Only Murders in the Building Season 4, Episode 9, “Escape From Planet Klongo,” gives viewers one of the show’s most heartfelt moments by diving deep into friendship again. In the third episode, we get a beautiful moment between the podcast trio, but here, the heart-to-heart looks different, and it occurs between Oliver and Charles after a public fight.
After basically stating that Oliver is insufferable, Charles later confesses that it’s not about the bachelor party, but the fact feels left out because Loretta will now be in Oliver’s emergency contact after the two of them get married. In other words, he’s sad they won’t grow old together anymore.
The season puts Charles through a lot, and Only Murders in the Building Season 4, Episode 9, “Escape From Planet Klongo,” reminds us of this by driving the mystery to its endpoint. Sazz’s death has been understandably weighing on him from the beginning, but he’s felt a little less alone because Oliver and Mabel have been beside him. Now, Oliver is about to tie the knot, and while Charles expected that Mabel would eventually spread her wings, the two men would’ve at least had each other. (In fact, he thought they’d die together.) There’s so much to appreciate about this scene, and it all boils down to how the series allows men to be vulnerable.
We talk about toxic masculinity a lot here at Lady Geeks, and it’s always welcomed when a series dismantles it by giving men the opportunity to open up. Oliver and Charles’ heart-to-heart results in a scene that’s generally expected with women when it comes to their best friends getting married, but we rarely see similar moments with men. (Seriously, the last time I remember it happening was with Shawn Hunter and Cory Matthews in Boy Meets World.) It’s apparent that this initially takes much out of Charles because Steve Martin has an effectively subtle way of showing us how awkwardly the character is crumbling. It’s the little smile he wears so he doesn’t fully let himself feel all the pain and fear, and it’s especially palpable now because everything feels ten times heavier.
Additionally, one of the most riveting details is that Oliver never realized how important he was to Charles. Yes, they’re bound by the podcast, but their love for one another is real. It’s so real that while Oliver can be more open with his feelings, it doesn’t come as easily to Charles. He’s far more reserved, especially now, when he’s essentially terrified he could lose them at any given moment. Still, it takes a lot more courage to speak up finally than it does to keep emotions bottled up, and we can physically see the weight of his heartache lifting off Charles when he tells Oliver how much he matters to me. We get a glimpse of hope for the first time when Oliver states that he wants him as his best man and that he’ll add him as his life-alert contact. This is where Martin Short’s performance shines because while the men hide behind their menus to avoid some of the awkwardness, we get a complete and intentional view of Oliver’s eyes from where Short projects his deep appreciation.
The scene presents viewers with an unmistakable and beautiful reminder of how significant the men are to each other. Whether Oliver is married or not, Charles is the closest person to him. Their friendship matters immensely to both of them, and they’re better because of their meeting. It’s a hilarious, heartwarming beat that emphasizes how age doesn’t matter when it comes to the fears of losing friendships. The fear of losing someone is always there because loving people fully always comes with the fear of one day being without them. Loving someone fully means wanting them in your life at all times. The men have come so far since the first season, and how Short and Martin play off one another to deliver Oliver and Charles’ dynamic is nothing short of exquisite. The vulnerability here is unmatched in exhibiting something that’s so achingly sincere it’s hard to watch the scene without a tear or two slipping out.
Now streaming on Hulu: What are your thoughts on this particular scene in Only Murders in the Building Season 4, Episode 9, “Escape From Planet Klongo?” Let us know in the comments below.
First Featured Image Credit: ©(Disney/Patrick Harbron)