What Building Is Only Murders In The Building
Okay, let's talk about Only Murders in the Building.
Specifically, let's talk about the building. The Arconia.
But Is It Really About the Arconia?
Here's my hot take. Maybe a controversial one.
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Is the show really about a building?
I'm not so sure.
Hear Me Out
Yes, the Arconia is gorgeous.
Those pre-war details? Swoon! That lobby? Iconic!
The elevators? A character unto themselves (a grumpy one, at that).
But think about it. What actually drives the story forward?
It's not the bricks and mortar, is it?
It's the people. The quirky, nosy, sometimes murderous people.
The show could be set in a sprawling apartment complex in Florida.
Or a gated community in California. Or even a quirky condo in Albuquerque.
As long as you have interesting residents, and maybe a few secrets.
The Real Star: Loneliness (and Podcasts)
Let’s be honest. This might be an unpopular opinion.
I think Only Murders is actually about loneliness.
Think about Charles, Oliver, and Mabel.
They're all searching for connection.
They find it in the unlikeliest of places: a true crime podcast.
And in each other.
The Arconia just happens to be the backdrop.
The ornate stage on which their friendships (and investigations) play out.
It's a beautiful stage, granted.
But still a stage.
The Building as a Metaphor
Of course, you could argue that the Arconia is a character.
That it represents something deeper.
Maybe it's a symbol of old New York.
A dying breed of elegance and eccentric charm.
Or maybe it's just a really cool place to live (if you can afford it and survive the murders).
I concede that it is a character, an important one at that.
Unpopular Opinion: It's About the People
So, what is Only Murders in the Building really about?
My vote goes to the characters.
The messy, complicated, hilarious humans.
The ones trying to find their place in the world.
The building is just a convenient excuse.
A really, really photogenic excuse.
Maybe this sounds obvious but sometimes these things are a bit deeper.
And maybe, just maybe, a little bit about podcasts!
What do you think?
Am I totally off base?
Let me know in the comments!
I'm ready for the backlash.
But I stand by my opinion.
It's the people, people!
