Warning: The article contains spoilers for Only Murders in the Building season 2 finale. Only Murders in the Building season 2 ended in typical shocking fashion with a new murder to solve and an A-list actor cameo who had fans talking. As the trio worked expeditiously to solve Bunny's murder and clear Mabel's name, season 2 exceeded expectations with its intricate clues pinpointing the murderer while introducing new faces like Lucy and Alice to add a personal touch to the protagonist's arc outside solving crime.
Despite solving another murder case at the Arconia, Mabel, Charles, and Oliver still have work to do as the season 2 finale ended on another cliffhanger, involving a murder at Oliver's Broadway play. Fans will likely be talking and theorizing up until the release of season 3, which has already been confirmed.
What Happens To Poppy?
Poppy was one of the side characters throughout the season as Cinda’s dutiful and quiet assistant who put up with her boss’ awful treatment of her. But as revealed in the penultimate episode, she wasn’t who she was pretending to be. Her real identity was Becky, the subject of the first missing person's case that put Cinda on the map as a top true crime podcaster.
With Poppy’s arrest after admitting to the crime of killing Bunny, fans wonder if she might return just as Jan, the murderer from season 1, via short cameos. Likely to be in jail for a long time, Poppy/Becky might be able to provide some assistance as the trio tries to solve yet another case.
Is Howard Still With Jonathan?
Fans were happy to see the awkward and eccentric loner and cat lover Howard – who remained one of the more suspicious suspects in Only Murders in the Building - finally meet someone. He and Jonathan had a lot in common, and Howard mustered enough courage to invite him over for wine. Despite discovering that Jonathan had a severe allergy to cats, they managed to put that small detail to the side. Howard even offered to send his cat to live with a co-worker for a while, a major sign that the character was serious about giving this relationship a shot.
It would be tough for the couple to last long-term unless Howard gets rid of his cat, which puts him in a tough spot. Fans are curious if the pair are still an item and what happened to the beloved feline friend with the one-year fast-forward.
What Happened Over The Last Year?
There were many details fans could glean from what had happened over the last 12 months, based on what was shown in the final moments of the season finale. Clearly, both Oliver and Charles were able to revive their careers, thanks to the notoriety of solving a second murder. Oliver was working as the play director while Charles was starring in it and had taken on a bigger role in the reboot of his once top police procedural show, Brazzos.
Mabel was clearly content for the first time, based on her big smiles at the play’s premiere, while Joy's appearance in the audience suggested she and Charles had been dating for the last year. With Lucy present as well, her relationship with Charles was flourishing. But there are still holes in terms of what happened with other stories and if the trio remained as close as they were before or just met in passing at the Arconia and for special occasions like that one.
What Did Ben Do?
One of the most chilling lines in the final moments was when Charles, wearing a long trench coat and hat, and Ben, also in character for the play wearing a similar outfit, had a quick chat on stage. Charles looked Ben straight in the eye and said “I know what you did.” There was a glimmer of recognition and fear in Ben’s eyes as though he knew what Charles was talking about. It seems that mysterious offense might have something to do with Ben’s death, and given this final disagreement, fingers could be pointed at Charles as a suspect.
Because of the ambiguity, many fans wonder what offense Ben committed that had angered Charles. Though Charles didn't reveal the details of this misdeed, it is also baffling if Charles intended to use this secret as leverage, which may sound out of character for him.
Are Will And Teddy Going To Have A Heart-To-Heart?
With the shocking revelation that Teddy was having an affair with Oliver’s wife and that he was actually Will’s biological father, one of the best plot twists in Only Murder in the Building seasons 2, fans are wondering whether the two will form any type of bond going forward.
While Will didn’t see Oliver as any less of a father to him once he discovered the truth, the knowledge that his biological father was a few floors away from the father he grew up with in the Arconia must be eating at him. Fans wonder if Will might confront Teddy about the horrible betrayal of his then close friend Oliver. They also wonder if his mother might make an appearance in season 3 and what Will would have to say to her, especially since she knew the possibility was there all along.
Why Were Charles And Ben Fighting?
While Charles revealed to Ben that he knew what the young actor did, it seemed that Charles being aware of this was news to Ben. Thus, the apparent long-time rift between the two was going on much longer and relates to something completely different. They were fighting about something else.
Fans are curious about what went on between the two that led to a soured relationship. With Oliver referencing opening night, they would have spent the last year rehearsing the play, assuming Ben had been cast, at the same time. Because of the time jump to the following year, things could have gone wrong during rehearsals, or Ben and Charles likely had a long history with each other. But, it is unclear what set the chain reaction for this disdain towards each other and whether this would be relevant to Ben's apparent death.
Who Is The “Her” Charles Was Referring To?
During his intense conversation with Ben, Charles told him to “stay away from her.” But there was no clarification as to who the “her” he was referring to might have been. Some fans have guessed Lucy – one of the best new characters in season 2 – and that perhaps he is dating a younger woman, much to Charles’ disapproval.
Others believe the “her” could be Mabel, who Charles feels just as protective over. It’s possible Ben could have shown interest in Mabel, or they could even be dating, or had dated at some point over the past year. Whoever the woman being referenced is, however, it’s clear she will play a pivotal role in the story of his death.
Who Killed Ben?
The new character Ben – played by Paul Rudd –was introduced in the final minutes of the finale. Fans were excited and shocked to see him as a young actor in a Broadway play opposite Charles. But there was clear tension between him and Charles.
With him seemingly being poisoned, evidenced by his slight cough followed by blood coming from the mouth until he perished, fans are curious about the story behind this new character and if he will return in flashback scenes for season 3. But most of all, fans want to know who killed him, which will be a big mystery in the new season.
Who Will Be The Guest Stars?
Only Murders in the Building has had a wonderful list of guest stars throughout its two seasons. This includes characters that appeared in both seasons played by actors like Tina Fey, Jane Lynch, Nathan Lane, and Amy Ryan. One season guest stars included Sting in season 1 and Amy Schumer, Paul Rudd, Shirley MacLaine, and Andrea Martin in season 2, all of whom rank among the most likable season 2 characters on Only Murders in the Building.
Fans are curious about which characters might return and if there will be any new A-list cameos and guest starring appearances for season 3. With Rudd’s character at the center of a new mystery, fans suspect there might be even more big names attached to a season 3.
Who Is The New Murderer?
The big question in every season of Only Murders in the Building is who the secret murderer is. Like any good murder mystery, the answer isn’t revealed until the end, but clues are dropped throughout, including clever misdirects. For season 3, the murder victim is Ben, and fans wonder if the murderer might be a character who has already appeared on the show or someone new.
It could be someone from the theater world or someone who has something to do with the mysterious act Ben is guilty of committing that Charles knows about. Whoever it is, fans are excited for a new season and plenty more whodunit investigative action from the hilariously mismatched trio.