Published by Mason Oldridge, 18 October 2023
CONTAINS SPOILERS!
The crime-busting trio are back for a third investigation in Hulu’s comedy murder mystery.
Picking up from last season’s ending in which the leading man in Oliver’s play, Ben Glenroy, collapses on stage during opening night, the third season focuses on Oliver attempting to rebuild his play while Mabel, feeling abandoned by her co-hosts, undertakes a solo investigation into Ben’s death.
The opening episode sets the season in good stead; flashbacks to the first table read reveal that Ben made quite a few enemies with his fellow cast, including Loretta, a new character serving as Oliver’s love interest, portrayed by high-profile guest star Meryl Streep. Back in the present, the cast attend Oliver’s afterparty at The Arconia, where they are stunned to see Ben reappear, a brilliantly unexpected plot twist as Ben did not actually die on stage and announces it was just food poisoning. As Charles, Oliver and Mabel are in the elevator, Charles tells Mabel that they couldn’t have done a podcast anyway as Ben’s murder didn’t take place in the building, before Ben’s bloodied body falls through the roof.
The USP of this show is the chemistry between the unlikely friends and the joyous way they bounce off each other so effortlessly. Furthermore, a particular strength of the show is how they are bound together by murder investigations they enjoy solving and the restriction to within the building. Therefore, it is a great shame that this season is dominated by the preparation of Oliver’s play and that most of the investigation is conducted by Mabel without the others. Despite this putting a dampener on the majority of the season, it is rescued when the threesome reunite to solve the mystery following Loretta’s false arrest.
Never having held back on casting, this season is no different. Comedy legend Paul Rudd is perfect as arrogant superstar Glenroy whereas Matthew Broderick’s appearance as a fictionalised version of himself who takes method acting to the extreme is hilarious.
The ending doesn’t disappoint as it is revealed Donna poisoned Ben to prevent him ruining the show, and consequently her son Cliff’s debut, after reading an early review criticising Ben’s performance. She further admits to pushing him down the elevator shaft before the last minute twist that it was actually Cliff who pushed him after Ben threatened to expose Donna for the poisoning. In the final scenes, the gang are celebrating the success of the play and as Charles’ stunt double Sazz retreats to his apartment, she is shot through the window, creating a murder plot for the already-commissioned fourth season.
Despite the lack of investigation with our three heroes, you can’t help but enjoy another outing with these guys amidst a gripping investigation with a satisfying resolution.
7/10