The following article contains spoilers for the Only Murders in the Building Season 4 finale
Only Murders in the Building delivers yet another flawless season, but this time, it solidifies its strength in friendships, revealing that the show’s warmth and appeal come from the relationships more than the sharp jesting. In more ways than one, the series is never really about murder, but it’s about unlikely people coming together to honor the deceased in the best way they can.
We learn who the killer is in “Escape From Planet Klongo,” but the reasoning is what makes the Only Murders in the Building Season 4 finale stand out. The episode reveals that Marshall so impressed and horrifically jealous of Sazz’s script that he stole it, pitched it, and killed her when she found it. After he’s shot by Jan from across the building, our podcast trio finally celebrates Loretta and Oliver, but it isn’t long before another visitor (guest starring the incredible Téa Leoni) kicks things back into motion.
The Only Murders in the Building Season 4 Finale Celebrates the Podcast Trio’s Friendship
I first started losing it last week during Oliver and Charles’ heart-to-heart, but the waterworks wouldn’t stop after the two men began walking on the ledge to save Mabel. The tears intensified when Mabel and Charles walked Oliver down the aisle, and after that, I was a total goner. Interestingly, the show seldom tries too hard to be shocking when it comes to the mystery, but instead, it leans deeper into the relationships to tell a story that feels more honest.
It’s also important to note that before she dies, Sazz also delivers a tear-jerker by stating, “He’ll get you…my number one,” allowing her friendship with Charles to take center stage and remind us of the character’s loyalty. What is loyalty, truly? This is a question that gets asked frequently these days for various reasons, and the show answers it exceptionally by demonstrating that loyalty is people showing up for one another, time and again, knowing it’s exactly what they would do for you. The episode effectively exhibits all the ways the characters show up for one another, choosing to make the overarching theme one that uplifts and highlights friendships.
Additionally, the Season 4 finale presents us with the very real possibility that Oliver might have to leave because Loretta needs to go to New Zealand for the role. And even while they’re sad, it’s clear that both Mabel and Charles support him. Still, Oliver is rightfully a little sad because he wants to be near the love of his life, and he also wants to be with his best friends. And being the perfect unicorn that she is, Loretta sees this and chooses to tell him he should stay. As she states, no part of their relationship has been conventional, so why should they start now? Instead, they’ll continue to adore each other and manage long distances because they’re good at that.
In an episode that’s titled “My Best Friend’s Wedding,” it’s genuinely wholesome that most of the narrative would focus on loyalty and friendships. Charles already lost one of his best friends, but he wasn’t going to let any of that happen today. Today, he’s going to hold on a little tighter and walk his best friend down the aisle with his other best friend. It’s also fitting that friendship is the crux of Sazz’s script and why her version of the movie is as excellent as it is. It’s a love letter to her best friend, making the entire season the kind of homage we don’t get to see as often.
People love to argue that there aren’t great friendships on TV, but Only Murders in the Building Season 4 finale proves otherwise. The show is indisputably a love letter to unconventional friendships and the lifelong bonds that come from meeting people with whom you’re willing to grow old. They all learn something from each other, but more importantly, they take care of each other, and that’s something we could use more of when the real world gets too cruel.
In my full-season review, I’d said, “Only Murders in the Building Season 4 is as cozy and as jam-packed as ever in what might be the show’s most star-studded spectacle yet.” Back then, I hadn’t seen the finale yet, and what I would’ve said is that Only Murders in the Building Season 4 is as cozy and as jam-packed as ever in what might be the show’s most vulnerable season yet. Everything we get in “My Best Friend’s Wedding” proves that it’s not about the crimes, but it’s about the life-changing friendship between Oliver, Mabel, and Charles, which has healed them all in ways they might never be able to put into words.
Now streaming on Hulu: What are your thoughts on the Only Murders in the Building Season 4 finale? Let us know in the comments below.
First Featured Image Credit: (Disney/Patrick Harbron)