Only Murders in the Building (S5): Good?

Only Murders in the Building (Season 5/USA/2025) series has drawn curtains on its latest season five today. And, once again, they have done it with a lot of flair, style, comedy, and murders. As expected, the trio of detective podcasters take their sweet time of almost ten episodes to solve two whodunit murder crimes.

But just when we thought that the show was over. With both the new “Murder (s)” and the old “Arconia Building” having gone, another twist takes place right at the end of the season 5 finale. The fans of the OMITB (Only Murders in the Building) should rejoice as it seems the trio are going to step out of New York.

OMITB (S5) Ends On A High Note, But Another Murder…

Spoiler-Free Series Review: Only Murders in the Building (Season 5/2025)

The synopsis

After their beloved doorman, Lester, dies under suspicious circumstances, Charles, Oliver, and Mabel refuse to believe it was an accident. The trio uncovers a dangerous web of secrets connecting powerful billionaires and old-school mobsters.
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{Three strangers share an obsession with true crime and suddenly find themselves wrapped up in one. When a grisly death occurs inside their exclusive Upper West Side apartment building, the trio suspects murder and employs their precise knowledge of true crime to investigate the truth. Perhaps even more explosive are the lies they tell one another. Soon, the endangered trio comes to realise a killer might be living among them as they race to decipher the mounting clues before it's too late.}

So, the sweet doorman of the “Arconia Building” was murdered…

Notably, the famous crime podcasters, Charles-Haden Savage (Steve Martin), Oliver Putnam (Martin Short), and Mabel Mora (Selena Gomez), come across an unexpected murder case at the end of each season of this whodunit mystery. So, the trio saw the murdered body of the lovely doorman Lester (Teddy Coluca) in the closing scene of the season 4 finale of the OMITB show. And this has become a regular occurrence in this comedy drama. However, soon after season 5 started rolling, the wannabe detective trio stumbled onto another crime case.

But, why was a doorman murdered and who killed him…

Wish we could disclose the mentioned information, right now. But that will certainly ruin your viewing pleasure. Therefore, we will do what the writers of this show did. They kept the whodunnit mystery going for the entire season 5 with 10 episodes. So, we shall keep that a secret in this article.

What about the usual bunch of suspects…

Just like the previous four seasons, there are quite a few guest stars in this season 5 of the OMITB. So, here are the names of the key characters (guest stars), and you might notice that they are quite famous actors/actresses.

What we can disclose is that one of the people in this new character group also ends up being murdered. Moreover, one of them is a cold-blooded murderer.

Now, the big question is how the bumbling and clueless detective trio is going to solve a murder mystery?

And this where the writers sparkle

This time, the show writers took a shot at the Tech. Billionaires, who play the much-despised obnoxious characters. And, they also created a slimy and slippery (New York) Politician, who likes to make deals with the rich and powerful. Last but not least, the couple belonging to the infamous Mob Family of the bygone era. Definitely, there is a lot of tussle going on between the old world and the tech-savvy new world. Both old and new worlds wish to stay relevant in the tech-driven, fast-changing world of the 21st century. No one wants to become obsolete nowadays. But, then one cannot stop the changes

The actors/actresses played their chracters admirably

The on-screen chemistry of Steve Martin (Charles-Haden Savage), Martin Short (Oliver Putnam), and Selena Gomez (Mabel Mora) is getting better with each season. Their witty one-liners and the deadpan comedy are quite good. Then, you add Meryl Streep (Loretta Durkin) to the mix for the extra bit of fun. We also liked the performances of the ensemble cast who played the building residents, Michael Cyril Creighton (Howard Morris), Da’Vine Joy Randolph (Detective Donna Williams), Vanessa Aspillaga (Ursula), Richard Kind (Vince Fish), etc.

Among the guest star cast, all of them did a wonderful job. Their portrayal of the edgy characters made us believe that one of them could be the murderer. They also highlighted that these billionaires wield immense influence over elected politicians and the common people. And that is the harsh reality of modern times.

