🕷️ Crawler Inspector

URL Lookup

Direct Parameter Lookup

Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 97 (from laksa003)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa097.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.rogerebert.com/streaming/only-murders-in-the-building-season-five-tv-review\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.rogerebert.com/streaming/only-murders-in-the-building-season-five-tv-review\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/streaming\/only-murders-in-the-building-season-five-tv-review","crawl_time":1776340952,"first_indexed_time":1757354786,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"com,rogerebert!www,\/streaming\/only-murders-in-the-building-season-five-tv-review s443","src_root_hash":"7554834309041482497","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"“Only Murders in the Building” Tackles Changing World by Staying the Same","meta_descriptions":["If you’re of the camp that “OMITB” has worn out its welcome, the fifth season won’t dissuade you from that stance."],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"Murder at the Arconia has become as seasonal as changing leaves and Pumpkin Spice Lattes, an annual comfort food as kids go back to school and the temperatures drop. The undeniably talented writers’ room on this Hulu hit understands the assignment, rarely straying much at all from a proven formula of high-powered guest stars and twisting mysteries. Since the successful launch of this clever blend of old-fashioned humor and podcast culture in 2021, celebrities have lined up to appear alongside Emmy nominees\nSteve Martin\n,\nMartin Short\n, and\nSelena Gomez\n. Whether murderer, victim, or suspect, everyone wants to be on “Only Murders in the Building” for a reason: it’s fun. It’s a clever show buoyed by the ridiculous timing of its legendary leads, two men who can make nearly any punchline sing.\nIf you’re of the camp that “OMITB” has worn out its welcome, the fifth season won’t dissuade you from that stance. In fact, it’s the first time that I felt like maybe it’s time to solve the final case. However, that sense of something growing stale is overtaken enough by the pure joy of spending time with Martin, Short, and Gomez. Call it a simple one. It’s that time of year.\nThe fifth season opens with the trio, once again, at carefully constructed crossroads. Oliver (Martin Short) has the most upheaval, planning to move in with his wife, Loretta (\nMeryl Streep\n), possibly even somewhere other than the Arconia. Mabel (Selena Gomez) no longer lives there but is around enough to make it seem like she does, even as she wonders if her favorite place is moving on. Charles (Steve Martin) seeks something to spark his final chapter, even joining dating apps to find a new partner.\nInto this chaos drops the mystery of the murder that ended last season, when kindly doorman Lester (Teddy Coluca) ended up bloody in the courtyard fountain. Ruled an accident, the OMITB podcast hosts suspect otherwise after they find something upsetting in one of the leftover shrimp cocktails from Oliver’s wedding. Of course, that incident intersects with another guest star who started their arc at the end of season four in Sofia Caccimelio (\nTea Leoni\n), who asks the gang to look for her missing husband, a local tough guy (\nBobby Cannavale\n). How are the missing mobster and murdered doorman connected?\nThe season starts relatively slowly—even doing an extensive flashback episode on night one—but really takes off when a trio of billionaires enter the fray, played by\nLogan Lerman\n,\nRenée Zellweger\n, and\nChristoph Waltz\n. The double Oscar winner is clearly doing a bit of a riff on Mr. Musk, playing a foreign tech guru who can spy on every aspect of your life. The season’s social commentary comes through loud and clear in these AI-loving, overpowered characters, as well as an arc involving Lester being replaced by a robot named LESTR.\nLike a lot of themes over the five seasons, the tech aspect of this year feels a little shallow, but it’s interesting to consider most in the context of two comedians who have been working together for over four decades. As they do wonderfully timed jokes that could be called “dad” against a backdrop of tech surveillance and talking robots, the best beats of the season obtain a meta commentary. In an era of A.I., will we even have comedians like Martin Short and Steve Martin?\nSadly, like last season, this year gets overcrowded quickly. I’ve only mentioned half the guest stars.\nBeanie Feldstein\nisn’t believable as an old friend of Mabel’s who is now a world-famous pop star, a character who exists purely to spark Mabel’s lack of self-confidence. (I will say this is one of Gomez’s best seasons, her timing sharper than ever. Da’Vine Joy Randolph is also an unsurprising MVP candidate.)\nKeegan-Michael Key\nis always great, but underutilized in the episodes sent to press. Ditto\nJermaine Fowler\nas the new doorman, forced to compete with a robot for his job. Finally, there’s the wonderful\nDianne Wiest\nas Lester’s widow, also pushed out by the crowd until more than halfway through the season. But there’s something magical about watching Oscar-winning legends Wiest and Streep bouncing off each other.\nAll of these people are great comic performers, and the truth is that’s often enough with “Only Murders in the Building.” Again, it’s comfort food, something that goes down easily through a blend of breakneck plotting—there’s a new twist every episode—and remarkable starpower. Could it be better? Sure. But sometimes, good enough will do.