Season 4 of ‘Only Murders’ Stays the Same. Maybe That’s Good for You!

If you weren’t a fan of “Only Murders in the Building” before, its latest episodes won’t change your mind.

Hulu’s popular murder-mystery comedy, which revolves around amateur detectives and podcasters investigating an uncanny number of killings in their Manhattan apartment building, is back for a fourth season that mirrors its predecessors. For some, this might be great news. But for those hoping for a bit more nuance, more comedy, or just added depth from the Emmy-nominated series, this season might disappoint.

Producers John Hoffman and Dan Fogelman have likely maintained the same formula because it has worked for four seasons, earning praise and Emmy nominations. With the main trio of Charles (Steve Martin), Oliver (Martin Short), and Mabel (Selena Gomez), alongside a rotation of A-list cameos and a central murder mystery, the show has a winning foundation. That is, unless the audience starts finding it repetitive.

Season 4 of “Only Murders in the Building” (streaming Tuesdays, rated ★★ out of four) can feel a bit tiresome, similar to its third season. However, unlike the previous season’s underwhelming plot about the murder of Oliver’s Broadway star, this new season infuses more zest into the storyline. The physical comedy and generation-gap punchlines from Martin, Short, and Gomez are still present as they solve a serious crime. Bright spots come in the form of funny gags from celebrity guest stars such as Eva Longoria and Molly Shannon, and an intriguing mystery could keep viewers hooked. Nonetheless, there are still a few more bad jokes from Short and lifeless line deliveries from Gomez to wade through.

The new episodes center around the murder of Sazz (Jane Lynch), Charles’ former stunt double and friend. It’s unclear whether Sazz’s death is linked to the Arconia building or a forthcoming movie based on the trio’s podcast. The film’s production is progressing quickly, led by Hollywood mogul Bev Melon (Shannon, consistently delightful) and stars Longoria, Zach Galifianakis, and Eugene Levy as the trio (playing themselves, which Longoria particularly enjoys). Charles, Mabel, and Oliver find themselves caught in the midst of a Hollywood production, a criminal conspiracy in their building, and their own personal and romantic issues, all while trying to solve Sazz’s murder.

However, four murders in one apartment building over four years? Even the characters are now pointing out the implausibility. This self-referential humor is one of many meta-jokes littered throughout the show. While some in-jokes are entertaining, “Murders” often veers too far into self-referential and self-congratulatory territory. By the time Melissa McCarthy appears as Charles’ much younger sister with a crush on Oliver, the series starts to teeter on the brink of overstaying its welcome.

Fortunately, Longoria shines as a better Mabel than Gomez has ever been (sorry, Selena fans), and Galifianakis is predictably great at self-parody. With the murder victim being close to Charles, Mabel, and Oliver, they seem to care more deeply about solving the case. It becomes harder to be nonchalant about death when you’re holding the urn.

Based on the seven (of 10) episodes available for review, it’s evident the series isn’t diverging from its established formula. That recipe is quite straightforward: Begin with a murder in the now-familiar building; add at least one celebrity playing an exaggerated version of themselves; introduce a motif (in this season, it’s cinema; last year, it was Broadway); concoct a half-baked third-act twist; and voilà! A new season is born.

I might be oversimplifying, but am I? Formulaic storytelling isn’t necessarily bad, but it can become stale. Your appetite for more depends entirely on how much you enjoy the trio’s kitschy humor. If you love Gomez, Martin, and Short in their element, you might be content to see the series continue for many more seasons, with countless more murders in that apartment building.

But if the charm has worn off for you, Season 4 is a mystery you wouldn’t mind leaving unsolved.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: ‘Only Murders in the Building’ doesn’t change at all in Season 4. Maybe that works for you!

Source: USA TODAY