Only Murders in the Building Season 4 Episode 9 recap: How did Sazz’s latest purchase help crack her case?

Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez in Only Murders in the Building (Image via Hulu)
Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez in Only Murders in the Building (Image via Hulu)

Things are surely getting all heated up in Only Murders in the Building! After they wrap up the Dudenoff mystery in Episode 8, our favorite amateur detectives, Mabel (Selena Gomez), Charles (Steve Martin), and Oliver (Martin Short), were left with a puzzling case that involved the murder of Sazz’s (Jane Lynch).

With just two more episodes left in Season 4 of Only Murders in the Building, there’s no time for fluff or filler. Episode 9, Escape From Planet Klongo, heads straight into the thick of the action. There are some flashbacks, some celebrity cameos and some clues and twists that finally leads to the truth behind Sazz’s murder.

As the trio go deeper into their investigation, they come across a surprising revelation that might just be the key to cracking the case. It’s a wild ride that finally gives us some long-awaited answers, including one massive twist.

Let’s break down how Sazz’s latest purchase helped crack her case.

Disclaimer: The article contains major spoilers for Only Murders in the Building Season 4. Reader discretion is advised.


Glen Stubbins isn’t the culprit

Glen Stubbins (Paul Rudd) is the stunt actor from Project Ronkonkoma. The previous episode of Only Murders in the Building Season 4 had us thinking that he might have been behind Sazz’s murder. However, Episode 9 doesn’t take long to clear up that theory.

Glen is still unconscious from a shooting at a photoshoot. He definitely can’t give any answers. The nurse informs the trio that she will let them know if or when he’s conscious, and denies them an entry.

Oliver has this idea that the smell of beer might wake Glen up. So, he brought a case of beer with him. The night Sazz died, she had brought a case of beer to Oliver’s apartment. He doesn’t drink beer, so he brought the same case to the hospital. Mabel then grabs a beer from the case.

The trio then gets a break when they run into the bartender from Concussions. He tells them that Glen wasn’t the original stuntman on Project Ronkonkoma. Instead, he had replaced Sazz’s protégé. This gives Mabel, Charles, and Oliver a new lead and motive.

Now, the only person left who might know the truth is the movie’s director, who is none other than Ron Howard.

Mabel then joins Bev Melon (Molly Shannon) to get answers. Shannon helps her secure the address of Ron Howard’s latest movie set. However, there’s a condition. Mabel needs to give her some script advice.

The trio proceed to the address. But, they have to figure out how to get in. When they hear a call for background actors, they take the opportunity and make it inside.

Oliver, while filling out the forms, mentions that he should change his emergency contact to Loretta (Meryl Streep), now that they will get married. This bothers Charles and they both get into a fight on the set which gets them kicked out, obviously.

Back in the dressing room, Charles tells Oliver that he is his emergency contact and that he also knows that he was Oliver’s emergency contact, too. Even though Charles is happy for Oliver and Loretta, he shares that he always feels like the third-wheel with them and that it makes him feel awkward.


A dark turn for Glen in Only Murders in the Building Season 4 Episode 9

In Only Murders in the Building Season 4 episode 9, Mabel receives a call that Glen has finally woken up. She rushes to the hospital. But, even before she reaches, Glen dies. He is suffocated with a pillow by some unknown person.

Mabel reaches and is informed by the nurse that Glen is no more. This shocks Mabel. So, she asks the nurse who else she contacts to inform about Glen.

What Mabel learns, leaves her even more shocked. Sazz was listed as Glen’s emergency contact. This leaves Mabel to realize the chilling truth. Glen was murdered and it’s the same person who got to Sazz.


An unexpected connection with Ron Howard in Only Murders in the Building Season 4 Episode 9

After their heart-to-heart conversation, Oliver and Charles decide to grab lunch at a nearby restaurant. It is the same place where Oliver claims he first met Ron Howard. Just then, Ron Howard himself walks in, proving Oliver’s claims right!

Howard greets Oliver as “Olly,” and confirms their bond. This opportunity also prompts Charles and Oliver to ask Ron Howard about Project Ronkonkoma, and boy, do they learn something big. This is the season's ‘big twist’ moment.

Throughout the episode 9 of Only Murders in the Building Season 4, we’ve seen flashbacks of Sazz working with a new protégé. Last week, we learned that she discovered this young stuntman in a pretty weird way. She accidentally backed into him with her car. This made him flip right into her backseat. She was so impressed by his moves that she decided to take him under her wing.

But, Howard has more to share in Only Murders in the Building Season 4 episode 9. He reveals that things took a tragic turn during a dangerous fire stunt on set. Everything seemed to be going smoothly until the stuntman made a risky mistake. He got up before the fire was fully out and rushed over to Howard. This is when he suddenly reignited and Howard was left with singed eyebrows!

Charles and Oliver decide they need to find this stuntman. Howard has a request: if they track him down, could they please get his shoes back? Turns out, the guy took off with Howard's shoes, which have the same tread pattern that was found on the radiator in Dudenoff’s apartment.

Finally, Howard tells them that the stuntman’s name is Rex Bailey. It doesn’t ring any bells. But, Howard shows them a picture, and then it all clicks. It’s the screenwriter, Marshall (Jin Ha), of the Only Murders movie!


Mabel cracked the case with the help of Sazz's latest purchase

The episode ends on a tense note. When Mabel returns to her apartment, she finds Marshall waiting for her. As they start talking about the Only Murders movie script, Mabel pulls out a surprise.

Sazz’s movie script is hidden inside the case of beer she got from Oliver earlier. The pieces begin to fall into place. Just as Mabel is connecting the dots, she gets a text from Charles. It reveals Marshall’s identity as Sazz’s protégé.

The episode wraps up with Mabel alone in her apartment with the very person responsible for Sazz’s murder.

Also read: Only Murders in The Building renewed by Hulu for Season 5


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Edited by Mudeet Arora