\nNine episodes screened for review. It returns to Hulu today, September 9\nth\n.","attrs_markdown":"[![Roger Ebert Logo](https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/wp-content\/themes\/roger-ebert\/source\/images\/roger-ebert-logo.svg)](https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/)   [![Search Icon](https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/wp-content\/themes\/roger-ebert\/source\/images\/search-thin.svg)](https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/search)   [Signup](https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/prime)\n\n- [Movie Reviews](https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/reviews)\n- [Great Movies](https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/great-movies)\n- [TV\/Streaming](https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/streaming)\n- [Interviews](https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/interviews)\n- [Collections](https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/collections)\n- [Festivals & Awards](https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/festivals-and-awards)\n- [Contributors](https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/contributors)\n\n[TV\/Streaming](https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/category\/streaming)\n\n# “Only Murders in the Building” Tackles Changing World by Staying the Same\n![](https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Brian-Tallerico.jpg)\n\n[Brian Tallerico](https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/contributors\/brian-tallerico)\n\nSeptember 8, 2025\n\n4 min read\n\n![](https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/176521_0447R-scaled-jpg.webp)\n\nONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING - After their beloved doorman, Lester, dies under suspicious circumstances, Charles, Oliver and Mabel refuse to believe it was an accident. Their investigation plunges them into the shadowy corners of New York and beyond — where the trio uncovers a dangerous web of secrets connecting powerful billionaires, old-school mobsters and the mysterious residents of the Arconia. The trio discovers a deeper divide between their storied city they thought they knew and the new New York evolving around them — one where the old mob fights to hold on as newer, even more dangerous players emerge. (Disney\/Patrick Harbron) SELENA GOMEZ, STEVE MARTIN, MARTIN SHORT\n\nMurder at the Arconia has become as seasonal as changing leaves and Pumpkin Spice Lattes, an annual comfort food as kids go back to school and the temperatures drop. The undeniably talented writers’ room on this Hulu hit understands the assignment, rarely straying much at all from a proven formula of high-powered guest stars and twisting mysteries. Since the successful launch of this clever blend of old-fashioned humor and podcast culture in 2021, celebrities have lined up to appear alongside Emmy nominees [Steve Martin](https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/cast-and-crew\/steve-martin), [Martin Short](https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/cast-and-crew\/martin-short), and [Selena Gomez](https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/cast-and-crew\/selena-gomez). Whether murderer, victim, or suspect, everyone wants to be on “Only Murders in the Building” for a reason: it’s fun. It’s a clever show buoyed by the ridiculous timing of its legendary leads, two men who can make nearly any punchline sing.\n\nIf you’re of the camp that “OMITB” has worn out its welcome, the fifth season won’t dissuade you from that stance. In fact, it’s the first time that I felt like maybe it’s time to solve the final case. However, that sense of something growing stale is overtaken enough by the pure joy of spending time with Martin, Short, and Gomez. Call it a simple one. It’s that time of year.\n\nThe fifth season opens with the trio, once again, at carefully constructed crossroads. Oliver (Martin Short) has the most upheaval, planning to move in with his wife, Loretta ([Meryl Streep](https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/cast-and-crew\/meryl-streep)), possibly even somewhere other than the Arconia. Mabel (Selena Gomez) no longer lives there but is around enough to make it seem like she does, even as she wonders if her favorite place is moving on. Charles (Steve Martin) seeks something to spark his final chapter, even joining dating apps to find a new partner.\n\n![](https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/176722_0884R-scaled-jpg.webp)\n\nInto this chaos drops the mystery of the murder that ended last season, when kindly doorman Lester (Teddy Coluca) ended up bloody in the courtyard fountain. Ruled an accident, the OMITB podcast hosts suspect otherwise after they find something upsetting in one of the leftover shrimp cocktails from Oliver’s wedding. Of course, that incident intersects with another guest star who started their arc at the end of season four in Sofia Caccimelio ([Tea Leoni](https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/cast-and-crew\/tea-leoni)), who asks the gang to look for her missing husband, a local tough guy ([Bobby Cannavale](https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/cast-and-crew\/bobby-cannavale)). How are the missing mobster and murdered doorman connected?