Only Murders in the Building (TV Series) The Tell (2022) User Reviews

An Oliver Twist

[aherdofbeautifulwildponies · 7/10 · 23 May 2023]

The second series of tt12851524 continues to feel uneven in comparison to its antecedent. Episode 5, 'The Tell', is burdened by the many suggestions and plot developments it contains - some are bound to be red herrings, but the overall effect is distracting rather than engrossing.

If the previous instalment focussed on Charles (Steve Martin), this one pays most attention to Oliver (Martin Short). His son Will (Ryan Broussard) provides narration that frames the events of the episode: at the beginning, we learn of a family secret; in the end, we learn what it is. The revelation is bound to cause ripples - and it may be the most sobering experience lived by a character yet. Betrayal often is.

The most enjoyable part is the-party-within-the-party: Mabel (Selena Gomez) and her girlfriend Alice (Cara Delevingne) are entertaining an artistic crowd at the Arconia - at the crime scene, but we do not focus on that. As Oliver introduces the guests to expired drugs and a game of Son of Sam (a version of Werewolf), the scene is transported to the 1970s. The outfits are outrageous and glorious.

Any appearance by Jan (Amy Ryan) is a joy. She and Charles have much better chemistry than Mabel and Alice - but then again, so do Oliver and Greek yoghurt.

Cara can't act

[aymenrashad-81324 · 7/10 · 19 July 2022]

The episode was ok, a little boring yet watchable, but my god is cara a terrible actress. Worst choice ever for that role. Hopefully the next few episodes will be more exciting than this one.

Well that was obvious.

[namstonk · 7/10 · 19 July 2022]

Cara Delevingne cannot act that's about the only fact you get from this filler episode. Also the fact that nobody noticed a ruddy great big vent on the floor baffles me.

Whiny watchers

[pgrandjean · 9/10 · 20 July 2022]

Put me on the side of those who thought this was great. Gripe all you want about Selena, but I've known a lot of people like her character, and she's true to form-someone who seems very cool but is tamping down a lot of emotion and hurt. Self-protective-which makes Alice a great match for Mabel, as she's also "cool," at least on the surface.

It'll be interesting to see which of the plot twists and turns will be MacGuffins and which will tie in to the core crime. Right now, I suspect even Hitchcock's head would be spinning. It's a real high wire act-hope the resolution doesn't crash and burn.

Set the Table

[Hitchcoc · 10/10 · 21 July 2022]

Talk about lame criticisms. Did anyone really try to analyze this episode. Oh, Cara can't act! Selena can't act! Martin Short is so meh. Can someone try to write something intelligent. Like great mysteries, we have a fascinating group of characters, Jan now included. We have the Son of Sam game. We have the question of lineage. Oh, but Cara can't act. Selena is the worst actress ever. What amazingly intelligent insights!

Peel the onion!

[Carpe_diem_ · 10/10 · 19 July 2022]

Oliver Putnam brilliantly brought out his inner Sherlock with the game: Son of Sam. I liked the twist in Alice's story. She is a liar afterall and not a hopeless romantic that she seemed to be. Jan's re-entry was interesting. Also I missed her psychotic flirtations with Charles (man he is lonely :p). Finally the possibility that Will may not be Oliver's son! I can only wonder if this will impact the mystery of this season or is it just a sub-plot.

Getting better

[jdgxiv-137-669358 · 8/10 · 25 July 2022]

So far the show hasn't been as good as season 1, but now I'm starting to get back into it.

I really enjoy seeing Martin Short being actually funny and clever again. Good episode for him. The party setup and the Son of Sam game was a great idea.

Kind of agree with the sentiment against Cara. She's off-putting here and doesn't have real chemistry onscreen with anyone especially Selena Gomez. Perhaps she does end up being someone nefarious. That would make more sense of this performance.

Also good seeing the superfans of the podcast popping in again. Would like to see more Jan too, such an odd and funny character, especially if she ends up helping them solve it.

