Only Murders in the Building-Season 2 (2022) * * 1/2

 

(Streaming on Hulu) 

Starring:  Steve Martin, Martin Short, Selena Gomez, Shirley MacLaine, Amy Schumer, Christine Ko, Nathan Lane, Cara Delevingne, Jayne Houdyshell, Amy Ryan

Through the first five episodes of season two of Only Murders in the Building, I find my attention wandering more often than it should.   At the conclusion of season one, Charles (Martin), Oliver (Short), and Mabel (Gomez) had just solved a murder in their New York apartment building before being arrested for the murder of Bunny (Houdyshell), the haughty, stubborn president of the building's board.   

After being released, the trio of crime solvers make it their mission to solve Bunny's murder and of course podcast it for the world to hear.   You would think two murders in the same building over the course of one year would be troubling news for the Arconia and result in highly negative publicity (or at least concern over building security).   Nope, the gang is back at it.   They clandestinely investigate suspects, trying to loosen them from their secrets (should they have any), and ultimately spend inordinate amounts of time attempting to solve a murder.   New York has police detectives who do this sort of thing.   I'm sure of it. 

It is not shocking that season two of a show like Only Murders in the Building would involve, well, another murder in the building.   The first season was fresh and funny, while this one feels like a retread.  There are even meta references to "season two", in which characters point out how the trio is running into difficulties in "season two".   While the show is referring to the podcast, we know it's a wink to the audience about how it sometimes hard to repeat the successful formula of any show's first season.  

Martin and Short remain a terrific comic team, while Gomez' deadpan delivery last season provided an adept counterpoint.   This season, I hope to see a little more out of Gomez than just the too cool for the room reciting of her lines, but I don't think it'll happen despite the introduction of a new love interest for Mabel.    The final episodes may reverse course and make Only Murders worthwhile.   My main thought remains:  Don't have a season three, unless Charles, Oliver, and Mable move to another building and someone is murdered there.