\n\nThe season starts relatively slowly—even doing an extensive flashback episode on night one—but really takes off when a trio of billionaires enter the fray, played by [Logan Lerman](https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/cast-and-crew\/logan-lerman), [Renée Zellweger](https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/cast-and-crew\/renee-zellweger), and [Christoph Waltz](https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/cast-and-crew\/christoph-waltz). The double Oscar winner is clearly doing a bit of a riff on Mr. Musk, playing a foreign tech guru who can spy on every aspect of your life. The season’s social commentary comes through loud and clear in these AI-loving, overpowered characters, as well as an arc involving Lester being replaced by a robot named LESTR.\n\nLike a lot of themes over the five seasons, the tech aspect of this year feels a little shallow, but it’s interesting to consider most in the context of two comedians who have been working together for over four decades. As they do wonderfully timed jokes that could be called “dad” against a backdrop of tech surveillance and talking robots, the best beats of the season obtain a meta commentary. In an era of A.I., will we even have comedians like Martin Short and Steve Martin?\n\n![](https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/176811_0740R-scaled-jpg.webp)\n\nSadly, like last season, this year gets overcrowded quickly. I’ve only mentioned half the guest stars. [Beanie Feldstein](https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/cast-and-crew\/beanie-feldstein) isn’t believable as an old friend of Mabel’s who is now a world-famous pop star, a character who exists purely to spark Mabel’s lack of self-confidence. (I will say this is one of Gomez’s best seasons, her timing sharper than ever. Da’Vine Joy Randolph is also an unsurprising MVP candidate.) [Keegan-Michael Key](https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/cast-and-crew\/keegan-michael-key) is always great, but underutilized in the episodes sent to press. Ditto [Jermaine Fowler](https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/cast-and-crew\/jermaine-fowler) as the new doorman, forced to compete with a robot for his job. Finally, there’s the wonderful [Dianne Wiest](https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/cast-and-crew\/dianne-wiest) as Lester’s widow, also pushed out by the crowd until more than halfway through the season. But there’s something magical about watching Oscar-winning legends Wiest and Streep bouncing off each other.\n\nAll of these people are great comic performers, and the truth is that’s often enough with “Only Murders in the Building.” Again, it’s comfort food, something that goes down easily through a blend of breakneck plotting—there’s a new twist every episode—and remarkable starpower. Could it be better? Sure. But sometimes, good enough will do.\n\n*Nine episodes screened for review. It returns to Hulu today, September 9th.*\n\n![](https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Brian-Tallerico.jpg)\n\n##### [Brian Tallerico](https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/contributors\/brian-tallerico)\nBrian Tallerico is the Managing Editor of RogerEbert.com, and also covers television, film, Blu-ray, and video games. He is also a writer for Vulture, The AV Club, The New York Times, and many more, and the President of the Chicago Film Critics Association.\n\n#### Leave a comment\nPlease enable JavaScript to view the  [comments powered by Disqus.](https:\/\/disqus.com\/?ref_noscript)\n\n***\n#### Related articles\n[![From Season 4](https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/FROM_S4_premiere_16x9_3000-499x281.jpg) TV\/Streaming MGM+’s Cult Hit “From” Wanders Through Frustrating Yet Addictive Fourth Season 16 hours ago](https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/streaming\/mgm-from-season-4-tv-review-2026)\n\n[![Big Mistakes S1](https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Big_Mistakes_n_S1_E4_00_19_53_10_R-562x281.jpg) TV\/Streaming Netflix’s “Big Mistakes” Starts Off Feeling Small but Settles into Its Best Self 7 days ago](https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/streaming\/netflix-big-mistakes-dan-levy-tv-review-2026)\n\n[![Euphoria Season 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logo](https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/wp-content\/themes\/roger-ebert\/source\/images\/youtube.svg)](https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/streaming\/only-murders-in-the-building-season-five-tv-review)   [![Twitter (X) logo](https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/wp-content\/themes\/roger-ebert\/source\/images\/x-icon.svg)](https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/streaming\/only-murders-in-the-building-season-five-tv-review)\n\n“Roger Ebert Loved Movies” [In Memoriam 1942 - 2013](https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/memoriam)\n\n![Photo of Roger Ebert In Memoriam](https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/wp-content\/themes\/roger-ebert\/source\/images\/roger-pic.png)\n\nEbert Digital LLC © Copyright 2026\n\n- [Terms of use](https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/terms-of-use)\n- [Privacy Policy](https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/privacy-policy)","attrs_readable_markdown":"Murder at the Arconia has become as seasonal as changing leaves and Pumpkin Spice Lattes, an annual comfort food as kids go back to school and the temperatures drop. The undeniably talented writers’ room on this Hulu hit understands the assignment, rarely straying much at all from a proven formula of high-powered guest stars and twisting mysteries. Since the successful launch of this clever blend of old-fashioned humor and podcast culture in 2021, celebrities have lined up to appear alongside Emmy nominees [Steve Martin](https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/cast-and-crew\/steve-martin), [Martin Short](https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/cast-and-crew\/martin-short), and [Selena Gomez](https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/cast-and-crew\/selena-gomez). Whether murderer, victim, or suspect, everyone wants to be on “Only Murders in the Building” for a reason: it’s fun. It’s a clever show buoyed by the ridiculous timing of its legendary leads, two men who can make nearly any punchline sing.