▪ The tension culminates in a humorous yet touching moment when Oliver asks Charles to be his best man.
After solving the Dudenoff mystery in Episode 8, the three main characters of Only Murders in the Building were left confused. They had discovered that the mystery was not related to the murder of Sazz, who is played by Jane Lynch.
With only two episodes remaining in Season 4, the characters were under pressure to find answers quickly. Episode 9, titled "Escape From Planet Klongo," does not waste time. It gets straight into the investigation and reveals some shocking truths.
This episode is packed with exciting flashbacks and features some big-name guest stars. It finally brings important answers to the mysteries that have puzzled viewers.
The previous episode ended on a tense cliffhanger. It hinted that Glen Stubbins, played by Paul Rudd, might be the stunt actor who had problems with Sazz during the filming of Project Ronkonkoma. However, Glen is still recovering in the hospital after being shot at a photoshoot.
Mabel, portrayed by Selena Gomez, along with Charles (Steve Martin) and Oliver (Martin Short), arrives at the hospital. They bring a case of beer in hopes of waking Glen from his coma.
Upon reaching the hospital, they learn that the nurse will not allow them to see Glen because they are not family members. The nurse tells them she will call them when Glen wakes up. This news leaves the trio frustrated. They decide to wait in the waiting room and discuss their next steps.
While sitting in the waiting room, Oliver mentions the case of beer he brought. He reveals that it was given to him by Sazz the night she died. He states he will never drink it. Mabel suggests she could take it from him instead. This moment shows the bond between the characters and the weight of their loss.
Just as they prepare to leave, they encounter the bartender from Concussions, the bar where stunt performers hang out, which they visited earlier in the season. They ask him about Project Ronkonkoma. He tells them that Glen was not the original stuntman for the movie.
Glen was brought in to replace Sazz's protégé, who messed up so badly that Sazz had to blacklist him from the industry. This revelation raises alarms for Mabel, Charles, and Oliver. It suggests that Glen may have had a motive to harm Sazz.
The bartender explains that only three people know what truly happened during the filming: Sazz, Glen, and the movie's director. Since Glen is unconscious and Sazz is dead, the director is their only hope for answers.
The problem is that the director is the famous Ron Howard. This discovery adds a new layer of excitement to the investigation and sets the stage for their next move.
To reach Ron Howard, Mabel seeks help from Bev Melon, played by Molly Shannon. Bev agrees to give Mabel Howard's filming location on the condition that Mabel helps her with her movie's script. This shows the character dynamics and how they must show their personal and professional relationships to achieve their goals.
With the address secured, Mabel, Charles, and Oliver head to the studio where Ron Howard is filming Escape From Planet Klongo. Now, they must figure out how to get into the studio. Oliver believes this will be easy because he claims to be good friends with Ron Howard.
He even refers to Howard as "Ron-Ron," but Charles and Mabel are skeptical. They know Oliver has a habit of exaggerating.
When they try to use Oliver's friendship story on the security guard at the studio, it does not work. The guard is not impressed and refuses them entry. Feeling defeated, they think about leaving when they hear a call for background actors from inside the building. Seizing this chance, they rush inside, hoping to blend in and get closer to Ron Howard.
While filling out forms for background work, Oliver casually mentions that he should change his emergency contact to Loretta (Meryl Streep) since they are getting married.
This comment visibly annoys Charles. He feels overshadowed and worries about being the awkward friend in their relationship. The tension between Oliver and Charles highlights their friendship and the struggles that come with change.
The situation escalates when Charles confronts Oliver. He calls him insufferable and declares he will not throw Oliver a bachelor party because he believes no one will attend. This argument leads to them being kicked off the set.
They retreat to the dressing room, where Charles reveals that he is actually Oliver's emergency contact. He admits that he feels left out as Oliver prepares for his wedding. Despite his happiness for Oliver, Charles expresses feelings of insecurity.
While Oliver and Charles deal with their friendship issues on set, Mabel receives a call that Glen has woken up from his coma. Excited and hopeful, she rushes to the hospital to speak with him. However, her hopes are dashed when she arrives at Glen's room, only to learn that someone else entered before her.
Glen initially thinks it is the nurse who has come to help him. However, as the person approaches, he realizes it is someone he recognizes, which confuses him. Suddenly, the visitor presses a pillow over Glen's face, smothering him. Glen struggles to break free, but it is too late.
By the time Mabel arrives, she learns from the nurse that Glen has died. The suddenness of his death raises alarms for Mabel. She feels a sense of urgency and anger because she believes she could have stopped it.
Mabel inquires about who else was called to alert them about Glen waking up. To her shock, she learns that Glen's emergency contact was Sazz Pataki. This revelation sends chills down her spine.
Mabel realizes that Glen did not die from his injuries; he was murdered by the same person who killed Sazz. This connection adds a new twist to the mystery and intensifies the urgency for Mabel, Charles, and Oliver to find answers.
After their emotional moment on set, Oliver and Charles decide to grab lunch at the restaurant where Charles first met Ron Howard. During lunch, Oliver admits that he did not have a bachelor party or a best man at his first wedding.
