Drumrolls, please, as Only Murders in the Building is back with a bang on Hulu! Season 5, Episode 1, Nail in the Coffin really mirrors the words in the title. From a ‘Shrimp Finger’ to driving to Staten Island, and discovering a ‘Velvet Room’ underneath the ‘accidental’ building, this season is up for some juicy mystery that will definitely sweep the audience off their feet. So, here’s an ending explained that will answer the question.
Episode 1 begins with a recap with Sofia Caccimelio (Téa Leoni) asking Mabel Mora (Selena Gomez), Oliver Putnam (Martin Short), and Charles-Haden Savage (Steve Martin) to find her missing husband, Nicky Caccimelio. Instead, the trio discovers Lester’s dead body in the fountain. In service of his Arconia tenants for the past 32 years, the doorman has been good to all. Now the trio is on a quest to find the culprit behind their beloved doorman’s death. But what do they discover on their way? Let’s find out.
Only Murders in the Building Season 5, Episode 1: What Does Charles Find at Sofia’s Place?
As Episode 1 progresses, we see Charles, Mabel, and Oliver dig into the mystery of who killed Lester. While discussing, Oliver, who’s invested in eating shrimps, stumbles upon a severed finger that they name the ‘Shrimp Finger.’
It shocks the trio, who then search for clues regarding the same. They decide to check Lester’s body at his funeral and hatch a plan to do so. Charles advocates for investigating the body, while Mabel and Oliver try to distract the people present.
After an unsuccessful attempt, Oliver comes with an iPad that has a picture of Lester and Nicky (Bobby Cannavale) talking to each other. It seems that Nicky is handing Lester an envelope. Charles suggests that they talk to Sofia, while Mabel reaches out to Howard Morris (Michael Cyril Creighton) to see the footage of the building.
Following Charles’ advice, the trio sets out for Staten Island to meet Sofia. Greeted with a very mafia-type of welcome, Sofia and Nicky’s five sons, who seem to be dangerous, disturb the trio until their mother comes in.
In the talks, Sofia tells the trio that the family owns a clean-up in Arconia, which is a cry-cleaning laundry. This explains why Lester might know Nicky, although nothing is clear until then.
While heading out, Sofia and Savage-Swagger (Charles) have a chit-chat about the same, while Mabel and Oliver gawk at them! Sofia tells him about her vulnerabilities, while also handing him a pack of cards that she says Nicky used to always have with him. What does it contain? Any secret? Let’s dig a bit deeper.
What Contained the Map and Where Does It Lead Them?
As the story progresses, the plot gets even darker and interesting. The deck of cards given to Charles by Sofia isn’t just a game-playing tool, but an important part of Arconia’s best-kept secret.
Charles, Mabel, and Oliver return to their houses, each wanting to solve the mystery. The trio immediately takes up tasks, including Mabel going through the surveillance cameras, only to not find the main footage from the lobby.
Charles stumbles upon the fact that the cards aren’t normal, but contain a map with numbers on it. Oliver, on the other hand, reminisces about Lester, taking his hat to the nearby laundry.
Mabel and Charles meet in the area, with each discovering a closet that opens to a ‘Velvet Room!’ Shocked, the two find a clue about the envelope that they saw in the picture before, where Nicky is handing one to Lester.
In the same sequence, Oliver is at the laundry, which is open (at nighttime). He sees Lester’s uniform hanging there, but in a fraction of a second, discovers a body on himself! Guess who it might be? Of course, the villain! Nicky Caccimelio.
Nicky is dead! Charles and Mabel listen to Oliver’s voice. And just as Charles alerts him about not touching the body, Oliver sees himself doomed. Petrified of an investigation that might discover his fingerprints on the lifeless body, Oliver’s next step is just hilarious, which you will discover in the next episode!
| Show Name | No of Seasons | Creators | Network | IMDb Rating | Rotten Tomatoes Score |
| Only Murders in the Building | 5 | Steve Martin & John Hoffman | Hulu | 8.1/10 | 100% (Season 1) 98% (Season 2) 97% (Season 3) 93% (Season 4) 100% (Season 5, ongoing) |
This new ‘mob’ mystery is taking Only Murders in the Building to a new height! What do you think Charles, Mabel, and Oliver will uncover next? Who else might be hiding dangerous secrets in the Arconia? Drop in your thoughts below!
You can stream Only Murders in the Building Season 5 only on Hulu. A new episode will be released every week until October 30th (USA).
