Round Two: Only Murders in the Building

Only Murders in the Building: Season 1, Episode 2 “Who Is Tim Kono?” (B+)

Tensions are flaring up in the dynamic between these three characters, and watching that is almost as inviting and entertaining as the mystery as its center (if not more). We learned plenty about all three of them, like that Charles doesn’t bother to learn anyone’s name and sends autographed photos of himself in lieu of tips, that Oliver only eats dips and doesn’t lock his door, and that Mabel’s relationship with Tim was considerable and full of conflict. Though not much of the episode was framed in the style of a podcast, I enjoyed that they were recording episode two with a purpose during episode two of this show, and that Oliver somehow took “no, please don’t” as a sign of consenting to recording. Tim was so widely disliked in the building that everyone really is a suspect, though I feel like the therapist who kept yelling out his floor number and that he takes Venmo would be way too obvious a choice since he’s clearly benefiting the most from it. Charles incessantly quoting from his show and then letting everyone know that’s what he’s doing is indeed irritating, though for him the greatest and most deplorable nuisance is what Oliver is secretly doing: not paying his building fees. The flashbacks and Mabel’s recorded drawings penciled in some clues but mostly underscored the fact that she believes she might be the next target, which seems unlikely once because she’s one of the three stars of this show, not that she couldn’t be an intended victim who manages to elude the killer.