\n\nIf you’re of the camp that “OMITB” has worn out its welcome, the fifth season won’t dissuade you from that stance. In fact, it’s the first time that I felt like maybe it’s time to solve the final case. However, that sense of something growing stale is overtaken enough by the pure joy of spending time with Martin, Short, and Gomez. Call it a simple one. It’s that time of year.\n\nThe fifth season opens with the trio, once again, at carefully constructed crossroads. Oliver (Martin Short) has the most upheaval, planning to move in with his wife, Loretta ([Meryl Streep](https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/cast-and-crew\/meryl-streep)), possibly even somewhere other than the Arconia. Mabel (Selena Gomez) no longer lives there but is around enough to make it seem like she does, even as she wonders if her favorite place is moving on. Charles (Steve Martin) seeks something to spark his final chapter, even joining dating apps to find a new partner.\n\n![](https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/176722_0884R-scaled-jpg.webp)\n\nInto this chaos drops the mystery of the murder that ended last season, when kindly doorman Lester (Teddy Coluca) ended up bloody in the courtyard fountain. Ruled an accident, the OMITB podcast hosts suspect otherwise after they find something upsetting in one of the leftover shrimp cocktails from Oliver’s wedding. Of course, that incident intersects with another guest star who started their arc at the end of season four in Sofia Caccimelio ([Tea Leoni](https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/cast-and-crew\/tea-leoni)), who asks the gang to look for her missing husband, a local tough guy ([Bobby Cannavale](https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/cast-and-crew\/bobby-cannavale)). How are the missing mobster and murdered doorman connected?\n\nThe season starts relatively slowly—even doing an extensive flashback episode on night one—but really takes off when a trio of billionaires enter the fray, played by [Logan Lerman](https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/cast-and-crew\/logan-lerman), [Renée Zellweger](https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/cast-and-crew\/renee-zellweger), and [Christoph Waltz](https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/cast-and-crew\/christoph-waltz). The double Oscar winner is clearly doing a bit of a riff on Mr. Musk, playing a foreign tech guru who can spy on every aspect of your life. The season’s social commentary comes through loud and clear in these AI-loving, overpowered characters, as well as an arc involving Lester being replaced by a robot named LESTR.\n\nLike a lot of themes over the five seasons, the tech aspect of this year feels a little shallow, but it’s interesting to consider most in the context of two comedians who have been working together for over four decades. As they do wonderfully timed jokes that could be called “dad” against a backdrop of tech surveillance and talking robots, the best beats of the season obtain a meta commentary. In an era of A.I., will we even have comedians like Martin Short and Steve Martin?\n\n![](https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/176811_0740R-scaled-jpg.webp)\n\nSadly, like last season, this year gets overcrowded quickly. I’ve only mentioned half the guest stars. [Beanie Feldstein](https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/cast-and-crew\/beanie-feldstein) isn’t believable as an old friend of Mabel’s who is now a world-famous pop star, a character who exists purely to spark Mabel’s lack of self-confidence. (I will say this is one of Gomez’s best seasons, her timing sharper than ever. Da’Vine Joy Randolph is also an unsurprising MVP candidate.) [Keegan-Michael Key](https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/cast-and-crew\/keegan-michael-key) is always great, but underutilized in the episodes sent to press. Ditto [Jermaine Fowler](https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/cast-and-crew\/jermaine-fowler) as the new doorman, forced to compete with a robot for his job. Finally, there’s the wonderful [Dianne Wiest](https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/cast-and-crew\/dianne-wiest) as Lester’s widow, also pushed out by the crowd until more than halfway through the season. But there’s something magical about watching Oscar-winning legends Wiest and Streep bouncing off each other.\n\nAll of these people are great comic performers, and the truth is that’s often enough with “Only Murders in the Building.” Again, it’s comfort food, something that goes down easily through a blend of breakneck plotting—there’s a new twist every episode—and remarkable starpower. Could it be better? Sure. But sometimes, good enough will do.\n\n*Nine episodes screened for review. It returns to Hulu today, September 9th.*","meta_canonical":null}

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Meta Title	“Only Murders in the Building” Tackles Changing World by Staying the Same
Meta Description	If you’re of the camp that “OMITB” has worn out its welcome, the fifth season won’t dissuade you from that stance.
