Only Murders In The Building Season 4's Plot Perfectly Pays Off 2 Characters' Backstories

Summary Hollywood setting in Season 4 of Only Murders in the Building will push Charles and Oliver's character development.

Going West gives Charles and Oliver a chance to grapple with their lost careers and newfound fame.

Meeting other podcasters in Hollywood will amp up the trio's celebrity status and make their investigation global.

The plot of Only Murders In the Building season 4 promises a big payoff for two characters' backstories. The quirky mystery/comedy show revolves around the friendship between entertainers Charles and Oliver (Steve Martin and Martin Short) and the significantly younger Mabel (Selena Gomez), whose previous murder investigations have bonded them more closely than any of them expected. Although the series is primarily a comedy, it does not sacrifice character development for jokes, and the characters' serious backstories and current problems are a big part of each episode.

The first three seasons took place in the New York City building all three characters lived in. However, the trailer for Only Murders in The Building season 4 promises a Hollywood murder mystery as the beloved characters head West to solve the killing of Charles' stunt double (Jane Lynch). Her death was revealed during the Only Murders in the Building season 3 ending, which followed the tradition of the friends discovering a new murder at the end of the season. Interestingly, the change of venue for season 4 could lead to a huge payoff for some characters' backstories.

Related Only Murders In The Building Season 4: Release Date, Cast, Story, Trailer & Everything We Know Only Murders in the Building season 3 was another big hit for Hulu, and here's everything we know about Only Murders season 4 so far.

Only Murders In The Building Season 4's Story Is Perfect For Charles & Oliver

Going to Hollywood Fits Their Entertainment Backgrounds Perfectly

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Charles and Oliver are both entertainers whose careers have fallen apart. Oliver is especially driven by the desire to reignite his career as a Broadway producer. Many jokes on the series involve him telling an unrelated and terrible story about his previous experiences as a producer, and Only Murders in the Building season 3's plot included a new musical that Oliver was producing whose success was threatened by the murder of its star. Charles was also once a big star, but has been given only a bit part in the reboot of his successful mystery series.

This new story is perfect for Charles and Oliver in both professional and personal ways. Charles had a friendship with his stunt double that went back 20 years, so finding her dead in his apartment was shocking and upsetting for him, and he will likely be determined to bring her killer to justice. Oliver, on the other hand, will see the case as an opportunity to take the podcast to a new level and gain the fame that he has always yearned for, but may also want to be there for his friend (if it doesn't interfere with his ambitions.)

How Season 4's Hollywood Setting Can Expand On Both Characters' Backstories

They Will Have to Grapple With The Loss of Their Previous Careers In a New Way

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While New York City offered plenty of opportunities to explore the backstories of Only Murders in the Building's cast, Hollywood will allow them to pursue their dreams in a bigger way, especially Charles. There are many more TV shows filmed in Hollywood, and the culture also involves people constantly attempting to interact with celebrities in public places. These types of experiences will feed Charles' ego and could distract him from the investigation. This could cause a similar conflict between Charles and Mabel as she had with Oliver while he was producing his play instead of focusing on the case during season 3.

Conversely, Charles might be disappointed to discover that people don't recognize him in Hollywood. This would open the door for Charles to experience flashbacks to his experiences when filming the fictional Brazzos series. This arc could delve into how famous Charles was at the time Brazzos was popular and how that experience affected him.

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The Hollywood Walk of Fame could also provide insight into Charles and Oliver's backstories, depending on whether either of them has a star there. Only Murders in the Building could dive into whether Charles or Oliver attended an unveiling ceremony for a star or whether they felt passed over when colleagues got stars and they didn't. For Oliver, the Walk of Fame and the Hollywood setting in general could be an opportunity to recall times when he worked with celebrities who are now well-known and have stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Each of the previous seasons has had a mini-arc about Oliver discovering a major star living in their building, which could still work once they go to Hollywood.

Only Murders In The Building's Next Outing Will Make Its Characters More Famous

Hollywood Will Get More Eyes on Them And Their Podcast

Image via Hulu

Going to Hollywood offers opportunities for the characters to become much more famous. A sensational celebrity murder will be a big news story, and they will meet other podcasters and influencers in Hollywood who could give the podcast and investigation a worldwide platform. Charles and Oliver may initially not experience the fame they expect, but may begin to get attention on the street as the case progresses, and the trio may all experience people bothering them to give them tips and try to get on their podcast.

The Hollywood angle allows Only Murders In The Building to develop the characters in new ways, especially Charles and Oliver. The two men will have to grapple with the loss of any fame they once had as well as becoming famous again for their roles in the murder investigation. The move to Hollywood will test these characters, especially as their fame grows and they must find the right balance between their career ambitions and focusing on the case.

Only Murders in the Building streams on Hulu. Season 4 will premiere on August 27, 2024.