Only Murders in the Building
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Screen for YOUR familyParent's Guide to Only Murders in the Building
Only Murders in the Building is a comedic mystery series that follows an unlikely trio of true-crime podcast enthusiasts residing in the upscale Arconia apartment building in New York City. When a suspicious death occurs within their residence, the three neighbors—aging actor Charles, struggling Broadway director Oliver, and enigmatic young artist Mabel—band together to launch their own podcast, determined to uncover the truth behind the titular murders. Each season presents a new central mystery, blending elements of humor, suspense, and character-driven drama as they investigate, often finding themselves embroiled in dangerous situations and personal revelations. The series explores themes of loneliness, friendship across generations, and the human fascination with true crime. It is generally targeted at a mature audience who appreciate sophisticated comedy and engaging whodunit narratives.
Things to Consider
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
The series features significant LGBTQ+ representation, including openly lesbian and bisexual characters with depicted romantic relationships and discussions of sexual identity. This content is recurring across seasons and integrated into character storylines, moving beyond casual mentions.
Mabel Mora is depicted in a bisexual relationship with artist Alice Banks in Season 2, which includes a kissing scene. Charles-Haden Savage's stunt double, Sazz Pataki, is explicitly a lesbian and is shown to have had relationships with women, including Charles' ex-girlfriend Jan, and their ongoing romantic involvement is confirmed in later seasons.
Violence
Given its murder mystery genre, violence is a central and frequent theme. The show includes depictions of dead bodies, blood, and the aftermath of violent acts, though often with a comedic tone. Characters are exposed to threats, stabbings, poisonings, and kidnappings.
Romance and Sexual Content
The series includes implied sexual activity, suggestive dialogue, partial nudity, and references to sexual harassment. While explicit sexual acts are not graphically shown, the content is mature and frequently present, escalating beyond mild flirtation.
Profanity
Profanity is prevalent throughout the series, including frequent use of strong curse words and misuses of divine names. The language is a consistent element of the dialogue across various characters.
Scary & Intense Content
As a murder mystery, the show inherently contains scary and intense content, including discovery of dead bodies, suspenseful situations, and direct threats to characters. While often balanced with comedy, the core themes are dark and can be disturbing.
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Additional Context
Best For Ages
16+ (TV-MA). While Common Sense Media suggests 14+, the official TV-MA rating from Hulu/Disney+ indicates content suitable for mature audiences 17 and older. This recommendation is due to frequent strong language, discussions and depictions of violence related to murder, implied sexual content, and LGBTQ+ romantic relationships.
Good to Know
The show consistently blends dark subject matter (murder, death) with comedic elements, which may alter the perception of intensity for some viewers. Parental discretion is advised due to the mature nature of the themes, language, and sexual references.
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