The conclusion

We hope that in the next season 6, the trio will step away from the building and expand their horizon. Maybe the unexpected death of a fellow podcaster and her mysterious message force them to visit London, UK. So, let us wait and watch. We think it will be a positive step for the show, as its storytelling will certainly grow. While watching season 5 of the OMITB, sometimes (between episodes 2 and 9), we could feel that a lot less was happening in terms of twists and turns. We hope that in the next season, the writers will tighten their script and surprise the viewers.

Despite the slackening of the pace of storytelling, the hilarious riff-raff of its main actors kept us invested in this murder-comedy show. To conclude, we think, as an overall package, Only Murders in the Building (Season 5) series was quite good and entertaining. And we would certainly like to see more of the OMITB.

Rating: Only Murders in the Building (Season 5/USA/2025) Series

Poster: Only Murders in the Building (Season 5/USA/2025) Series

Key Details: Only Murders in the Building (Season 5/USA/2025) Series

Trailer: Only Murders in the Building (Season 5/USA/2025) Series

Check out the YouTube Video link to the Only Murders in the Building | Season 5, Official Podcast Episode 9 | Hulu.

Spoiler-Alert: Summary of 10 Episodes & its upcoming Season 6 of the OMITB

A peek into the 10 Episodes of Season 5 of this series

Nail in the Coffin (S5, E1)

While investigating Lester’s mysterious and accidental death, the clues lure Charles, Oliver and Mabel out of Manhattan and straight into some dangerous new, old territory.

After You (S5, E2)

A look back at Lester’s early days at the Arconia reveals how a young dreamer became a steadfast doorman, sacrificing his future to protect the residents from the building’s secrets.

Rigor (S5, E3)

The trio stumbles upon a crucial piece of evidence and promptly compromises it; with time running out, they scramble to solve the mystery before the police close in on them.

Dirty Birds (S5, E4)

Snooping goes sideways when three billionaire suspects catch the trio and invite themselves over for an evening at Oliver’s.

Tongue Tied (S5, E5)

Thwarted in their investigative podcast plans, Mabel and Oliver look for help from the Arconia support staff; Charles dines with another suspect and gets caught up in catching more than he bargained for.

Flatbush (S5, E6)

The investigation takes Oliver and Loretta back to the streets of his childhood, where buried memories surface and secrets about Lester and Nicky’s widows emerge; Mabel and Charles follow leads after a break-in.

Silver Alert (S5, E7)

The mayor warns the trio about the billionaires, sending them to investigate further at a villainous lair upstate.

Cuckoo Chicks (S5, E8)

Mabel gathers a ragtag group to crash an exclusive ladies’ night; while trying to save the Arconia from being sold, Charles and Oliver accidentally end up in couples’ therapy.

Lestr (S5, E9)

Told through the lens of one annoying robot who may hold the keys to more secrets than anyone realised, the Arconia hosts a final party as residents learn a killer may remain in the building.

The House Always… (S5, E10)

The trio rushes to solve everything as they face life-threatening peril in the season’s last episode. So, with the clock ticking, the trio doubles down to bring “new” and “old” forces together to bring down a killer – ending in one explosive showdown and the reveals they’ve been chasing all season.

About the upcoming Season 6 of the OMITB series

In the Season 5 finale scene, we learnt that Cinda Canning (Tina Fey) has been murdered. Notably, Cinda was the host of a true crime podcast, All Is Not OK in Oklahoma. And she has been working on a new British tinged mystery case. The fans of OMITB must have seen her in the previous seasons.

 Cinda Canning's podcast text

I am Cinda Canning, and this is The Girl with the curls. While on a holiday in the UK, I found myself confronted by two new obsessions: a jasmine-flowering tea that's become a daily ritual, and a new mystery. A story about a young woman with curls as red as blood, steeped among the London fog. The prime suspect in the murder of a royal descendant, the public has turned against her, and, fueled by the British Tabloids, there have been threats against her life. But I believe this girl with the curls is innocent. And I feel a strong need to protect her, to send her to America, which may be the only place she can be safe. 

Lastly, you can also read the FM Series Reviews of Only Murders in the Building (Season 3/2023) and Only Murders In The Building (Season 4/2024) in our Focus Magazine. 

Poster, Featured and Other Images from the Only Murders in the Building (Season 5-USA-2025) Series | Pictures Credit: Hulu.