Only Murders Season 5 Episode 6: Murder, Mayhem & Matching Plaid in 'Flatbush'

Where would life be without a murder or two at the swanky upper Westside apartment building know for its murderous secrets?! The true crime fictional podcast that made amateur investigators out of its leads has brought considerable notoriety and Hollywood star power to the Arconia each season. The hottest gig on TV right now is a cameo role, and this week’s episode is no exception.

Two new suspects have emerged in the suspicious deaths of Arconia doorman Lester Coluca and dry-cleaning casino boss Nicky Caccimelio — could the wives of the dearly departed be responsible for their untimely deaths on this season of Only Murders in the Building?!

It’s the burning question that left fans guessing at the close of episode 5 of Hulu’s hit murder mystery comedy series, starring Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez.

When we last saw our fav trio of true crime podcasters-turned-amateur-sleuths, their investigation had taken them to Brooklyn to retrieve Charles missing cellphone, thought to be in the minivan of one Sofia Cuccimelio, played by Tea Leoni. Little did Charles, Mabel, and Oliver know that their quick trip to Flatbush would reveal an unexpected situationship between Sofia and Lester’s widow, Lorraine, played by the incomparable Dianne Wiest. When the dry cleaning widow arrived at the home of the late doorman’s widow, with a suspicious plaid bag in hand, a bevy of alarm bells went off. So, what’s in the bag ladies? 

To add to the action, Meryl Streep returns as Loretta Durkin, fictional actress and Oliver Putnam’s new bride. Though, the couple’s wedding was the featured event in the Season 4 finale, this is the first we have seen of Streep in this latest round of original episodes. 

Loretta, who first showed up in season 3, has come back to Oliver in tears. It seems the newlywed actress has lost everything she owned when her apartment of 47 years went up in flames, due to faulty small appliance wiring. Losing her safe house, of sorts, Loretta comes running back to Oliver — her husband for all of two weeks.Though it's never explained why the newlyweds still have two separate homes. Nevertheless, Oliver, himself, has been weighing a major life change with his own home, as we saw in the close of episode 5. The former Broadway producer is contemplating an offer to give up his luxe apartment at the Arconia. 

And, because Charles has been preoccupied with his new-found dating app match, Mabel is left to bemoan Oliver’s potential departure from the Arconia and breakup of their true crime trio alone. Heartbreaking, I know. But, can we just talk about Mabel’s matching ensembles, as of late, while she’s been going through it with her emotions?!  The young sleuth’s coordinated plaid sets and pantsuits have been on point this season, elevating the character’s style to a more a chic and mature appearance. Chef’s kiss, Wardrobe Supervisor. But, I digress.

Back on the scene, herself, is Detective Donna Williams (Da’Vine Joy Randolph) who has shown up to collect the finger, posing as evidence, from Charles’ freezer. If you recall, the wayward digit has been on ice since it was discovered in a goblet of shrimp in the season opener. However, much to our fav sleuths’ shock and horror, it is quickly discovered that someone has “five-fingered the finger!”

The investigation takes Oliver and Loretta back to his childhood neighborhood where we are hit with a series of poignant flashback memories as we get a rare glimpse into Oliver’s backstory, even as secrets about the widows’ connection unfolds. In between Oliver’s walk down memory lane, he and Lorraine discover that Lester’s widow has put the couple’s townhome up for sale.

Meanwhile, on the hunt for leads after what appears to be a break-in to his apartment, Charles and Mabel run into Althea — Mabel’s middle school nemesis living her best life at that top of the Arconia, as a pseudo pop singer and social influencer, who oddly enough, may have clues to the break-in.

Oliver and Lorraine attend the open house for the Coluca’s home sale for answers. When Loretta finds herself in a restricted room of the former doorman’s house on her first foray into super-snooping, she comes face-to-face with the knife-wielding widow, Lorraine. 

Meryl Streep and Dianne Wiest as scene partners on the small screen — What could go right? Everything. 

The last time the two iconic actresses appeared on-screen together was in Steven Soderbergh’s 2020 fim, Let Them All Talk, a story of college friends whose trip asea after many years unpacks a story of old grudges and improvised dialogue.

And, though their time playing opposite one another again here in our beloved mystery comedy is reduced to mere minutes, the multi-award-winning actresses fill every one of them with a rather nice mix of humor, tension, vulnerability, and nuanced emotions. 

Back at the Arconia, Charles and Mabel seek help from the new robot doorman Lester 2.0, compliments of HOA president and modern-day Alice Kravitz, Howard (Michael Cyril Creighton). This time, Althea, who’s rather be known as “The,” and Det Williams tag along to see what’s hiding in the robot’s RAM.

When Mabel insults Althea with a passionate word vomit on the stars’ self-centered, narcissistic tendencies, Det Williams orders Mabel to apologize to her former bestie, while she and Charles retreat to the station house to review the building’s security footage for answers.

While the episode tries hard not to come across as mid-season filler, the comedy gets real serious real fast with the reminiscing of Oliver’s past as he walks the old haunts of his neighborhood with Lorraine, including the theater he wandered into as an adolescent to uncover his artistic passions. When the newlyweds take to the stage to recite old lines — their time under the house lights is cut short when the widows show up.

In the big reveal, Lorraine, who is also a former opera star, let’s it be known that she has been teaching musical theater to the neighborhood youth, while Sofia has been helping her keep the lights on with her cut from the businesses Nicky ran with Lester from the Arconia. 

And, just when you think the episode is going to be a sleeper, the plot really thickens when Oliver comes to a decision on his home at the Arconia with Loretta; Det Williams, Charles, and Mabel discover that security footage has been doctored from the night of the Lester’s murder; and an innocuous fruit logo that keeps turning up with the security footage may prove

Charles is being catfished into unwittingly revealing details of their podcast investigation to what could turn out to be the No. 1 suspect. 

Whew! There’s a lot to unpack there. And, with just four more episodes remaining for the season, think you know whodunit? See if you are getting close when Only Murders In The Building returns next week.

Until then, stream the first six episodes of season 5 now on Hulu.

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