Once Upon a Time in the West

Just watched the first episode of this, but before that, I want to let you know my thoughts on the previous seasons. In the first season, I only liked the last episode; the rest were average or below average. In the second season, I enjoyed all the episodes except the last one, and I fully loved the third season. So, I had high expectations for this, and here's my review of the first episode:

Positives: In the earlier seasons, the trio just comes across a dead body and starts investigating it, but this time they showed it differently, which I liked.

The writing is still sharp. I don't know how they are able to show us a new season so quickly while keeping the writing great and the show funny.

The ending was good, making you wish they had released all the episodes on the same day or at least two episodes together. But, the first episode is about 40 minutes long, so that's a positive.

I loved Eva in Land of Women and liked Eugene's character in Schitt's Creek, so I'm glad to see them in this as well. Plus, there are so many other awesome actors.

Negatives: The scenes of going to Hollywood and their first meeting with the producers and staff felt a bit nonsensical. Not just that, but many of the scenes felt unrealistic. The good part is that they show it in a funny way, so most viewers won't mind.

It's also silly that in every season, the dead person's family, friends, police, and investigation agencies don't participate much in the investigation. Only the three podcasters are shown as the best crime solvers, while the police are only good for putting people in jail after the crime is already solved. I think it will be the same in this season.

Overall: They did it again for me! My ranking till now is Season 3 > Season 2 > Season 1. I believe this time they went for more comedy than logical elements, which I personally don't mind as long as they keep it entertaining. The star-studded cast will definitely improve the experience. So far, Season 3 is better than this season quality-wise, but this season might turn out to be more entertaining. 3.5/5.

It's 2024 and screen writing has gone down the drain. All TV writing? Well one show manages to hold off cliché story telling and disneyesque predictability with the magic potion of - sticking to its guns. Last season ended with a cliffhanger, most shows would jump right into its exposition. "Only Murders" doesn't. It builds a frame for this season - the team possibly relocating to LA for a movie adaptation of their podcast - while slowly building on the actual mystery that will be the central theme. And they're brazenly referencing "One upon a Time in the West" both in the title and the plot, basically saying "let other people hurry, we're gonna lay out our mystery as slowly as we please".

It's not going to work for everyone - I personally love pop cultural references (I opened this review with one), but not everyone will recognize Sazz's LA apartment (it's from a famous film but I'm not gonna say which one). Gen Z could find Sergio Leone movies almost impossible to sit through - nothing happens for 15 minutes! When will they finally shoot each other? But for Gen X people and nerds starving for well written content, this opener is a reason to hope that the creative ebb in screen writing may end.

What a wonderful episode, for one side we get some break, a holiday, from all the murders and the mysteries, which was refreshing, but at the same time, the mystery is still lurking around the corner.

I don't understand the complaints about the cameos of celebrities, Only Murders was always about Hollywood and Celebrities, finally, Hollywood is part of the story and they criticize it and belittling it, which was a blast to watch.

It's such a blast to see Meryl Steep back for another season, she was wonderful last season and I hope we will see her character having a good storyline this season.

The new season of Only Murders in the Building introduces a new mystery to solve for Charles, Oliver, and Mabel. The previous episode saw Charles' stunt double, Sazz Pataki, shot while retrieving a bottle of wine for the gang. The season premiere, "Once Upon a Time in the West," keeps viewers guessing on Sazz's fate, with playful teases and fake outs adding suspense and setting an unnerving tone. As the episode progresses, clues come together, leading to a shocking discovery. Paramount is also planning to make a feature film about the podcast, putting their own take on Hollywood. The film features Eugene Levy, Eva Longoria, and Zach Galifianakis, who may seem odd at first but fit well with the Hollywood of it all. The movie opportunity allows viewers to dive deeper into the characters and explore their insecurities. Mabel's hesitations of selling her life rights and Oliver's fear of being left behind are interesting inner conflicts to follow. The movie allows viewers to see how their lives are shaped by their experiences and the Hollywood world. Overall, the new season of Only Murders in the Building offers a unique perspective on the podcast and its characters. Only Murders in the Building Season 4 Episode 1, "Once Upon a Time in the West," introduces the season's murder mystery. The audience is aware that Sazz was shot in "Opening Night," so they expect to find the body in Charles' apartment. However, the body is gone, and the trio is oblivious. This unexpected twist adds fresh life to their routine and makes the show more enjoyable. "Once Upon a Time in the West" features the trio saying funny things, such as wishing for a fresh body or Oliver wanting to drop dead right where Sazz died. The show also pokes fun at Hollywood and the characters, with one-on-one scenes with the actors playing them. However, it would be more entertaining to see actors and characters mingle, such as Charles' take on Eva Longoria's Mabel or one of the actors being in character while talking to the trio. The final scenes of the episode showcase the show's ability to pull off tense, suspenseful moments as the trio discovers Sazz's whereabouts. The tone shift is well done, and the audience is eagerly anticipating the premiere of "Gates of Heaven," the second episode of the series. The common theory after "Opening Night" was that Sazz was mistaken for Charles, but with the evidence at her apartment, there's still a possibility that Sazz was not killed by mistake.

Talk about GOOSEBUMPS from the last five minutes with the unraveling of events and acting from our favorite trio without having to say a word. The way that the episode didn't jump directly into the next murder mystery and brought viewers along for the 40 minute ride of building up the plot for the upcoming season was brilliant. And what the episode culminated towards? Literal chills. What a phenomenal start to the fourth season of this epic comedy smash hit show.

Balancing the perfect blend of comedy, drama, tension, and suspense for the opening episode that unravels the events of the previous season in a way that we haven't seen before. "Once Upon a Time in the West" brings immense hope that not only will "Only Murders in the Building" continue to have hit season after hit season, but it might even be aging like a fine wine, with this season being better than some of its predecessors.