After a banging Episode 1, Only Murders in the Building released their Season 5, Episode 2, After You on the same day. The episode runs the viewers through Lester’s life, his sacrifices, and the man he was.
The episode begins with a montage of Lester and other doormen in a documentary-style setting, where they talk about their experiences and what they’ve been through. Lester talks about how he never wanted to be a doorman; rather, he dreamt of becoming an actor. But the place made him fall in love with the job; therefore, he died as an employed doorman, working for 32 years. But how did Lester get into the job? Let’s find out.
Only Murders in the Building Reveals How Lester’s Life Revolved Around Serving the Arconians
Lester was brought in by George (Tony Plana), who trains him to serve the tenants of Arconia. The episode also runs the viewers through how the trio, Charles (Steve Martin), Mabel (Selena Gomez), and Oliver (Martin Short), came to live in Arconia.
Confused and jittery, Lester meets the tenants. Mabel, who is a toddler by this time, is given a shoulder by a friend in Lester. On the other hand, our doorman also meets the love of his life, who is an opera singer named Lorraine (Dianne Wiest). The two get married and live a peaceful life until Lester meets Nicky Caccimelio (Bobby Cannavale).
In a turn of events, when Lester thinks about losing a job due to an elevator upgrade, George makes him meet Nicky, who asks him to stay put on Saturdays for his parties. Enlisting his trainee on a rather risky job, George retires, with Lester taking over the duties.
Forward in the episode, it seems that Lester has always been proud of his job, duties, and responsibilities, lending a shoulder to each one who needed it. This shows Lester’s dedication to the residents of Arconia. But all he got was a shrugged-off expression from each one of them, in a way, not promptly.
Did Lester Stay Trapped by Arconia’s Secrets Even After Wanting Out?
Episode 2 of Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building does reveal towards the end that Lester is sick of the job of catering to the people who visit Arconia on Saturdays. He talks to Nicky, but much to his despair, he rebuffs the former, saying that this doesn’t work like that. Lester will have to serve as long as Nicky wants.
Later on, Lester reveals to his wife, Lorraine, that there have been four murders in the building, shocking her. She advises him to bring in help. Lester brings in Randall (Jermaine Fowler), who acts up exactly like Lester on his first day.
Towards the end, Lester says to Randall, who dreams of becoming a musician, that if he loves the people and the job, he will ultimately fall in love with the place. In the end credits, a snapshot of Lester playing with the tenants of Arconia sobbing over his mysterious death.
So, even after dedicating his life to the Arconians, could Lester have ever truly escaped the secrets and pressures of the building? Drop in your thoughts below!
Meanwhile, you can stream Only Murders in the Building Season 5 only on Hulu (USA). A new episode will be released every week until October 30.
