Only Murders In The Building Boss Explains Why Episode 5 Death Was A 'No-Brainer'
Warning: The following contains spoilers for Season 5, Episode 5 of Hulu's Only Murders in the Building.
Hello, police? We'd like to report another murder in the building.
Midway through Tuesday's Only Murders, the Arconia staff stages a revolt. Fearing they're about to be replaced by machines, they commandeer Lester's replacement, L.E.S.T.R. (the Logic-Engineered Secure Tenant Robot), and hurl him off the roof.
As TVLine was first to reveal, L.E.S.T.R. was voiced by none other than Paul Rudd — so the fall of Howard's "short king" was all but inevitable.
"What do we do with that robot midseason? We dump him off the roof — and we kill him again," series co-creator John Hoffman says with a laugh. "So it felt like it was sitting there for us because of what we've done with Paul Rudd many times now. It kind of felt like a no-brainer."
Elsewhere in Episode 5: Gut Milk peddler Ursula casually mentions that building staff can't rely on tips anymore. Why? "All the tenants are moving out." Soon after, Mabel learns that Oliver has received a lucrative offer for his two-bedroom abode. Could this be the end of the "murder building" as we know it?
Five seasons in, it's only natural to wonder: How much longer can Only Murders go on? We asked Hoffman if Episode 5 is meant to call into question not only the future of the Arconia, but the show itself.
"I have a strong belief that connection will win over disconnection," he said. "I think everyone has to ask these questions these days: Where are we going? What is happening to that essential, human connection?
"In a season where a doorman is sitting at the center of it all — the central connection in your building — it felt very much like a microcosm for the bigger world and the bigger city," Hoffman continued. "That's really where we started talking about the season — coming from that character and then looking at themes that seem to be resonant."
As for the life of the show, he said, "hopefully, it has a full life yet ahead of it. I know the premise has made people pause and say, 'How much can they squeeze out of that sucker?' And I find myself [giving the same answer] — until I can't find a way to tell a story that feels relevant and impressive for the characters. I would hope it can continue."
Do you think the Arconia's days are numbered — or will Only Murders find a way to keep the "murder building" alive? Share your theories below.