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Boilerpipe Text	Murder at the Arconia has become as seasonal as changing leaves and Pumpkin Spice Lattes, an annual comfort food as kids go back to school and the temperatures drop. The undeniably talented writers’ room on this Hulu hit understands the assignment, rarely straying much at all from a proven formula of high-powered guest stars and twisting mysteries. Since the successful launch of this clever blend of old-fashioned humor and podcast culture in 2021, celebrities have lined up to appear alongside Emmy nominees Steve Martin , Martin Short , and Selena Gomez . Whether murderer, victim, or suspect, everyone wants to be on “Only Murders in the Building” for a reason: it’s fun. It’s a clever show buoyed by the ridiculous timing of its legendary leads, two men who can make nearly any punchline sing. If you’re of the camp that “OMITB” has worn out its welcome, the fifth season won’t dissuade you from that stance. In fact, it’s the first time that I felt like maybe it’s time to solve the final case. However, that sense of something growing stale is overtaken enough by the pure joy of spending time with Martin, Short, and Gomez. Call it a simple one. It’s that time of year. The fifth season opens with the trio, once again, at carefully constructed crossroads. Oliver (Martin Short) has the most upheaval, planning to move in with his wife, Loretta ( Meryl Streep ), possibly even somewhere other than the Arconia. Mabel (Selena Gomez) no longer lives there but is around enough to make it seem like she does, even as she wonders if her favorite place is moving on. Charles (Steve Martin) seeks something to spark his final chapter, even joining dating apps to find a new partner. Into this chaos drops the mystery of the murder that ended last season, when kindly doorman Lester (Teddy Coluca) ended up bloody in the courtyard fountain. Ruled an accident, the OMITB podcast hosts suspect otherwise after they find something upsetting in one of the leftover shrimp cocktails from Oliver’s wedding. Of course, that incident intersects with another guest star who started their arc at the end of season four in Sofia Caccimelio ( Tea Leoni ), who asks the gang to look for her missing husband, a local tough guy ( Bobby Cannavale ). How are the missing mobster and murdered doorman connected? The season starts relatively slowly—even doing an extensive flashback episode on night one—but really takes off when a trio of billionaires enter the fray, played by Logan Lerman , Renée Zellweger , and Christoph Waltz . The double Oscar winner is clearly doing a bit of a riff on Mr. Musk, playing a foreign tech guru who can spy on every aspect of your life. The season’s social commentary comes through loud and clear in these AI-loving, overpowered characters, as well as an arc involving Lester being replaced by a robot named LESTR. Like a lot of themes over the five seasons, the tech aspect of this year feels a little shallow, but it’s interesting to consider most in the context of two comedians who have been working together for over four decades. As they do wonderfully timed jokes that could be called “dad” against a backdrop of tech surveillance and talking robots, the best beats of the season obtain a meta commentary. In an era of A.I., will we even have comedians like Martin Short and Steve Martin? Sadly, like last season, this year gets overcrowded quickly. I’ve only mentioned half the guest stars. Beanie Feldstein isn’t believable as an old friend of Mabel’s who is now a world-famous pop star, a character who exists purely to spark Mabel’s lack of self-confidence. (I will say this is one of Gomez’s best seasons, her timing sharper than ever. Da’Vine Joy Randolph is also an unsurprising MVP candidate.) Keegan-Michael Key is always great, but underutilized in the episodes sent to press. Ditto Jermaine Fowler as the new doorman, forced to compete with a robot for his job. Finally, there’s the wonderful Dianne Wiest as Lester’s widow, also pushed out by the crowd until more than halfway through the season. But there’s something magical about watching Oscar-winning legends Wiest and Streep bouncing off each other. All of these people are great comic performers, and the truth is that’s often enough with “Only Murders in the Building.” Again, it’s comfort food, something that goes down easily through a blend of breakneck plotting—there’s a new twist every episode—and remarkable starpower. Could it be better? Sure. But sometimes, good enough will do. Nine episodes screened for review. It returns to Hulu today, September 9 th .
