How many murders can actually happen inside one building? Luckily for us (and the charming leads in Hulu’s original series Only Murders In The Building) the limit appears to not exist. In its third season, Only Murders adds a musical spin – and major starpower – to its tried-and-true whodunnit shtick. It’s over the top in its ambitions and a lesser cast wouldn’t be able to pull it off. But this is Hollywood royalty we’re talking about.

 

Steve Martin and Martin Short are back in their typical high form as Charles-Hayden Savage and Oliver Putnam, respectively. Joining them once again is Selena Gomez as Mabel; the millennial who just can’t seem to quit her boomer BFFs. The unlikely trio of buddies/podcasters/amateur sleuths remains the anchor of the show, for sure. But season three sees them take a small step back to let some new characters into the mix. 

 

The first few episodes are carried largely by Paul Rudd, whose involvement in the show was revealed in dramatic fashion during the final moments of season 2 when he literally falls down dead in front of a live audience. Adding Paul Rudd into, well, anything is historically a great way to up the bar of any show or film. Unsurprisingly, America’s fun uncle takes every opportunity to make the most of his role as a flighty film star. Not to be outdone by Rudd is my mother and yours, Meryl Streep, who joins the cast as a struggling actress Oliver casts in his new musical. Streep is, in a word, dazzling – and nothing less than what we’ve come to expect from a literal goddess of stage and screen. It’s tough to get too into detail plot-wise without spoiling, so I will just say that where we left off last season and where we pick up are not quite what you’d expect. 

Fascinatingly, in a show chock full of so many famous faces, no one outdoes each other. The cast of Only Murders continues to shine and grow into something that is so incredible you almost can’t look quite at it. There is a SUPER fun cameo, too; and it’s one that fans have been speculating might happen for a while. Overall it’s a satisfying third season, and that’s something that can be tricky to accomplish with a plot that seems like it should be a one-and-done.