williams tells them not to say anything. And with that we're ready for a new adventure in season 2. And end scene.

Grade: 4 1/2 Monsters (out of 5). "Only Murders In the Building" season 1 is a comedy mystery whodunit with lots of quirky characters. The three leads (Steve Martin, Martin Short, Selena Gomez) are excellent. The show has been renewed for a fourth season. With lots of twists and turns, it's definitely worth a watch. My only criticism is that with 10 episodes, it's a bit longer than I would personally like. But that's probably just my ADHD talking. I can't wait to see where season 2 leads.