Markdown	[![Roger Ebert Logo](https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/themes/roger-ebert/source/images/roger-ebert-logo.svg)](https://www.rogerebert.com/) [![Search Icon](https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/themes/roger-ebert/source/images/search-thin.svg)](https://www.rogerebert.com/search) [Signup](https://www.rogerebert.com/prime) - [Movie Reviews](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews) - [Great Movies](https://www.rogerebert.com/great-movies) - [TV/Streaming](https://www.rogerebert.com/streaming) - [Interviews](https://www.rogerebert.com/interviews) - [Collections](https://www.rogerebert.com/collections) - [Festivals & Awards](https://www.rogerebert.com/festivals-and-awards) - [Contributors](https://www.rogerebert.com/contributors) [TV/Streaming](https://www.rogerebert.com/category/streaming) # “Only Murders in the Building” Tackles Changing World by Staying the Same ![](https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Brian-Tallerico.jpg) [Brian Tallerico](https://www.rogerebert.com/contributors/brian-tallerico) September 8, 2025 4 min read ![](https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/176521_0447R-scaled-jpg.webp) ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING - After their beloved doorman, Lester, dies under suspicious circumstances, Charles, Oliver and Mabel refuse to believe it was an accident. Their investigation plunges them into the shadowy corners of New York and beyond — where the trio uncovers a dangerous web of secrets connecting powerful billionaires, old-school mobsters and the mysterious residents of the Arconia. The trio discovers a deeper divide between their storied city they thought they knew and the new New York evolving around them — one where the old mob fights to hold on as newer, even more dangerous players emerge. (Disney/Patrick Harbron) SELENA GOMEZ, STEVE MARTIN, MARTIN SHORT Murder at the Arconia has become as seasonal as changing leaves and Pumpkin Spice Lattes, an annual comfort food as kids go back to school and the temperatures drop. The undeniably talented writers’ room on this Hulu hit understands the assignment, rarely straying much at all from a proven formula of high-powered guest stars and twisting mysteries. Since the successful launch of this clever blend of old-fashioned humor and podcast culture in 2021, celebrities have lined up to appear alongside Emmy nominees [Steve Martin](https://www.rogerebert.com/cast-and-crew/steve-martin), [Martin Short](https://www.rogerebert.com/cast-and-crew/martin-short), and [Selena Gomez](https://www.rogerebert.com/cast-and-crew/selena-gomez). Whether murderer, victim, or suspect, everyone wants to be on “Only Murders in the Building” for a reason: it’s fun. It’s a clever show buoyed by the ridiculous timing of its legendary leads, two men who can make nearly any punchline sing. If you’re of the camp that “OMITB” has worn out its welcome, the fifth season won’t dissuade you from that stance. In fact, it’s the first time that I felt like maybe it’s time to solve the final case. However, that sense of something growing stale is overtaken enough by the pure joy of spending time with Martin, Short, and Gomez. Call it a simple one. It’s that time of year. The fifth season opens with the trio, once again, at carefully constructed crossroads. Oliver (Martin Short) has the most upheaval, planning to move in with his wife, Loretta ([Meryl Streep](https://www.rogerebert.com/cast-and-crew/meryl-streep)), possibly even somewhere other than the Arconia. Mabel (Selena Gomez) no longer lives there but is around enough to make it seem like she does, even as she wonders if her favorite place is moving on. Charles (Steve Martin) seeks something to spark his final chapter, even joining dating apps to find a new partner. ![](https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/176722_0884R-scaled-jpg.webp) Into this chaos drops the mystery of the murder that ended last season, when kindly doorman Lester (Teddy Coluca) ended up bloody in the courtyard fountain. Ruled an accident, the OMITB podcast hosts suspect otherwise after they find something upsetting in one of the leftover shrimp cocktails from Oliver’s wedding. Of course, that incident intersects with another guest star who started their arc at the end of season four in Sofia Caccimelio ([Tea Leoni](https://www.rogerebert.com/cast-and-crew/tea-leoni)), who asks the gang to look for her missing husband, a local tough guy ([Bobby Cannavale](https://www.rogerebert.com/cast-and-crew/bobby-cannavale)). How are the missing mobster and murdered doorman connected? The season starts relatively slowly—even doing an extensive flashback episode on night one—but really takes off when a trio of billionaires enter the fray, played by [Logan Lerman](https://www.rogerebert.com/cast-and-crew/logan-lerman), [Renée Zellweger](https://www.rogerebert.com/cast-and-crew/renee-zellweger), and [Christoph Waltz](https://www.rogerebert.com/cast-and-crew/christoph-waltz). The double Oscar winner is clearly doing a bit of a riff on Mr. Musk, playing a foreign tech guru who can spy on every aspect of your life. The season’s social commentary comes through loud and clear in these AI-loving, overpowered characters, as well as an arc involving Lester being replaced by a robot named LESTR. Like a lot of themes over the five seasons, the tech aspect of this year feels a little shallow, but it’s interesting to consider most in the context of two comedians who have been working together for over four decades. As they do wonderfully timed jokes that could be called “dad” against a backdrop of tech surveillance and talking robots, the best beats of the season obtain a meta commentary. In an era of A.I., will we even have comedians like Martin Short and Steve Martin? ![](https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/176811_0740R-scaled-jpg.webp) Sadly, like