'Only Murders in the Building' Season 5 Review: Just as strong as the last

I had somehow managed to miss the release of the fifth season of Only Murders in the Building, or OMITB as they reference within the show regarding the podcast name. But noticing it was fully out over October, it was only necessary to binge through it. I was a little sceptical of how this season might turn out though. Five season in with the show having what is a relatively repetitive style: someone in the building dies, and the crew have to figure out a way to tell the true story regarding their demise. Always a result of murder even if at first glance it doesn't appear to be the case. You'd think it'd be easy for the show to run out of ideas or to lose its steam, especially with how the murders always take place within the building of the Arconia. Though season five managed to mix things up a bit.

Usually there's some sort of side story which pulls our attention away from the Arconia to some degree. Whether it's a play production or the personal dramas surrounding their romantic interests. With season five we're still very much centred within the Arconia, but located more in its secret depths and rich history, one that dates far back alongside the New York mob which has been operating an illegal casino beneath the building. A large room which is soon to be discovered as a former stable back in the old days of the city's reliance on horses for transport. Within the belly of the Arconia, where the casino resides, hide the city's wealthiest elites which meet and play games, gambling away while making some of their largest financial decisions. Naturally, some drama unfolds which leads to multiple deaths.

Mixed within the season are the tougher decisions that await the main characters, and this one I felt had a bit more exploration into them which gave the season a bit more development. This was the sort of season which felt like it was heading towards the end. Where we're seeing some tougher questions come into play: Oliver coming to terms with the community he needs at the Arconia. Mabel finally accepting her own route and understanding the pointlessness of comparing herself to others. Charles struggling to accept his inability to find love that doesn't lead to danger, accepting his lonely state as a result. I quite liked how this was handled throughout, while the previous seasons still developed those characters somewhat, this felt a bit more serious in that sense. It gave us a more empathetic approach to how we view them.

This season still felt like the rest with its formula. It still had an engaging story, though some of it felt a bit social commentary which I think is also normal for previous seasons too. Sometimes there's a bit of that sort of preachy writing to it that comes from one of the characters. Easy to ignore, fortunately. Though this story looks at the first changing space of New York City as automation increases and traditions are lost. As community becomes a more important concept than ever before in the process, where people grow more isolated as a result of more screens and less human contact. And there isn't just one murder here in this season, it ramps things up a bit more by adding another. Especially with a much larger number of side characters as the show didn't focus too much on the previous inhabitants of the Arconia, more on its workers and many shady visitors. Especially with the casino room taking up more screen time and less of what we've all seen before.

As is going to be case going towards the end of a season like this, you do wonder if things are shaping up to end. You do have the question of whether they can keep this up going into two or more seasons. Particularly with how each season (so far) ends up with some sort of little cliffhanger which leads into the next. A death which is mysterious and sudden just as the characters feel they're done and ready to relax and live again. This is where that previous character development mattered. Showing us the more emotional sides of those characters and what they do in the fictional world beyond the podcast which has given them so much. The podcast almost ignored this season as a result of all that growth. Despite the seriousness, it's still full of laughs. Especially with the mob side of things which is hardly taken seriously.

Naturally, the season contains a few twists and turns that I haven't mentioned here and wouldn't want to. Well worth the watch if you're already watching the show, and if not the entire show is pretty strong and worth checking out!