Warning! This article contains spoilers for Only Murders in the Building season 3, episodes 1 and 2.
Summary
The chemistry between Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez, the central trio, is exceptional as they deliver the show's witty humor flawlessly. Season 3 of the show continues to uphold its clever and humorous style with a selection of fantastic quotes that effectively capture its humor, emotional depth, and self-awareness.
The emotional moments in episodes 1 and 2 of Only Murders in the Building season 3 offer a deeper understanding of the characters' feelings, making them more relatable and likable. Building upon the previous seasons, these two episodes present a compelling mystery complemented by a script filled with memorable quotes. The undeniable highlight of the show remains the incredible chemistry among the central trio of Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez. Their flawless delivery brings out the sharp humor present in the scripts.
10 "Oliver Putnam In The House!"
: Highlighting the constant growth in its cast, Only Murders in the Building manages to maintain focus on its central trio of characters. Moreover, the show remains unwavering in its ability to infuse clever humor into its somber or poignant moments. Consequently, the initial two episodes of the third season present an array of memorable quotes that perfectly encapsulate the show's wit, emotional depth, and self-awareness.The quote is from Martin Short's character, Oliver Putnam, in Only Murders in the Building season 3, episode 1. In this episode, the show explores the events that occurred during the one-year time gap between seasons 2 and 3. The main trio attends the first table read of Oliver's Broadway show, "Death Rattle." As they exit the Arconia, Oliver urges Charles not to show off to the other actors, emphasizing "No peacocking!" In the next scene, Oliver bursts into the room, announcing his presence with gusto, exclaiming "Oliver Putnam in the house!"
9 “The Plane Is Literally Scattered Across The Runway”
This quote effectively ushers viewers back into the world of Only Murders in the Building and the outgoing persona of Oliver Putnam, who is heavily involved in the entertainment industry. It not only cleverly showcases the interaction between two key characters but also maintains the show's slightly exaggerated yet amusing style of humor. This quote seamlessly aligns with Oliver's character and assures that the series remains faithful to the appealing qualities of its main characters following the conclusion of Only Murders in the Building season 2.
Upon Oliver's cautionary remark, Charles promptly indulges in a cringeworthy display of peacocking, proudly flaunting his past television achievements. Despite his insistence that he is no more remarkable than anyone else in the room, Charles awkwardly veers off course, reciting a Gandhi quote, before Oliver intervenes. Inquiring if his performance was a success, Charles is met with Oliver's response that the metaphorical plane has disastrously crash-landed. Short's impeccable delivery of this line undoubtedly renders it the most amusing quote from Season 3, Episode 1 of Only Murders in the Building.
8 “Oh God No, Please, Just Cobro…”
7 “There Might Be A Little Room Next To The Despair!”
comes from Ben Glenroy, played by Paul Rudd, in the TV show Only Murders in the Building. After Loretta, portrayed by Meryl Streep, expresses her excitement about working with "the Cobro," one of Ben's famous characters, Ben responds with the aforementioned quote. He then adds, "Yeah, the 'the' makes me sound like an asshole, like the Rock, the Pope. I mean, come on, get over yourselves." This quote brilliantly captures Ben's character as a narcissistic actor, oblivious to his own obnoxious behavior. Rudd's delivery is flawless and includes humorous references to icons like the Rock and the Pope.
After the premiere of Only Murders in the Building season 3, episode 1, the narrative takes a flashback to the night when Ben supposedly died on stage, and this event sparks a humorous reaction from Oliver. Despite the circumstances, Oliver insists on proceeding with the planned opening night celebration for the cast and crew. Charles, on the other hand, debates the appropriateness of using the term "party" considering Ben's presumed demise. This disagreement prompts an emotional outburst from Oliver, who confronts Charles by saying, "Just say it, Charles. Add more suffering to my already overwhelming despair!"
6 “We Couldn’t Have Done The Podcast Anyway, Because Ben Didn’t Die In The Building.”
Oliver's delivery in this quote truly elevates it to one of the finest moments in Only Murders in the Building season 3, episode 1. He flawlessly captures the desperation of a man whose life's work has just crumbled before his very eyes. Throughout the series, the murder cases have always somehow involved Charles and Mabel, with Jan connecting Charles to the crimes and Tim Kono or Bunny Folger linking Mabel to them. However, this particular quote showcases Oliver's raw reaction as the current season's murder directly implicates him. It expertly portrays his shock, despair, and hilariously short temper towards Charles.
In a twist of events, the premiere of season 3 of Only Murders in the Building reveals that Ben's demise wasn't as it seemed. Instead of his supposed death on stage in season 2, he meets a tragic end by being thrown down an elevator shaft. Charles, Mabel, and Oliver find themselves at the crime scene, and a quote captures the show's witty meta humor perfectly. In the first episode of Only Murders in the Building season 3, Mabel attempts to recruit Charles and Oliver for another intriguing investigation on their popular podcast. However, Charles points out, "You know Mabel, we couldn't have continued the podcast anyways, since Ben didn't perish within the building."
5 "And A Doctor's Note Saying I'm Too Weak To Kill... Ow!"