last season, this year gets overcrowded quickly. I’ve only mentioned half the guest stars. [Beanie Feldstein](https://www.rogerebert.com/cast-and-crew/beanie-feldstein) isn’t believable as an old friend of Mabel’s who is now a world-famous pop star, a character who exists purely to spark Mabel’s lack of self-confidence. (I will say this is one of Gomez’s best seasons, her timing sharper than ever. Da’Vine Joy Randolph is also an unsurprising MVP candidate.) [Keegan-Michael Key](https://www.rogerebert.com/cast-and-crew/keegan-michael-key) is always great, but underutilized in the episodes sent to press. Ditto [Jermaine Fowler](https://www.rogerebert.com/cast-and-crew/jermaine-fowler) as the new doorman, forced to compete with a robot for his job. Finally, there’s the wonderful [Dianne Wiest](https://www.rogerebert.com/cast-and-crew/dianne-wiest) as Lester’s widow, also pushed out by the crowd until more than halfway through the season. But there’s something magical about watching Oscar-winning legends Wiest and Streep bouncing off each other. All of these people are great comic performers, and the truth is that’s often enough with “Only Murders in the Building.” Again, it’s comfort food, something that goes down easily through a blend of breakneck plotting—there’s a new twist every episode—and remarkable starpower. Could it be better? Sure. But sometimes, good enough will do. Nine episodes screened for review. It returns to Hulu today, September 9th. ![](https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Brian-Tallerico.jpg) ##### [Brian Tallerico](https://www.rogerebert.com/contributors/brian-tallerico) Brian Tallerico is the Managing Editor of RogerEbert.com, and also covers television, film, Blu-ray, and video games. He is also a writer for Vulture, The AV Club, The New York Times, and many more, and the President of the Chicago Film Critics Association. #### Leave a comment Please enable JavaScript to view the [comments powered by Disqus.](https://disqus.com/?ref_noscript) * #### Related articles [![From Season 4](https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/FROM_S4_premiere_16x9_3000-499x281.jpg) TV/Streaming MGM+’s Cult Hit “From” Wanders Through Frustrating Yet Addictive Fourth Season 16 hours ago](https://www.rogerebert.com/streaming/mgm-from-season-4-tv-review-2026) [![Big Mistakes S1](https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Big_Mistakes_n_S1_E4_00_19_53_10_R-562x281.jpg) TV/Streaming Netflix’s “Big Mistakes” Starts Off Feeling Small but Settles into Its Best Self 7 days ago](https://www.rogerebert.com/streaming/netflix-big-mistakes-dan-levy-tv-review-2026) [![Euphoria Season 3](https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/zendaya-1-422x281.jpg) TV/Streaming HBO’s “Euphoria” Feels as Lost as Its Characters in Riveting, Infuriating Third Season April 8, 2026](https://www.rogerebert.com/streaming/hbo-euphoria-zendaya-season-three-review-2026) [![](https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/NUP_206795_00649-421x281.jpg) TV/Streaming Peacock’s “The Miniature Wife” is Big on Feelings, and That’s Not Nothing April 8, 2026](https://www.rogerebert.com/streaming/the-miniature-wife-peacock-tv-review-2026) * #### Popular reviews [![subscribe icon](https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/themes/roger-ebert/source/images/popular-thumb.svg) ![](https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/MV5BZjg0MjliNDctMDE3NS00ZmMzLWE1ODUtZDcyN2I3NDE2YmUxXkEyXkFqcGc@._V1_-253x400.jpg) You, Me & Tuscany Nell Minow ![star rating](https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/themes/roger-ebert/source/images/stars-fill.svg) ![star rating](https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/themes/roger-ebert/source/images/stars.svg)](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/you-me-tuscany-rom-com-film-review-2026) [![subscribe icon](https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/themes/roger-ebert/source/images/popular-thumb.svg) ![](https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/MV5BNTdlNTNjNjctYTg2MC00NTFlLTliNTctODFiZjZmNWRkYTVlXkEyXkFqcGc@._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_-256x379.jpg) Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man Lacy Baugher ![star rating](https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/themes/roger-ebert/source/images/stars-fill.svg) ![star rating](https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/themes/roger-ebert/source/images/stars.svg)](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/peaky-blinders-the-immortal-man-netflix-cillian-murphy-movie-review-2026) [![subscribe icon](https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/themes/roger-ebert/source/images/popular-thumb.svg) ![](https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/MV5BOGE5ODZjNjgtNTdhZS00ZmM0LWI2NDYtYTBiYWY2NmI4YWMzXkEyXkFqcGc@._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_-256x379.jpg) The Stranger (2026) Glenn Kenny ![star rating](https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/themes/roger-ebert/source/images/stars-fill.svg) ![star rating](https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/themes/roger-ebert/source/images/stars.svg)](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-stranger-francois-ozon-movie-review-2026) [![subscribe icon](https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/themes/roger-ebert/source/images/popular-thumb.svg) ![](https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/vanishedre-256x107.jpg) Vanished Richard Roeper ![star rating](https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/themes/roger-ebert/source/images/stars-fill.svg) ![star rating](https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/themes/roger-ebert/source/images/stars.svg)](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/vanished-kaley-cuoco-sam-claflin-mgm-tv-review-2026) ![subscribe