On the whole I'm happy with it and looking forward to see what comes next.

Too much suspension of disbelief

[Eagle-Rider · 6/10 · 18 December 2022]

I like the atmosphere of the show. The chemistry mostly works and it just is very charming. But when it gets too stupid I can't really suspend my disbelief any more. Where is the police? A person was murdered in the building, it wasn't ruled a suicide like last time, it was a murder. So nobody checks in the murder victim's apartment for mail, a missing painting, a secret elevator, a gigantic vent in the floor with evidence in it, secret passageways in the whole building??? I know it is an old fashioned detective show. But maybe they should have somehow made the catastrophic police work more plausible. Or maybe I should just switch my brain off and enjoy it for what it is. I still feel like the first season was more clever in grounding in reality, at least partly.

This might be the best episode of this series.

[Laqshayaroraofficial · 9/10 · 19 July 2022]

Loved the episode, loved the Son of Sam game, loved the new character Alice and the comeback of Jan. This season is far better than season 1. Must watch episode.

The Tell

[bobcobb301 · 7/10 · 9 August 2022]

Cara continues to ruin the show, but that is not the biggest issue here. The story arc overall is just weak. I don't get the pressing danger around Bunny's murder.

The Son of Sam game is mildly clever though.

Not a bad episode...

[steelman-27511 · 8/10 · 19 July 2022]

I'm seeing lots of "cara can't act". This is true. BUT Selena Gomez might be the worst actor I've ever seen. It's like somebody brought a mannequin to life.

Qu'est-ce que c'est?

[MozartGod · 6/10 · 20 July 2022]

I have a problem with Martin Short sometimes he's so cringe.. also Cara's scenes... just meh.. Steve and Selena are good. Amy Ryan I like her scenes so much..

Oh boy

[ucc-01735 · 5/10 · 20 July 2022]

Hopefully there is less Cara. Her acting is atrocious, and there isn't any chemistry between her & Selena. They are making it to obvious that it's Cara, so it could be a swerve.

How does no one see a 4-5ft long, 3ft wide vent?

Ironically the chemistry between Steve & last seasons killer is better that Cara's & Selena's.

Very few annoyances but an otherwise great episode

[dineshvedanth · 9/10 · 25 July 2022]

The Son of Sam game is very entertaining and I like how they don't really take Alice off of the suspects board just yet. Charles seems to be interacting with Jan to learn how to catch the killer and protect himself but it might also be because she is right. He is lonely and still loves her. The Oliver and his son reveal at the end may feel unnecessary, but it is probably necessary for Oliver and Teddy to butt heads soon and get closure.

While it was stupid that Mabel didn't know about the vent in her room that she's been in for so many years, it was an otherwise entertaining episode.

I don't get why people are complaining about Cara's acting. She is playing her part pretty well. Selena should stop mumbling while delivering some of her lines. That isn't to say she isn't nailing her part.

So good!

[brendanh-84911 · 10/10 · 19 July 2022]

Might be the best episode yet. So fun and was really set the scene for the other episodes. This was definitely Selena's best performance this season she seemed very loose, that being in a good way. Overall this episode was great.

My favorite

[Sdvick72 · 9/10 · 21 July 2022]

So far, this was my favorite episode. I thought it was entertaining. Unlike a lot of people, I didn't notice Cara's acting skills. Anyway, to each their own.

Brilliant!

[librarian-43452 · 10/10 · 20 July 2022]

I was not pleased with the first episode of season two. But season 2 has continued to improve in quality since then, with this episode and the one before it being some of the best of the series. Just brilliant. I have no idea why so many folks are whingeing on about people who cannot act. Everyone in this episode does an impeccable job. Thank you Hulu for providing us with this show.

The Tell

[Prismark10 · 6/10 · 5 December 2022]

Children seem to be the theme for this second season. Teddy Dimas is in danger of his son cutting him off.

Charles reconnected with his daughter in the previous episode.

