Only Murders in the Building Season 4 Review: No Changes!

If you didn't like Only Murders in the Building so far, the latest episodes won't change your mind.

Hulu's hit crime comedy about amateur detectives and podcasters investigating a spooky number of murders in their Manhattan apartment building is returning with a fourth season that's almost identical to the first three. For some viewers, that's the best news they could hear. But for anyone who was hoping for a little more nuance, a little more comedy, or just a little more, depth of the Emmy-nominated series, as I was, this is not encouraging.

But who can blame producers John Hoffman and Dan Fogelman for fixing it all? The show has relied on its mood alone for four seasons, earning praise and Emmy nominations for it. As long as you have the main trio of Charles (Steve Martin), Oliver (Martin Short) and Mabel (Selena Gomez), a revolving door of A-list cameos and a murder mystery, nothing can go wrong. Unless audiences get fed up of it.

Season 4 of Only Murders (streaming Tuesdays, ★★ out of four) can be a bit dull, as was season three. But unlike the boring episode about the murder of the star of Oliver's big Broadway play, season 4 is a bit more engaging. Yes, it's just Martin, Short and Gomez posing for the camera with over-the-top physical comedy and punchlines about generational conflict while trying to solve a very serious crime. But there are some very funny gags from this year's parade of celebrity guest stars, including Eva Longoria and Molly Shannon, and maybe an interesting mystery to solve. Maybe that's enough to forgive Short a few too many bad jokes and Gomez boring lines. Maybe.