Felicia Nickens
The following recap contains spoilers for Only Murders in the Building S4E4, “The Stunt Man” (written by John Hoffman, Steve Martin & Madeleine George, and directed by Chris Koch).
The mystery of Sazz’s (Jane Lynch) death continues. This episode started with filler vibes but ended with anything but that. Finally, there are answers about the West Tower weirdos as well as some sweet moments between Charles and Sazz, and most notably, the return of Paul Rudd.
Oliver & Loretta
Oliver (Martin Short) admits to Charles (Steve Martin) and Mabel (Selena Gomez) that he has gone into a dark spiral after speaking with Loretta (Meryl Streep) the night before. As she lives the glamorous Hollywood life in California, he is left feeling like she will be moving on without him. His fears are exacerbated after he stalks her Instagram and notices a muscular arm wrapped around her in a recent photo. Not willing to be direct, he chooses to create a fake account to keep tabs on her. Eventually, Mabel is able to convince him to delete the account and just have a conversation with Loretta, no matter the outcome.
Howard
Howard has been pig-sitting for Mabel in the apartment she’s been squatting in. She hopes that Dudenoff (the apartment’s owner) will hear about her squatting and show up in person. However, he has yet to make an appearance. Howard asks for Mabel’s help in return for what he has done for her. All he wants is to get his podcast off the ground—Animals and their jobs. Mabel doesn’t have time to help him as she is caught up in the murder investigation. Later, a paper is slipped under the door of the apartment which advertises open auditions for the Only Murders movie. He and the piggy head to the audition, leaving the apartment unmonitored unbeknownst to Mabel.
At the audition, Howard auditions for the role of well, Howard. Funnily enough, he doesn’t get the part as it was already given to Josh Gad. Poor Howard walks away looking defeated. He shows up at Oliver’s apartment where the trio are conversing and tells Mabel he won’t be helping her anymore. Realizing that the apartment is empty, she runs back to the West Towers,
West Tower Weirdos
Mabel finds the apartment door ajar. When she walks in, she sees Vince, Rudy (Kumail Nanjiani), and Inez moving her bed away from the wall. She threatens to call the police if they don’t start explaining and they do. Apparently, they are illegally subletting rent-controlled apartments. Dudenoff lives comfortably in Portugal and they pay him $200 a month in rent. They tell Mabel Dudenoff has a soft spot for weirdos and that Mabel is the right kind of weirdo to sublet the apartment if she wants. Mabel asks about the lady on the radio who told them to stop looking for Sazz’s murderer. They explain it was just Rudy’s crazy ex-girlfriend. So for now, they are all off the hook.
Sazz & Concussions
Charles has a dream about Sazz. In it, she is injured but leading him through a wooded area. She explains she’s going to Paradise. He’s unable to decipher what it means. Mabel discovers through Oliver stalking Loretta on the ‘gram that Sazz also followed Loretta. Charles didn’t know Sazz had an Instagram and they begin looking at her photos. The last photo, taken on the day she died, shows her at a bar called Concussions. Concussions is open to all but used as a hangout for stunt doubles.
At Concussions, it’s clear the trio isn’t wanted there and its patrons won’t answer any questions. Just then, Ben Glenroy (Paul Rudd) comes hurdling through a door and onto the floor. The trio is shocked as he is supposed to be dead. And he is. Turns out this isn’t Ben but rather, Glen Stubbins, Ben’s stunt double. He’s clearly had some concussions himself, as he seems a bit “out there.” The trio is kicked out, but notices a back room. The photo of Sazz also had this room in the background.
Outside, Glen comes to find them. He says he wants a job in their movie. Charles agrees on the contingency that Glen gets him in the back room. He agrees and brings Charles inside. The back room is just where a chiropractor works to help the stunt doubles with all their injuries. She agrees to speak to Charles as long her he lets her work on him because she’s never seen anyone look so stiff before. As she straddles him on the table, she tells him that Sazz was going to retire soon and that she was going through a bad relationship. Charles assumes the relationship is a reference to him and begins to feel a sense of guilt. As the chiropractor cracks his back, it sends him out of body and he is back with Sazz in the wooded area. She asks him if he will go with her to Paradise.
Charles decides that there is still something he can do for Sazz. He agrees to “tap in” for her this time and let Concussions give her a stuntman’s funeral. This consists of him lying on the pool table while the patrons each share words for Sazz and use a breakaway bottle to smash into her (Charles) head. On Glen’s turn, it winds up being a real bottle and it sends Charles back into a dream state.
Paradise
In the dream, Charles recalls a conversation he had with Sazz on the set of Brazzos many years ago. She tells him that she wants to open a trampoline park one day just like the one her dad used to bring her to. He tells her that the location they are filming on will be empty when they stop and she could use it for her park. When he wakes, he tells Mabel and Oliver and they head to Paradise, NJ. In the wooded area, there is a sign that says Sazz Pataki’s Trampoline Park. It looks like Sazz was making her dream come true. They hear a noise from a nearby building. As they enter, Bev Melon (Molly Shannon) walks out of the darkness pointing a gun at them.
The episode ends on that confusing note and now I am left wondering…who the f*ck is Bev Melon? Is she an undercover detective? Private investigator? Or could she be the relationship that Sazz was having issues with? Sazz was a stunt double so she was mixed up in Hollywood life. It’s more than possible she crossed paths with Bev. What would that have to do with Charles and an attempt on his life? I also don’t think the West Tower Folks are completely off the hook. Something still doesn’t sit right. At least one of them must be involved somehow. Let’s not forget sweet Howard. While I love him and will riot if he leaves the show for any reason, I did notice a weird look on his face when Mabel refused to help him. It could be hurt or disappointment, but maybe he’s tired of always being in the background. Has the show been building him up as this loveable character, just to pull out the ultimate surprise in the end? There are a lot of questions, but not many answers. Not yet.
