At the start of season 4, I had my doubts. I was worried that the influx of guest stars and a Hollywood setting might overshadow the heart of the show. Turns out, I was completely wrong. Season 4 held strong, thanks to co-creators Steve Martin, John Hoffman, and their talented writers, who kept the focus on Mabel, Oliver, and Charles in the Arconia. I’m excited for season 5, which will also be set in the building and feature more guest stars. I think it will be a great season.
Opening scene: Oliver Putnam (Martin Short) narrates a simple obituary as we see Leicester (Teddy Kolca), an Arconian doorman, positioned in the lobby, ready for the funeral.
Key points: Oliver and his podcast partners, Mabel Mora (Selena Gomez) and Charles Harden Savage (Steve Martin), are convinced that Leicester was murdered. He was found in a fountain shortly after getting married to Oliver Loretta Durkin (Meryl Streep). Yet, the following day, the police declare his death a coincidence. Just then, Howard (Michael Cyril Clayton) pops in—Oliver isn’t thrilled, as if it’s a scene from Laverne & Shirley—and claims the security footage confirms the police’s narrative.
However, while Oliver is soaking the leftover wedding shrimp in cocktail sauce, he discovers an amputated finger. Mabel and Charles had previously interviewed Sofia Cuccimerio (Thea Leoni) about her missing husband, Nicky (Bobby Cannavale), but she had no leads. Is that Leicester’s finger? The trio heads to the lobby for Leicester’s crowded wake, where his wife Lorraine (Dianne Wiest) and Mayor Tillman (Keegan-Michael Key) are present. Charles feels uneasy seeing him like this.
To demonstrate he cares, Oliver shows a photo with Leicester in it, speaking to Nikki Cuccimerio. This deepens their suspicions that Leicester had a violent end. So, they travel to Staten Island with the finger in an ice-filled mug and visit Sofia, who lives in a house reminiscent of The Godfather. After meeting Sofia’s intimidating but ultimately harmless son, she tells them that Nikki isn’t a great husband and this absence feels particularly noteworthy.
As Mabel and Charles examine the Alconia map Sofia gave them, they stumble upon a hidden room beneath the building where Leicester had been shortly before his death. Oliver finds something else that he thinks might clean Leicester’s hat, further illustrating his concern.
What shows does it remind you of? Just killing the building Seasons 1-4.
Our take: Season 5 maintains a similar roster of guest stars to season 4, almost like they’re vying for another Oscar. The first episode hints at how they fit into the unusual world of Arconia while keeping the focus where it belongs—on our beloved podcasters.
People might float in and out of Arconia (though I always appreciate Jackie Hoffman’s Uma and her sharp humor), but the core relationships among the trio remain intact. They genuinely enjoy each other’s company, and the age-related jokes continue to land well. By now, the chemistry between Martin and Gomez shines through, almost longing for another round of the murder mystery within their building.
This setup works, as it allows the trio to work through the case without distractions from guest stars. The show truly excels when Oliver, Mabel, and Charles collaborate.
For the second season in a row, the victim is someone we knew from the previous season. With Leicester being an insightful doorman, the stakes feel as personal to the trio as they were with Saz (Jane Lynch) in season 4. Personal connections add an extra layer of intrigue, especially when related to someone familiar throughout the series.
Sex and skin: Nothing particularly risqué happens in the first episode.
Farewell shot: Oliver discovers something at the dry cleaner, and it tumbles onto him.
Sleeper star: Dianne Wiest never fails to impress with her humor; there’s a moment where Lorraine recalls how Oliver annoyed Leicester, and it’s hilarious.
Most poignant line: The notion that Sofia’s sons aimed to pitch their podcast idea to the trio instead of engaging in gangster antics was amusing and served as a great punchline. It was especially funny to see her reaction upon noticing her own cut finger fall from the cup.
Our call: Stream it. Just killing the building continues to intrigue with compelling mysteries for Mabel, Charles, and Oliver to unravel.