This occurs just prior to the discovery of his lifeless body perched atop the Arconia's elevator, with Ben descending through the ceiling in a crime scene drenched in blood. Charles' remark effortlessly walks the tightrope between enhancing a gruesome moment with clever self-awareness, as the writers slyly acknowledge to the viewers that Ben's demise did not occur within the confines of the Arconia. Through his line, Charles sets the stage for Ben's actual death, maintains the show's meta style of humor, and swiftly disproves Charles himself, amplifying the comedic value of the scene that concludes season 3, episode 1 of Only Murders in the Building.
One of the standout lines from the second episode of Only Murders in the Building season 3 belongs to Charles, who passionately defends himself to Oliver, denying any involvement in Ben's murder. Oliver subtly hints at the strained relationship between Charles and Ben, suggesting it as a possible motive. Undeterred, Charles asserts that he provided the police with a truthful statement, a list of witnesses who can vouch for his whereabouts, and even went as far as obtaining a doctor's note attesting to his physical inability to commit the crime. As he mimics a stabbing motion, the pain on Charles' face illuminates the severity of his words.
4 "What If I Need A Ridiculous Premise Just To Be Any Good?"
The comedic brilliance of Steve Martin's timing shines in this quote, as he raises his arm with a small "ow" that evokes laughter. Furthermore, this quote provides answers to lingering questions about the show's storyline. Following the events of Only Murders in the Building season 3, episode 1, Charles and Ben find themselves at odds, making Charles a potential suspect. However, this quote serves as undeniable evidence of Charles's guilt, cleverly injecting humor into the episode. Despite the abundance of amusing quotes in episodes 1 and 2 of Only Murders in the Building, there are also instances that showcase the show's ability to capture heartfelt moments. In episode 1, Ben Glenroy is portrayed as a self-centered and unpleasant actor whom not many people admire. However, episode 2 offers a different perspective on his character, delving into his personality more deeply. In a scene with Oliver during a rehearsal for the play, Ben confesses, "I have been Girlcop, I have been Cobro. What if I can't simply be myself? What if I require an absurd premise to truly excel?"3 "Hey, At Least We Found The Killer And In Record Time. Usually, It Takes Us At Least 8 Episodes.”
: This quote signifies the first instance where Ben exhibits genuine emotion, providing valuable insight into the vulnerability that lurks beneath his confident facade. Its simplicity evokes authenticity and immediately elicits sympathy from the audience, a quality that was lacking in Only Murders in the Building episode 1. This theme is further developed in the later parts of the episode when another quote from Ben accentuates his insecurities and transforms him into a captivating character.
In the later part of episode 2 in the third season of Only Murders in the Building, Charles and Mabel find themselves being taken hostage by Greg, who turns out to be a devoted fan of Ben's and had falsely claimed to be part of his security team. This leads Charles and Mabel to suspect that Greg is the culprit behind Ben's murder, prompting Charles to quip, "Well, at least we've managed to uncover the killer in record time. Normally, it takes us a minimum of eight episodes." This playful remark alludes to the deliberate misdirection presented in episode 2 of the third season, given that previous seasons of the show have consisted of 10 episodes.
Charles' remark about finding the killer in record time, compared to the usual eight episodes it takes them on their podcast, adds yet another layer of meta commentary on the show's format. Typically, the reveal of the killer occurs only in the final episodes of each season, so Charles' mention of "at least eight episodes" is a playful jab at this convention. Furthermore, with Only Murders in the Building season 3 consisting of 10 episodes, the likelihood of Greg not being Ben's murderer increases significantly, further enhancing the humor of Charles' statement.
2 “For 30 Minutes A Week, I Was Laughing With My Mom Again, Even If We Were In Different Rooms.”
In the second episode of season 3 of Only Murders in the Building, Mabel's character delves deeper into her emotional side. In the previous season, it was disclosed that her father had passed away from cancer when she was young. In this episode, the narrative expands on this, as Mabel shares how Ben's show Girlcop helped her cope during that difficult period. She recounts a moment when she heard her mother laughing, which struck her as peculiar given the circumstances. However, she soon realized that her mother was also watching Girlcop, and in that shared experience, they found solace and laughter together.
1 “It Means That Every Job I Go To, I’m Still That Little Boy Who Can’t Hack It…”
Mabel's words are filled with heartache as she reveals, "Even though we were physically apart, those precious 30 minutes a week brought back the laughter I shared with my mom." This poignant statement not only emphasizes the profound loneliness Mabel experienced following her father's passing but also sheds light on her unwavering admiration for Ben Glenroy and the immense significance his show held in her life.
In season 3, episode 2 of Only Murders in the Building, Ben's character becomes even more sympathetic as he reveals the reason behind his animosity towards Charles: Charles was responsible for Ben's dismissal from Brazos. Ben discloses that he was initially cast in Brazos as a child, but Charles managed to get him fired after their first table read. This event shattered Ben's self-confidence, and since then, he has carried the lingering insecurity of never being good enough, exacerbated by the fact that he was just a child at the time. While episodes 1 and 2 of Only Murders in the Building's third season offer a plethora of comical lines, it is the more poignant ones like these that truly stand out.
New episodes of Only Murders in the Building release every Tuesday on Hulu.