The finale of Only Murders in the Building‘s sophomore season finally answers the Season 2’s biggest question: Who killed Bunny (Jayne Houdyshell)?
After the finale’s many red herrings, a killer reveal party, and Charles (Steve Martin) faking his own death, we learn that Bunny’s killer was none other than Poppy White (Adina Verson). Turns out that Cinda Canning’s (Tina Fey) overworked and under-appreciated assistant has a murderous streak.
She’s also not who she says she is. As revealed at the end of episode 9, Poppy is actually Becky Butler, the subject of Cinda’s hit true crime podcast, All Is Not OK in Oklahoma. A fan of Cinda’s previous works, Becky faked her death to escape her unhappy home life and the sexual harassment she faced at the hands of her boss, the mayor of Chickasha, OK. She adopted the name Poppy White and gave Cinda the idea for All Is Not OK in Oklahoma — in return for a job, of course.
‘Only Murders in the Building’ review: Season 2 can’t stop hitting itself. That might be the point.
Why did Poppy kill Bunny?
Credit: Patrick Harbron/Hulu
It all comes back to Cinda Canning. She’s in desperate need of another high-profile, gory murder to podcast about, and she has absolutely no interest in Poppy’s suggestion that they cover the disappearance of Rose Cooper (Shirley MacLaine). So Poppy takes matters into her own hands and creates the perfect murder for them to cover. She kills Bunny, texts the Only Murders trio to get out of the building, uses the Arconia’s secret tunnels to escape, and hides the bloody knife in Charles’s apartment to frame him. She also conspires with her boyfriend Officer Kreps (Michael Rapaport), who runs interference for her as Glitter Guy.
The finale ties up some more loose ends: Poppy met Bunny at the Pickle Diner to discuss the Rose Cooper painting, explaining the footage of Bunny storming out of the diner. The diner also links back to Bunny’s last words. Mabel (Selena Gomez) thought Bunny had said “14, Savage.” Instead, Bunny said, “14, sandwich,” pointing to Poppy’s Pickle Diner order: item number 14, a liverwurst and marmalade sandwich. It’s an… acquired taste.
Two further pieces of evidence solidify Poppy as the killer. First, her allergy to birds like Bunny’s parrot Mrs. Gambolini led her to sneeze in the Arconia’s tunnels, where Lucy (Zoe Colletti) heard her. Finally, Detective Williams (Da’Vine Joy Randolph) found Becky Butler’s DNA on the murder weapon. From there, Charles, Mabel, and Oliver (Martin Short) tell Cinda everything, including Poppy’s true identity, and stage a killer reveal party to get her to confess. With all the puzzle pieces finally in place, Poppy and Kreps are arrested, and the Only Murders team is freed of any suspicion. For now…
Paul Rudd joins Only Murders… and dies immediately
Credit: Craig Blankenhorn/Hulu
Bunny’s killer may have been found, but Only Murders in the Building Season 2 has one more big surprise up its sleeve. After a one-year time jump, we witness the murder that will jumpstart the show’s third season.
This new victim isn’t anyone from the Arconia. Instead, it’s actor Ben Glenroy (Paul Rudd), one of the leads in a new Broadway show directed by Oliver. The other lead is none other than Charles. However, it’s clear that these two do not have a good working relationship. As Ben and Oliver talk on opening night, Ben mentions wanting to kill Charles for something he did. Not long after that, Charles confronts Ben, telling him, “Be smart. Stay away from her,” and “I know what you did.”
What did Ben do to make Charles so upset? How did their beef start? Who is the “her” Charles is referring to? My money is on either Mabel, Lucy, or make-up artist Joy (Andrea Martin), who Charles starts dating in the finale. The mystery woman could also be someone we haven’t met yet.
Before we can get any answers to these questions, Ben collapses and dies on stage. Based on what we’ve seen so far, Charles is the prime suspect, but if Only Murders in the Building likes anything, it’s a twist (and some solid knitwear). Could someone else behind the scenes have had it out for Ben? Is this another attempt to frame Charles for murder? And will we get more Paul Rudd in flashbacks?
We’ll just have to wait until Season 3 to find out.
All episodes of Only Murders in the Building Season 2 are now streaming on Hulu.