He tells Charles he doesn't need a bachelor party for this wedding either, but he does ask Charles to be his best man. He also jokes that Charles can be the emergency contact on his life alert bracelet, just in case something happens.
Charles is pleased with this request and decides to throw Oliver a mini-bachelor party after all. Earlier, Oliver mentioned he wanted three things for his bachelor party: whiskey, A-list celebrities, and a naughty secret.
Charles orders them some Johnny Walker whiskey, and then walks over to the restaurant's wall of celebrity photos. He picks up Oliver's photo and places it next to Ron Howard's picture. He tells Oliver that this will be their naughty secret.
For the A-list celebrity, Charles jokingly suggests he fits the bill himself, but Oliver is not impressed. Just then, Ron Howard walks into the restaurant, making Oliver's wish come true. Howard greets Oliver with a friendly "Olly" and refers to himself as "Ron-Ron." The three of them sit down for lunch together, and this moment creates a lighthearted atmosphere amid the serious investigation.
During their lunch, Charles and Oliver take the opportunity to ask Ron Howard about Project Ronkonkoma. They hope to get more details about the incident that led to Sazz's death. Through their conversation with Howard, viewers learn the tragic events that unfolded during the filming of the movie.
Throughout the episode, viewers see flashbacks of Sazz working with her protégé. These scenes show how she found him by accident when he flipped into her backseat after she backed her car into him. Sazz took him under her wing and began teaching him the stunts he needed to know for his first big role. However, Howard reveals a dark truth behind the filming of the stunt.
The atmosphere on set was always tense before a big stunt, especially during fire scenes. However, that day had a surprisingly calm mood. The stuntman was well-prepared, but he made a grave mistake. He did not wait until he was fully extinguished before getting up and rushing toward Howard.
The flames reignited, causing chaos on set. This incident not only burned Howard's eyebrows off but also created a major disaster that haunted everyone involved.
Oliver and Charles realize they need to find this stuntman to get more answers. Howard asks them to bring back his stolen shoes if they find him. He explains that the shoes have the same tread pattern found on the radiator in Dudenoff's apartment.
This detail connects the dots for Charles and Oliver, who are eager to continue their investigation. Howard also provides them with the name of the stuntman: Rex Bailey.
The name does not sound familiar to Charles or Oliver until Howard shows them a picture of Rex. They are shocked to see that it is Marshall, the screenwriter for the Only Murders movie.
Meanwhile, Mabel returns home from the hospital after hearing about Glen's death. When she arrives at her apartment, she finds Marshall sitting outside in the hallway.
Mabel had been willing to read over the script for the Only Murders movie. However, after another death, she feels the whole situation is pointless. She believes she could have stopped this tragedy if she had figured out the stuntman angle sooner.
Marshall listens to her frustration and takes her feelings as inspiration for his script. He begins asking Mabel for her opinion on some of the dialogue, and she helps him refine it.
In a moment of camaraderie, Mabel offers Marshall a beer, hoping it will help them as they work through the script together. As she opens the case of beer she took from Oliver, she discovers something unexpected inside.
Mabel pulls out a script, but not just any script -- it is an Only Murders movie script written by Sazz Pataki. This discovery raises immediate questions for Mabel. She looks at Marshall, who is distractedly working on his own script. Mabel asks him why she has Sazz's script.
Before Marshall can respond, Mabel receives a text from Charles. The text reveals that Marshall is indeed Sazz's protégé, confirming Mabel's suspicions.
The episode ends on a tense note as the credits roll. Mabel is left alone in her apartment with the murderer, and there seems to be no help in sight. This cliffhanger creates a sense of urgency and leaves viewers eager for the next episode.
Episode 9 is filled with significant themes and character development. The theme of friendship is shown through Oliver, Charles, and Mabel as they show their relationships. The episode highlights the challenges they face as they deal with personal changes, like Oliver's upcoming wedding and the loss of Sazz.
The investigation itself serves as a backdrop for showing deeper emotions and connections between the characters. Mabel's anger and frustration over Glen's death drive her actions. At the same time, Charles's insecurities about his friendship with Oliver become more pronounced, revealing the complexity of their relationship.
The introduction of Ron Howard as a character adds an interesting dynamic to the episode. His presence as a famous director brings a sense of authenticity to the storyline and reinforces the idea that the characters are stepping into a world of real film-making, which heightens the stakes of their investigation.
The episode also effectively uses flashbacks to enhance the narrative. The glimpses into Sazz's past and her work with her protégé help viewers understand her character better. They also reveal the tragic circumstances surrounding her death, making the investigation more compelling.
Only Murders in the Building Season 4, Episode 9 delivers a mix of humor, mystery, and emotional depth. As the characters race against time to solve the mystery of Sazz's murder and Glen's sudden death, the stakes become higher. The episode expertly balances the main plot with character development, keeping viewers engaged and eager for more.
As the series approaches its season finale, the unanswered questions linger in the air. What will happen next? Will Mabel uncover the truth about Glen's murder? And how will the dynamics between Oliver, Charles, and Mabel change as they face these challenges together?
With new episodes available for streaming on Hulu every Tuesday, fans will be on the edge of their seats, anticipating the twists and turns of this thrilling murder mystery series.