It’s a seemingly simple conversation inside the car while they’re tracking Charles’ lost phone, but really, it’s bigger than that. It’s Mabel admitting that she thought the three of them would live in the Arconia forever. It’s her choice to acknowledge the fact that Oliver and Charles are her first real friends, and it’s got my heart in knots. It’s precious in a way that Only Murders in the Building consistently nails beautifully by centering the friendship above all things.
Only Murders in the Building is a cozy series for a number of reasons, but as we’ve said for five seasons now, it’s the friendship between Mabel, Oliver, and Charles that continues to stand out. It’s how prodigiously different they each are from one another, yet when it comes to the sheer possibility of anything happening to any of them, it impacts the other two in a significant manner. It changes everything. It hurts like hell. It bruises in a way that perpetually throbs.
In the same way that Oliver and Charles were concerned about Mabel’s housing situation in Season 4 and the way they made sure to celebrate her birthday in the Season 3 finale, “Thirty,” Mabel choosing to vocalize her sadness matters to showcase just how far this trio has come. The show’s fifth season is the most intimate arc yet because of Lester’s role at the Arconia, and it makes a large chunk of every interaction feel that much more effective. It’s all bigger than they thought it could ever be when they first started investigating murders, and it’s because a few things in the world are truly safe.
Still, the Arconia was always meant to be safe. It was meant to be their home. And whether Oliver does actually move or not isn’t as important as Mabel’s vulnerability. Selena Gomez continues to do something so lovely with Mabel’s sincerity, and it’s ultimately what continues to floor me. Oliver and Charles both drive her crazy. Consistently. They’re literally chasing a phone in the middle of a crime scene because Charles wasn’t careful. But none of that matters because she’d do it ten times over just to keep them close. As she says, they’re the closest people to her.
We’ve known about Mabel’s loneliness for quite some time because it’s not just physical. There’s a loneliness buried deep in her bones that no one’s dared to crack through before Charles and Oliver. They’re the ones who reached in, took her under their wing, and made something out of the unfortunate cards they were all dealt. And metaphorically, the cards continue to get worse and worse. Charles might not have much luck in the dating world, but Oliver’s married. And as far as friendship changes go, even Charles voiced his concerns back in “Escape From Planet Klongo.”
When we talk about a found family, Oliver, Mabel, and Charles are the definition of it. What they have with each other is such a special, deeply close friendship that it’s changed them all for the better. Whether they say it aloud or not, it consistently gives each of them a type of hope that they never thought they’d find. In some way, they each know loneliness, yet in their friendship, despite their differences, much of the heartache disappears. However, the fact that Mabel is actively upset that Oliver is considering leaving, and they’re talking about it, is a lovely way of continuing to strengthen their friendship in a way that makes it even more special.
Now streaming on Hulu: What are your thoughts on Oliver potentially moving in Only Murders in the Building? Let us know in the comments below.
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