Only Murders in the Building – Season 3 Episode 7 “CoBro” Recap & Review

CoBro

Episode 7  begins with a new revelation about Ben’s murder. Mabel’s theory about the killer and the hanky is proven wrong. This episode’s prologue is orchestrated by Uma, Bunny’s acerbic best friend. It turns out that Uma is a kleptomaniac. She is more interested in things than people because “they last longer.” Uma took the hanky and she clearly isn’t vested enough to be the killer. She comes face to face with Charles at the diner where she used to sit opposite Bunny for lunch.

A seat is still reserved at the bench for her dear friend but she begrudgingly ends up inviting Charles over as well. Although the conversation isn’t as revelatory or noteworthy, Charles does realize that his friendship with Mabel and Oliver will be hard to release. The former is planning to change apartments and gets help from Theo Dumas (making a guest appearance this season) to pack up. Among other things, they discuss probable murderers.

Dickie, Ben’s brother, was brought under suspicion at the end of episode 5. But it wasn’t followed up in the next episode. Here, we get an opportunity to explore his possible motives through a silent auction that he is holding at Ben’s apartment. They decide to visit the auction and Mabel gets directly to the point with Dickie about the murder. He is naturally offended and does not talk to her any longer.

Oliver sits down with “the producers” to find a replacement for Charles. After seeing multiple actors audition, Donna suggests Oliver apologize to Charles and get him back. Even if he isn’t an extraordinary actor, he will get the job done.

The reopening of the play is nearing but Oliver does not want to budge. That’s when Cliff decides to use the ace up his sleeve. He calls “someone special” to audition and take the role. And that someone turns out to be none other than Broadway legend Matthew Broderick. He is extremely quick in picking up the patter song. The audition blows everyone’s mind, especially Oliver who is certain he has found the replacement. 

Charles, who is taking the elevator to his apartment, meets the rejected actors on Oliver’s floor and gets a peek into Broderick’s flawless singing. He is heartbroken and Oliver has a moment of weakness seeing his friend’s state. For now, the two friends do not reconcile and Broderick has officially replaced Charles.

Mabel apologizes to Dickie for insulting him with the accusations and he accepts it. Dickie opens up to her about how he has lived in Ben’s shadow for all his life. Ben was always the “special one” in the family, who got everyone’s attention. Dickie was always sidetracked by his more illustrious brother and that is perhaps why he became the manager and not the actor. 

She brings back the conversation to the murder, which prompts Dickie to say that the case is closed. The police have caught Gregg and put him behind bars. He was a crazy stalker who was seen leaving the building right at 12:06 when Ben died. That is the end of the issue and Dickie suggests Mabel accept the reality. When Charles goes to Uma’s apartment to retrieve the hanky, she reveals that she has already sold it for a handsome seven grand to someone from the auction.

This was one of the sure-shot ways Charles could have won back Oliver’s favour and also apologized to him in a way. Back at Oliver’s, we see the clock turning. Although Broderick is a genius and pretty good at the job, he is starting to drive Oliver crazy. Broderick goes full-on method in his approach, infusing new ideas about his character from the play, The Constable.

Oliver calls Mel Brooks, who directed Broderick in The Producers on Broadway, and learns that Broderick is in a habit of going crazy when given the opportunity to explore his ideas. Charles keeps lingering around Oliver’s apartment, desperate to get his friend back. 

Oliver uses this as an opportunity to fire Broderick and hires Charles back in the play. They celebrate with wine and Oliver shows Loretta’s diary about Ben to Charles. Elsewhere, Mabel, Theo, and Tobert get together in her apartment to record an episode of the podcast. Mabel goes over the photos from the crime scene again and realizes a fine detail. Ben always set his watch 20 minutes early so as not to be late at work. So, his time of death was not 12:06 but 12:26. And Gregg was seen leaving at 12:06. How could he be the killer then? Mabel has a moment of hesitance as she starts recording, still missing her older friends. But she goes ahead with it.

Charles and Oliver decide to offer the diary to Mabel as a way to apologize to her. But it turns out that she has already vacated the apartment. They hear the podcast, where Mabel presents her case about Gregg. This prompts Detective Biswas to reopen the murder of Ben Glenroy. It is also revealed that it was Dickie who bought the handkerchief from Uma because he still misses his brother. 

The Episode Review

Episode 7 gets the investigation back on track with clever ruses and a hilarious guest appearance from one of the theatre’s beloved stars. Dickie was presented as a strong suspect but it might as well be a red herring given how the episode ended. You really never know what surprise OMITB can spring from absolutely nothing.

We have gone through almost all the cast members and personnel involved with the play. Dickie and Loretta are the prime suspects at this stage and the killer might be one of them.

The best bits from this episode come in the form of Broderick playing an extremely maniacal version of himself. Martin Short and he made a good pairing on the screen. We are heading to the business end of this season. Expect the pace to pick up and the plot to get thicker as we go along.