This one has Oliver spending more time with his son Will Oliver also shows his powers of deduction, something he used to great effect back in the 1970s.

Maybe it is a skill, trick or Oliver's memory cheats.

While looking for more clues regarding Bunny's murder. Charles has a weird connective moment with Jan. Maybe both of them are playing a strange twisted game.

There is no doubt that the second season wants to go behind the main characters. It does leave Oliver being hit with a sucker punch.

It is something I would like to know more about how Oliver reacts.

Who tells???????.......

[moviesfilmsreviewsinc · 10/10 · 1 September 2022]

Will learns a truth about himself that has stayed hidden from Oliver, despite his peculiar ability to spot a "tell", for years. Through flashbacks of the 1970s, episode 5 of Only Murders in the Building Season 2, we see a young Oliver's uncanny success at a game he invented. He called it the "Son of Sam or the innocent blonde". He is extremely good at it. So good, that in a flashback from Will's memory of him playing the game, Oliver guessed Teddy Dimas was the killer. Story progression and representation aside, ouch! That was a brutal ending and character development for Oliver. Not knowing that your child is your own after pretty much living all your life thinking otherwise? This has got to hurt worse than death. I wonder how Oliver will take it. He has been the comic light of the show until now. His showmanship and tendency to be fearless in situations where the other two might be caught wrong-footed gives the trio a compelling dynamic. If he goes into a rut, it will be hard for us to enjoy the "story progression" as they find more clues. At the beginning of the episode, it was Oliver who was scared Teddy might kill him. But after this, I think the tables will have turned. There were some important clues that this episode uncovered. The matchbox and mysterious man in the footage will definitely help them navigate the way ahead. When the time comes, they'll know how to put two and two together. Jan and Charles are pseudo-dating again. I still do not how I feel about it but it is at least something you can watch with some nervousness. To be fair to them, Mable's characterization through her sexuality was something the writers did not force upon us. They have taken their own time and allowed it to happen in an organic escalation. Cara Develigne was a bit unconvincing as Alice here. She did not do the best of jobs in bringing out Alice's helplessness for lying. It felt more of victimization than a justification and hence, didn't evoke an empathetic response from us. That apart, season two continues to progress, ever closer to making a crucial breakthrough!

The son of Sam

[AvionPrince16 · 7/10 · 10 September 2022]

Jane and Charles try to know who kill Bunny. Oliver get more and more close to his son. And Mabel with Alice will participate to a party together. And Oliver play again a new game like in the past. And Alicia get suprisely get into the supsicions of Oliver and Charles. And we heard also Alycia lied to some of her past moments. And Ivan get into the suspicions too with the big amount of money she gave it to him.

The episode is pretty slow and we have some new elements about Alycia and Oliver's past. Alycia get more focus in this episode than the usual episode. And give a new perspective and why she approach Mabel. Still have some revelations but clearly more into relationship and the case sometimes. And Mabel have a new realtionship with Alycia, more intimate. And the revelations are still there. Nice episode.

Hey Casting & EP's: Know Your Audience!

[ajnorkus · 5/10 · 20 July 2022]

Just because Cara is besties with Selena should NOT be the only criteria for casting someone! The Show Runner needs to understand who the audience of this show is before they cast Season 3!

Ditch Clara

[jamiekressinger · 5/10 · 21 July 2022]

Honestly she is the worse actress actor in the world and there's no reason she should be there. O except cause she's mates with Gomez. Just stick to the winning format of season 1 and keep the bad acting out.

One of the worst episodes in the series

[harishdechiraju · 4/10 · 19 July 2022]

Cara can't act; it's so stupid you find a huge vent in the floor after so many years. The hidden passage in Arconia being there was a bit too much to believe, this is even worse. Today's episode had nothing plotwise, except for the fact it's very evident they are just creating way more useless branches in the story to extend it to a season 3. Really not impressed with today's episode and the direction this season is taking.