Is Ron Howard connected to Sazz's murder in Only Murders in The Building? Major Season 4 character story, explored

Ron Howard in Only Murders in the Building / (Image via Hulu)
Ron Howard in Only Murders in the Building / (Image via Hulu)

Only Murders in the Building Season 4 episode 9, titled Escape From Planet Klongo, saw a guest appearance from Oscar winning director Ron Howard.

Though the show has a history of including celebrities playing themselves in various episodes, seeing Ron Howard involved directly in the storyline has given viewers an idea about who Sazz’s killer is and if the director is involved in her murder.

Previously, Oliver Putnam (Martin Short), Charles Haden-Savage (Steve Martin), Mabel Mora (Selena Gomez) believed that the Westies had killed Sazz; however, that proved to be wrong. Then they thought that the directors of their new movie, were the killers; but that also proved to be wrong.

However, with the appearance with Ron Howard in Only Murders in the Building Season 4 episode 9, the trio finally solves the murder of Sazz and the reason behind her getting killed.

The following article contains major spoilers.


Is Ron Howard connected to Sazz’s murder in Only Murders in the Building?

Only Murders in the Building Season 4 episode 9 reveals Sazz's killer / (Image via Hulu)
Only Murders in the Building Season 4 episode 9 reveals Sazz's killer / (Image via Hulu)

In episode 9, the harrowing truth behind Sazz’s murder finally comes out and it also becomes clear that unlike their initial suspicion, the murderer targeted just Sazz and not Charles, whose body double she was back in the days of Brazzos.

It is revealed that Sazz had been mentoring a young man, helping him learn the ropes of being a body double. She believed that this young guy had potential and he was one of her first students of many.

She also got him a job in a Ron Howard movie. However, the film never came to fruition and things went horribly wrong. This young student of Sazz was fired and Glen (Paul Rudd) was hired as his replacement.

Charles and Oliver learn these details from Glen’s stunt double friends in the hospital and realize who the killer is. They try to immediately inform Mable about the killer’s identity as she happens to be with this possible killer at that time.


What happened at the Ron Howard Movie set that led to Sazz’s Murder?

Marshall is Sazz's killer in Only Murders in the Building / (Image via Hulu)
Marshall is Sazz's killer in Only Murders in the Building / (Image via Hulu)

While Only Murders in the Building has not officially confirmed Marshall P. Pope (Jin Ha), Sazz’s protege, to be her killer, it is more or less certain that he indeed killed his mentor.

Through a series of flashbacks, more is learnt about Marshall’s relationship with Sazz. Sazz had once accidentally hit Marshall while backing out of a parking spot and was impressed with him regarding how he tumbled to take the hit.

Sazz saw potential in the guy and offered to mentor him as a stunt double. As she gets him a role in a Ron Howard film, Sazz prepares him for a scene on the set where he will catch fire.

She makes him understand how to apply the solution to prevent burning and also advises him to not get up before 30 seconds after the crew has put out the fire so that the suit does not re-spark.

However, Marshall does not listen to her and just after the fire has been put out, he approaches Howard with hopes of showing him his script. Unfortunately, his suit fires up and singes the director’s eyebrows off.

This incident pretty much ensures that Marshall will not be able to work in this field again and his dreams of becoming a screenwriter is also burnt. He probably blamed Sazz for the whole mess, and eventually decided to take his revenge.

The whole thing falls into place when Mabel discovers that Marshall had donned a different look, stole Sazz’s script for Only Murders in the Building and tried to pass it as his own.

With this discovery, the trio are relieved, because it’s clear that Sazz was the only target of the murderer and not Charles. They then decide on making the movie and dedicating it to Sazz, since it will be a way of telling Sazz’s story to the world.

Only Murders in the Building can be streamed on Hulu.


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Edited by Mudeet Arora