Why The Trio From 'Only Murders In The Building' Is So Lovable

Believe it or not, the dead bodies in the Arconia's hallway aren’t the most surprising thing you’ll see. The real surprise in Only Murders in the Building isn’t who did it, it’s who stayed together. Behind all the twists, witty one-liners, and cliffhangers lies another mystery, subtler but also important, that makes you hit play again. How three neighbours, decades apart in age and worlds apart in life, somehow stumble into each other’s lives and decide to stay. Charles, Oliver, and Mabel start out as amateur sleuths chasing a podcast idea. But what they uncover is far rarer than any murderer; they find family.

The Quirky Trio No One Expected

On paper, these three shouldn’t work together. Charles (Steve Martin), a once-famous TV actor, is all stiffness and social awkwardness. Oliver (Martin Short), a theatre director well past his glory days, can’t help turning even the smallest moment into a performance. Mabel (Selena Gomez), cool and guarded, wears the weight of her past with a sharp tongue and a sharper wardrobe. They live in the same ornate Upper West Side building, but they’re worlds apart, until a murder pulls them into the same elevator and, eventually, the same living room.

At one point, Oliver hilariously interviews Mrs. Gambolini, the parrot, while Charles and Mabel look on in disbelief. The bird’s sassy comebacks and Oliver’s over-the-top seriousness create a chaotic, laugh-out-loud scene. It’s moments like these that show their quirky humour, but also how they share joy and reactions like a real family, even the weird, unconventional kind.

When Sleuthing Sparks Friendship

What begins as a true-crime podcast turns into something far more personal. Charles, Oliver, and Mabel stop feeling like detectives anymore and start looking more like a support system. They’re there when loneliness shows up, careers wobble, secrets threaten to spill over. The murders drive the plot, sure, but what really matters is how these three quietly fill the empty spaces in each other’s lives. Charles learns to open up. Oliver finds a sense of purpose again. And Mabel discovers she doesn’t have to carry her pain alone.

Throughout the series, Charles, Oliver, and Mabel share countless quiet, supportive moments, whether it’s comforting each other after a setback, listening without judgment, or sharing small acts of care. These interactions, subtle but meaningful, show how the trio leans on one another, forming a bond that feels more like a chosen family than just neighbours solving a mystery.

Why This Found Family Hits Home

In many ways, Only Murders in the Building revives the cosy mystery tradition once defined by Agatha Christie. But it also gives it a modern, comedic spin, closer to Knives Out. It’s part of a bigger pop culture trend, and audiences still crave mysteries, only ones with more heart, more humour, and a touch of humanity.

In an era when isolation feels more common than connection, there’s something comforting about watching three people from very different generations choose each other. It’s proof that family can be found in the most unexpected places, sometimes in hallways, sometimes at dinner tables, sometimes even at microphone stands. The show might look like a cosy mystery, but it’s really a celebration of unlikely companionship, and of the ways people can make each other feel seen.

For many women, especially in big cities, the idea of a chosen family carries a deep truth. Mabel isn’t only the stylish millennial balancing out two eccentric older men. She proves that women can hold the centre of a story without being reduced to a trope. She is sharp, vulnerable, and unapologetically herself. She reminds the viewers that family isn’t only about bloodlines or tradition. It's about the people who stand by you, even when you least expect it.

Many Fans say the murders feel secondary; the real draw is the trio’s banter, warmth, and awkward hugs. Critics agree, as The A.V. Club put it, the mysteries ultimately serve to explore “the protagonists’ deep friendship, individual psyches, and interpersonal relationships.”

Where Friendship Drives the Mystery

Each season throws in a new case, a mix of suspects, and a bit of theatrical chaos. But the reason people keep tuning in isn’t only the big “whodunit” reveal. It’s the softer discovery, with Charles, Oliver, and Mabel, quirks and clashes included, who always find their way back to each other. The murders might be the hook, but the "found family" is the real reward.

You don’t need a magnifying glass to see why this trio works; the proof is in every awkward dinner, every failed stakeout, every podcast taping that somehow turns into group therapy. As Steve Martin reflected in an interview with Numero, “What we didn’t know was that the chemistry between the three of us, that none of us can even try to explain, would show through the screen. We’re just having fun. We love each other.”

The Arconia’s halls may never fall completely silent; there is always another locked door, a neighbour who seems a little too suspicious, another mystery waiting to be uncovered. No matter what twists come their way, Charles, Oliver, and Mabel will somehow find their way back to each other, shaping a bond as unlikely as the murders themselves. And maybe that’s the bigger mystery, not who the killer is, but how this found family keeps pulling each other through, season after season.

Views expressed by the author are their own.