icon](https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/themes/roger-ebert/source/images/thumb-up-subscribe.svg) #### The best movie reviews, in your inbox Movie Reviews - 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Readable Markdown	Murder at the Arconia has become as seasonal as changing leaves and Pumpkin Spice Lattes, an annual comfort food as kids go back to school and the temperatures drop. The undeniably talented writers’ room on this Hulu hit understands the assignment, rarely straying much at all from a proven formula of high-powered guest stars and twisting mysteries. Since the successful launch of this clever blend of old-fashioned humor and podcast culture in 2021, celebrities have lined up to appear alongside Emmy nominees [Steve Martin](https://www.rogerebert.com/cast-and-crew/steve-martin), [Martin Short](https://www.rogerebert.com/cast-and-crew/martin-short), and [Selena Gomez](https://www.rogerebert.com/cast-and-crew/selena-gomez). Whether murderer, victim, or suspect, everyone wants to be on “Only Murders in the Building” for a reason: it’s fun. It’s a clever show buoyed by the ridiculous timing of its legendary leads, two men who can make nearly any punchline sing. If you’re of the camp that “OMITB” has worn out its welcome, the fifth season won’t dissuade you from that stance. In fact, it’s the first time that I felt like maybe it’s time to solve the final case. However, that sense of something growing stale is overtaken enough by the pure joy of spending time with Martin, Short, and Gomez. Call it a simple one. It’s that time of year. The fifth season opens with the trio, once again, at carefully constructed crossroads. Oliver (Martin Short) has the most upheaval, planning to move in with his wife, Loretta ([Meryl Streep](https://www.rogerebert.com/cast-and-crew/meryl-streep)), possibly even somewhere other than the Arconia. Mabel (Selena Gomez) no longer lives there but is around enough to make it seem like she does, even as she wonders if her favorite place is moving on. Charles (Steve Martin) seeks something to spark his final chapter, even joining dating apps to find a new partner. ![](https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/176722_0884R-scaled-jpg.webp) Into this chaos drops the mystery of the murder that ended last season, when kindly doorman Lester (Teddy Coluca) ended up bloody in the courtyard fountain. Ruled an accident, the OMITB podcast hosts suspect otherwise after they find something upsetting in one of the leftover shrimp cocktails from Oliver’s wedding. Of course, that incident intersects with another guest star who started their arc at the end of season four in Sofia Caccimelio ([Tea Leoni](https://www.rogerebert.com/cast-and-crew/tea-leoni)), who asks the gang to look for her missing husband, a local tough guy ([Bobby Cannavale](https://www.rogerebert.com/cast-and-crew/bobby-cannavale)). How are the missing mobster and murdered doorman connected? The season starts relatively slowly—even doing an extensive flashback episode on night one—but really takes off when a trio of billionaires enter the fray, played by [Logan Lerman](https://www.rogerebert.com/cast-and-crew/logan-lerman), [Renée Zellweger](https://www.rogerebert.com/cast-and-crew/renee-zellweger), and [Christoph Waltz](https://www.rogerebert.com/cast-and-crew/christoph-waltz). The double Oscar winner is clearly doing a bit of a riff on Mr. Musk, playing a foreign tech guru who can spy on every aspect of your life. The season’s social commentary comes through loud and clear in these AI-loving, overpowered characters, as well as an arc involving Lester being replaced by a robot named LESTR. Like a lot of themes over the five seasons, the tech aspect of this year feels a little shallow, but it’s interesting to consider most in the context of two comedians who have been working together for over four decades. As they do wonderfully timed jokes that could be called “dad” against a backdrop of tech surveillance and talking robots, the best beats of the season obtain a meta commentary. In an era of A.I., will we even have comedians like Martin Short and Steve Martin? ![](https://www.rogerebert.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/176811_0740R-scaled-jpg.webp) Sadly, like last season, this year gets overcrowded quickly. I’ve only mentioned half the guest stars. [Beanie Feldstein](https://www.rogerebert.com/cast-and-crew/beanie-feldstein) isn’t believable as an old friend of Mabel’s who is now a world-famous pop star, a character who exists purely to spark Mabel’s lack of self-confidence. (I will say this is one of Gomez’s best seasons, her timing sharper than ever. Da’Vine Joy Randolph is also an unsurprising MVP candidate.) [Keegan-Michael Key](https://www.rogerebert.com/cast-and-crew/keegan-michael-key) is always great, but underutilized in the episodes sent to press. Ditto [Jermaine Fowler](https://www.rogerebert.com/cast-and-crew/jermaine-fowler) as the new doorman, forced to compete with a robot for his job. Finally, there’s the wonderful [Dianne Wiest](https://www.rogerebert.com/cast-and-crew/dianne-wiest) as Lester’s widow, also pushed out by the crowd until more than halfway through the season. But there’s something magical about watching Oscar-winning legends Wiest and Streep bouncing off each other. All of these people are great comic performers, and the truth is that’s often enough with “Only Murders in the Building.” Again, it’s comfort food, something that goes down easily through a blend of breakneck plotting—there’s a new twist every episode—and remarkable starpower. Could it be better? Sure. But sometimes, good enough will do. Nine episodes screened for review. It returns to Hulu today, September 9th.
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