Only Murders in the Building fans already know that every season finale gives us a taste of the trio's next big case, but none has been as shocking as season 5's. While Cinda Canning was never the most likable character on the show, at least she managed one redeeming act before her death: making sure Mabel, Charles, and Oliver would be the ones investigating what happened to her.
But as satisfying as that twist was, it also raises a bigger question: could Only Murders in the Building season 6 be the last? A few clues you might have missed in the season 5 finale seem to suggest the show may be approaching its final chapter.
A full circle moment in the Only Murders in the Building season 5 finale
Only Murders in the Building has become one of the best-loved TV crime dramas, especially for the quirky relationship between Mabel, Charles, and Oliver. Fans keep wanting more, but to see where the show might be headed, it's worth remembering how the trio formed in the season 1 premiere.
Despite living in the same building, Charles-Haden Savage, Oliver Putnam, and Mabel Mora were perfect strangers, often irritating one another. What brought them together was a shared obsession with true crime podcasts, particularly Cinda Canning's All Is Not OK in Oklahoma, which inspired them to start their own.
Fast forward to the season 5 finale, and we see the trio sitting down to catch their breath after saving the Arconia, listening to Cinda's latest podcast, The Girl with the Curls. Starting with a podcast and seemingly ending with one feels like coming full circle, doesn't it?
Cinda narrates the story of a British girl suspected of a royal murder, only for the twist to reveal that the "girl" is Cinda herself, who collapses and dies in front of the Arconia, with her hand on the gate. Cinda is once again the catalyst for the trio’s next adventure, this time as the victim.
Only Murders in the Building season 6 changes the scene
Charles, Oliver, and Mabel, once avid admirers of Cinda's, will now have to find out what she was involved with in London and unmask her killer. Changing location is both exciting and worrying. After the trio fought so hard to save the Arconia — practically a character in its own right — it feels anticlimactic to have to leave it behind and move the whole investigation elsewhere.
Perhaps the creators are preparing us for a gentle goodbye, trying to detach us from the building that's been at the centre of every murder, every relationship, and all the twists and turns. But will this detachment be temporary or permanent? Fans hope the show will have many more seasons, of course, but the evidence points us in a different direction.
Still, there’s room for optimism. The foggy London streets will be a welcome contrast to life in New York, and the trio will be a delight to watch adjusting to a new culture while trying to — what, investigate the royal family? If the show is nearing its end, it looks determined to go out on a high note.
The Beginning of the end?
Only Murders in the Building was officially renewed for a sixth season in October, so more news about the cast and production is yet to come from Hulu. So far, only Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez are confirmed to return for season 6. Would the location change mean saying goodbye to fan favorites like Howard (Michael Cyril Creighton) and Detective Williams (Da’Vine Joy Randolph)? Hopefully not, or at least not for the entire season.
On the other hand, there will definitely be new faces, and fans are already going wild with speculation. Everyone hopes to see a few notable British guest stars joining the chaos.
While the season 5 finale hints at a full circle farewell, nothing is ever certain in Only Murders in the Building. With London as the next setting, season 6 could mark an ending or a new beginning. Either way, the show promises to keep fans hooked until the very last twist.
Only Murders in the Building is available to stream on Hulu.
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