Only Murders in the Building season 5 is here. The latest season will drop on September 9, 2025, on Hulu in the U.S. But it’s time to take a quick look back at the major moments of the 4 seasons yet- From the formation of the podcast to Arconia’s legend and from Mabel’s family issues to Charles’ weird romantic entanglements. But which one takes the cake? It is Lester, the good-hearted doorman’s murder, that will be the main case for season 5.
The first 3 episodes of Only Murders in the Building season 5 will be available to watch immediately, and then the rest will be released every week. Selena Gomez, Steve Martin, and Martin Short will be back as Mabel Mora, Charles-Haden Savage, and Oliver Putnam. The show has continuously succeeded in holding on to its viewership since 2021, and it’s all because of its characters and major moments that have stayed with viewers long after the seasons were over.
10. The Beginning of the True Crime Podcast
The podcast that started it all back in season 1! When Mabel convinced the reluctant Oliver and Charles to record their theories regarding Tim Kono’s death with a makeshift recording setup, it was the beginning of their cult success.
Oliver’s theatrics, Charles’ deadpan humor, and Mabel’s dedicated fact-checking created the sleuthing trio that everyone still loves listening to. Moreover, this podcast setup allows the audience to act as co-conspirators with the lead characters in their theories.
9. Introduction of Jan Bellows
Amy Ryan’s Jan Bellows appeared in season 1 as the bassoonist who stole Charles’s heart. While she initially came across as a sweet woman, later on, it was revealed that she was the one behind Tim Kono’s murder. After Tim broke up with her, she lured him back under the promise to return his things.
But all she did was poison his drink and stage his death as a suicide. Later on, she returned to finish off the case using a gun. This complex orchestration of Tim’s murder showed her emotional detachment. It also made her one of the best villains of the show.
8. Sazz Pataki’s Tragic Demise
Jane Lynch’s Sazz Pataki’s murder was one of the most brutal in the show. She was shot through Charles’s apartment window when she went there to get wine and then was burned in Arconia’s incinerator. Her body was discovered by Arconia’s residents, who were puzzled by the smell.
It was revealed that Marshall P. Pope did it. He was a failed screenwriter and Sazz’s former protege. Marshall was angry that she had blocked his career.
7. The Arconia Is a Character in Itself
The Arconia is an old luxury residence where the main characters live and where a lot of the murders take place. Its secret stairwells and basement tunnels tell a story of its sordid past. Also, the building’s quirks have often hastened the investigations.
Its labyrinth-like secrets and pathways have ensured that over the seasons, it has become a character of its own. However, nothing called The Arconia exists in real life. The building has been inspired by The Belnord (and also allegedly The Ansonia). Also, it is quite expensive to live in the real Arconia’s apartments.
6. Mabel’s Family Trauma
Selena Gomez’s Mabel is one-third of the crime-solving trio of The Arconia and also serves as the emotional centerpiece of it. Her tragic past and family trauma drive her to solve the cases she encounters. After all, her father died when she was just 7 after suffering from stomach cancer.
She was also involved with the Hardy Boys group, which was in turn, involved in the death of Zoe Cassidy by Theo Dimas. This guilt over her friend’s death, as well as Theo’s role in it and the subsequent cover-up by Teddy (Theo’s father) contributed to Mabel’s fragmented memory.
5. Oliver’s Career and Son
Martin Short’s Oliver Putnam begins the show as a struggling Broadway director who tries to stage a comeback, but these get derailed by the murder mysteries taking place in The Arconia. However, season 4 sees his career go through a resurgence after a successful play.
On the personal side, his son, Will Putnam, is revealed to not be his biological son but rather the result of an affair his wife had with Teddy Dimas, a building resident. Yet, despite this, the two maintain a father-son relationship. His kind and caring nature also shows during his interactions with Mabel.
4. Charles’s Unique Romantic Entanglements
Charles-Haden Savage comes across as a sophisticated man who knows how to dress to impress. However, his romantic choices don’t always turn out well for him. Charles’s ex-wife, Doreen, was shown to still have lingering feelings for him, and she tried to seduce Oliver to get to him. This didn’t help her get Charles back.
Also, when Emma, his ex of 5 years, reappeared in his life, she wanted him to be more romantic with her, but he was more interested in the family cruise. Another romance of his involved Joy Payne, a former co-star on Brazzos, who shared a past with him and tried to rekindle something on the sets of the reboot.
However, nothing really happened. Then there was the crazy Jan Bellows, who almost got away with committing murder. So, Charles’s colorful love life keeps the show interesting, to say the least.
3. The Howard and Bunny Cold-Case
In the show, Howard Morris and Uma Heller played a major role in investigating Bunny Folger’s murder. They went to her apartment to find the Rose Cooper painting for appraisal, but it wasn’t there. This was a clue since the painting was significant in solving the case.
It was ultimately revealed by Mabel at the Killer Reveal party that it was Becky Butler (Poppy) who had murdered Bunny. Poppy White, working as Cinda’s assistant, was desperate for her own podcast success and conspired with Detective Kreps to murder Bunny. She killed Bunny to create content for her own true crime podcast while also seeking to obtain the valuable $14 million Rose Cooper painting from Bunny’s apartment.
2. The Murder of Tim Kono
Tim Kono’s murder was a personal case for the trio and especially Mabel. He had met her when she was 10 and staying with her aunt. They became friends and later formed the Hardy Boys with Zoe Cassidy and Oscar Torres. So, solving his case became important for her.
It was ultimately revealed that he was murdered by Jan Bellows, a bassoonist who was romantically involved with him. But she ended his life when he broke up with her. The trio found a bassoon in his room and also found evidence of poisoning and a knife in Bellows’s room. All of this helped solve the tragic case.
1. Lester’s Mysterious Death
The best might be yet to come. Doorman Lester Coluca’s sudden death at Oliver and Loretta’s wedding in the season 4 finale was shocking but not unexpected for this show. But who would kill the kind doorman who was always willing to lend a helping hand? This mystery will be interesting to see unfold.
Here’s more information about season 5 of the show below:
| ATTRIBUTES | DETAILS |
| Release Date | September 9, 2025 |
| Streaming Details | Hulu (U.S.), Disney+ (International) |
| Episodes | 10 |
| Premiere Format | Episodes 1–3 on premiere day, weekly thereafter |
| Creator | John Hoffman co-created with Steve Martin |
| Cast | Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez in the main roles. |
| Genre | Mystery Comedy, Crime Drama |
These 10 moments are the highlights from Only Murders in the Building, where there are certainly many more amazing scenes and characters. However, these would be great to keep in mind before season 5 premieres.
Did we miss any key moments from these 4 seasons? Which one from this list do you think should be higher in rankings? Let us know in the comments below.
Only Murders in the Building is currently streaming on Hulu.
