Season 4, Episode 2 of Only Murders in the Building, titled “The Ghost of Sazz Past,” aired on September 3, 2024, and continues to delve into the chaotic, quirky lives of Charles, Oliver, and Mabel as they unravel the latest murder mystery. This episode, however, brings a more intimate and emotional focus as we explore the impact of Sazz’s sudden death on Charles, all while delivering the classic blend of humor, oddball suspects, and twists that the show has become known for.
Flashbacks and Friendship: A Deeper Dive into Charles and Sazz
The episode opens with a flashback that takes us back to the set of Brazzos, where Charles (Steve Martin) first met his longtime stunt double, Sazz Pataki (Jane Lynch). As Sazz narrates her upbringing and fearlessness, it’s clear that she was always someone who ran toward danger — a trait that played a significant role in her relationship with Charles.
Fast-forward to the present, and the trio is still reeling from the discovery of Sazz’s ashes in the previous episode. Charles’s grief is palpable, and in a darkly humorous scene, he refuses to wash the ashes off his hands, terrified of losing the last remnants of his old friend. This moment of vulnerability sets the tone for his deteriorating mental state throughout the episode as he begins hallucinating Sazz’s ghost, adding a supernatural twist to the murder investigation.
The Murder Investigation Intensifies: Unusual Suspects and Bizarre Clues
While Charles deals with his grief and haunting visions, Oliver (Martin Short) and Mabel (Selena Gomez) decide to investigate the murder scene by recreating it in an attempt to figure out where the bullet came from. They narrow the possible shooter’s location down to four apartments across from Charles’s, each one home to a suspicious tenant.
The episode introduces a new set of peculiar suspects, including Stink Eye Joe (Richard Kind), who is perpetually glaring into Charles’s apartment, the bizarre Sauce Family, and the eccentric Christmas All The Time Guy (Kumail Nanjiani), who refuses to take down his festive decorations year-round. As Oliver and Mabel investigate these characters, the episode leans heavily into Only Murders in the Building‘s signature blend of comedy and absurdity. A standout moment involves the Sauce Family’s strange bathroom ritual where they take turns stabbing a piece of ham — an eerie and hilarious red flag that raises more questions than answers.
The Return of a Familiar Villain: Jan’s Comeback
A major twist comes when Charles, isolated in his apartment and talking with Sazz’s ghost, encounters a familiar face — Jan (Amy Ryan), the infamous killer from Season 1. Having escaped from prison, Jan sneaks into Charles’s apartment dressed in a prison guard uniform. Their interaction is both tense and oddly touching as Jan reveals that Sazz had recently contacted her, and the two share stories about their late friend.
The reappearance of Jan is a clever nod to long-time fans and complicates the current murder mystery. Is she somehow connected to Sazz’s death, or is this a mere distraction from the real killer?
A Haunting Revelation: Charles Was the Target
The emotional core of the episode lies in Charles’s relationship with Sazz. Through their conversations — albeit with the hallucinatory version of Sazz — Charles reflects on how she had always looked out for him, even when he didn’t realize it. This culminates in a poignant flashback to their early days on the Brazzos set, where Sazz made sure Charles wasn’t lonely, inviting him into a world of camaraderie he hadn’t experienced before.
The most shocking moment of the episode comes when the trio finally conducts a Luminol test in Charles’s apartment. In a gut-wrenching reveal, they discover that Sazz, in her final moments, had written a cryptic message in her own blood: “Tap in.” The phrase is a direct reference to their work on Brazzos, where Sazz would “tap in” to take over stunts for Charles.
With this revelation, Charles realizes that the killer wasn’t after Sazz — he was the real target all along. The shift in focus from Sazz’s murder to Charles’s potential assassination sets the stage for what promises to be a thrilling investigation in the episodes to come.
A Strong Blend of Heart, Humor, and Mystery
Season 4, Episode 2 of Only Murders in the Building deftly balances the show’s comedic elements with an exploration of grief and friendship. Charles’s journey through loss and guilt is the emotional anchor of the episode, while the mystery continues to evolve with the introduction of eccentric new suspects and the shocking return of Jan.
The episode closes with Charles’s chilling realization: the trio is no longer investigating Sazz’s murder but his own. This revelation ramps up the stakes and leaves viewers eager to see what twists and turns lie ahead as the investigation moves forward. As always, Only Murders in the Building delivers an engaging blend of humor, mystery, and heartfelt moments, making this episode a standout in the season.
