Much of the first season was filmed on location throughout Manhattan, including spots in Central Park, on Riverside Drive, and near various iconic streets. The interiors of the characters' apartments, however, were built on soundstages at Silvercup Studios North in the Bronx.
Mabel is a deadpan, mysterious young woman renovating her aunt’s apartment. Unlike the older men, Mabel has a secret, personal history with the victim, Tim Kono. Gomez provides the perfect anchor for the duo's theatricality, offering a dry, millennial skepticism that grounds the show's comedy.
Though initially disconnected by age and background, the three find themselves on an elevator together and subsequently bond during a building evacuation sparked by a fire alarm. They discover that Tim Kono (Julian Cihi), a notoriously unlikable resident, has been found dead in his apartment. The authorities quickly rule it a suicide. Unconvinced by the police's "open and shut" case, Oliver, whose Broadway flair has made him a master of improvisation, proposes they start a true-crime podcast to investigate. Thus, Only Murders in the Building the podcast is born. Only Murders in the Building - Season 1
"An icicle pick?" Charles asked, examining the photo Mabel snapped. "Who uses those?"
The magic of Only Murders in the Building Season 1 lies heavily on the chemistry of its three main stars, who bridge different generations of comedy and acting. Much of the first season was filmed on
In a world that often feels as isolating as a luxury apartment building where you don’t know your neighbors, Charles, Oliver, and Mabel remind us that the best mystery is the one you solve together. Listen in. The podcast is waiting.
Only Murders in the Building - Season 1 is a visual treat. The Arconia is not just a setting; it's a character. The production design, with its sprawling apartments and hidden tunnels, feels both intimate and grand. The show captures a specific, cozy, fall-in-NYC vibe—complete with knit sweaters, autumn foliage, and the charm of a historic building. Unlike the older men, Mabel has a secret,
Thematically, Season 1 masterfully explores the ethics of turning tragedy into entertainment. The trio’s podcast, also titled Only Murders in the Building , is born from genuine curiosity, yet it quickly attracts fame-seeking opportunists (like Tina Fey’s Cinda Canning) and raises uncomfortable questions: Are they helping or exploiting? Are they detectives or voyeurs? The show refuses easy answers. The protagonists cause real harm—invading privacy, misinterpreting evidence, and almost destroying an innocent man’s life. Yet their intentions remain rooted in a desire for truth and justice. This moral ambiguity is the series’ strength: it acknowledges our collective appetite for true crime while insisting that the victims and suspects are real people, not plot points.
At the heart of the show’s success is its impossibly charming trio of leads, who feel like a comedy experiment designed in a lab to succeed.
If you haven’t yet taken the elevator up to the Arconia, Only Murders in the Building - Season 1 is essential viewing. It is a show that wants you to laugh, cry, and pull out a corkboard with red string. It respects the classic Agatha Christie structure while feeling utterly modern.
Only Murders in the Building became the most-watched comedy premiere in Hulu's history. It managed to deliver a satisfying, complete mystery while leaving just enough open for future investigations. Season 1 established the show's signature tone: gentle, funny, emotional, and satisfyingly mysterious.