Summary of Only Murders in the Building, Season 4, Episode 5

When an episode of Only murders in the building ends with a surprising twist, like Bev Melon threatening to shoot Charles, Oliver and Mabel, for example, the next episode will most likely begin by undoing that twist somehow. After all, it is too early in the season for real answers. That is exactly how this week's episode began: With the revelation that Bev (who made the posters for Ice Age 2, Garfield2And Rio2 displayed in her office) was not a real threat to her. She was just frightened.

But why was she hanging around Sazz's disused trampoline park in Paradise, New Jersey? An age-old question. Although Bev claims she did not kill Sazz, she fears someone else working on the film may have. The night she died, Bev was at Diversity's Power Women Party in LA and got an ominous voicemail from Sazz. “You have to call me, there is a problem with your Only murders film, a big problem,” warned Sazz. Since then, Bev has been worried that yet another smash hit could derail her film, and she's trying to figure out what the reason might be.

Interestingly, this call means that Sazz knew about the film before the trio did. But what could be so troubling to Sazz that she went to Bev Melon before telling Charles? Personally, I think it was just business – perhaps Sazz wanted a gig (you'd think she'd be a no-brainer after playing Charles' double for so many years). This call now connects Sazz to the film, which opens up a whole new circle of suspects we haven't considered before, since they're based in LA. The killer could be the most dangerous of all: living on both coasts.

This new lead couldn't have come at a better time, as the Dudenoff Westie investigation has just hit a dead end. Charles, Oliver, and Mabel seem happy with the answers they've gotten from the crew, but I'm not so sure. Either way, I have a feeling they'll be back in conversation soon. For now, the trio are heading to the film production offices to snoop around and hope to spot someone nervous to see them.

After the Brothers Sisters recruit the three for the film's promotional photoshoot, the directors leave with a tall, narrow suitcase that the camera lingers on, which seems important, so let's save that for later. Something else that's important is Cat Cohen's gripping eyebrow game – they do a gorgeous dance with each line that tells you so much about this character. Anyway, back to the nervous suspects…

When screenwriter Marshall sees Mabel, Charles, and Oliver on set, he runs and tries to sneak away. But when they catch up to him and start asking questions about the murder, he is relieved. He had feared they had more notes on the script, and is thrilled to find out he's just a suspect in a murder case. Phew! We learn a lot about Marshall in this episode, particularly that he suffers from imposter syndrome so bad that he wears a fake beard and glasses to feel more like a real screenwriter, and his appearance is reminiscent of Charlie Kaufman – whose work includes the film. Adjustment, after which this episode is named. Appropriately, this film is based on Kaufman's struggle to The Orchid Thiefand stars Loretta Meryl Streep.

This imposter syndrome story is familiar to me—it feels like Mabel has been struggling with the same issue for years. Even after the podcast's success, she still has a hard time grasping the paycheck she gets for selling the life rights. It feels very professional, but she's not quite sure what she's a pro at. Listen, when I get a fat check from Bev Melon for Eva Longoria to play me, the only question on my mind is can I get it in gold coins so I can dive in like Scrooge McDuck. But Mabel uses this opportunity to finally gain some self-awareness and realizes that (as we all know) she is a podcast producer. You did it, Mabel! After three and a half seasons, you finally realized you do have a job after all!

Although Marshall isn't that far along on his journey to imposter syndrome, he has an alibi for something far worse than murder: he's trying his hand at stand-up comedy. But while they have him, Charles wants to show off their murder panels in the hopes that it will inspire the writer to make his character even more sophisticated. Unfortunately, the opposite happens, as Marshall quickly points out that his only coherent segment (the timeline) is nearly impossible. Someone couldn't get from one side of the building to the other. And clean the crime scene in 12 minutes…or could they?

Oliver wants to prove his vitality now that Loretta has a hot new co-star, and volunteers to reenact the murder to test the plausibility of the time frame. According to him, he is so fit that he has been asked many times to carry the coffin. But he fails miserably to make the trip in time – and is even accidentally 30 rocks Star and tennis player John McEnroe. So if that timeline is impossible, could there be two killers? One shooting from the Dudenoff apartment while the other stands across the courtyard ready to clean up the crime scene? Given the season's theme of stunt doubles and stand-ins, it's a fitting twist. Just in time, Mabel makes a discovery while looking at Charles' photos of the production office. She spots a footprint on the sticky mat that matches the one in the Dudenoff apartment, meaning DSW either had a major sale or the killer is on that film set.

So they head to the photo shoot, where Eva Longoria helps them with the footprint investigation by pulling the crazy celebrity card and demanding that the sticky mats be laid out. “Oh, honey, I've asked for crazier things. In season eight of Desperate HousewivesI told them I wouldn't go back until they legalized gay marriage, and you know what? They did,” she says. When the footprint she's looking for actually turns up, Mabel sees that it belongs to Tawny Brothers – who, of course, have a built-in accomplice in her sister Trina. But just as she has that “aha” moment, gunshots ring out and the episode ends. If the beginning of this week's episode is any indication, we'll probably find out it was just a car backfiring or something.

But why would the brother-sisters want to kill Sazz or Charles? Could it generate good press for their film? Or maybe the sibling duo is too obvious and Tawny had an entirely different accomplice. I'm still suspicious of Marshall, whose fake beard and glasses may serve an entirely different purpose. Plus, his offhand mention of having above-average eyesight seems crucial – something an accurate sniper might have. Maybe he even hired the Dudenoff Unit to spy on his subjects while he was writing them. Either way, I feel like there has to be some connection between the film and Dudenoff – and that's where our answers will ultimately lie.