“Murder” is alive and well in the Arconia

I came to "Only Murders in the Building" late. It wasn't until after season three that I finally watched the show. The premise of an Agatha Christie-style closed-room mystery combined with a true crime podcast was intriguing. Throw in comedy legends Steve Martin and Martin Short, and add in Selena Gomez, and the show was destined to be a hit. 

Season five of "Only Murders" finds our trio investigating two deaths. One of the longtime Arconia doorman, Lester (Teddy Coluca), and the other is Nicky Caccimelio (Bobby Cannavale), a wannabe mobster who runs an illegal casino in the basement of the Arconia. 

As always, this show is driven by the chemistry of the three leads. If they didn't work, this show doesn't work. Even in the weaker seasons, the interplay between these three is where this show shines. Martian Short and Steve Martian have been friends for years and even have a touring show together, so they were always going to make magic on screen. I have been very impressed with how well Gomez fits in their dynamic. She is the perfect balance to the manic energy of her two older costars. 

In the most recent seasons, the show has managed to attract some incredible guest stars, most notably Meryl "Freakin" Streep. Whenever the guest stars are announced, it is always fun to see who they got. This year, Logan Lerman and Oscar winners Christoph Waltz and Renée Zellweger are a part of the cast. They play three billionaires who used to gamble at Nicky's casino. They may, or may not, have had something to do with the deaths that the three are investigating. 

Most shows struggle to maintain consistency over five seasons, but this one has managed to do so. Even with the addition of some high-profile guest stars, the focus remains on the main characters. "Only Murders in the Building" knows that it is at its best when the three leads are on screen. 

“Only Murders in the Building” is on Hulu