Spoiler Warning: This article contains spoilers for the season one finale of Only Murders In The Building.
The popular Hulu comedy Only Murders In The Building is a unique blend of relatable and suspicious characters. While fans love the podcasting trio Mabel, Charles, and Oliver, some of the other residents of the Arconia don't seem so sweet. With a fast-paced 10-episode first season, it feels like anyone could have killed Tim Kono, and it makes sense that the three main characters would become so deeply invested.
While the series is a fun murder mystery, every episode allows viewers to get inside the minds of both major and minor characters. Fans can find many people who they can relate to, whether it's Mabel, Oliver, and Charles, or some of their friends or relatives.
Zoe Cassidy
Mabel's late friend Zoe is a great example of an imperfect teen drama character. Fans get to know her through flashbacks of Mabel's time sneaking into Arconia apartments and looking for mystery with her friend group called "The Hardy Boys." Zoe falls from the building's roof to her death, and it turns out that there's more to the story here.
While viewers only see Zoe briefly, they can tell that she's a kind-hearted and relatable person, if a bit lost and miserable. If Zoe had gotten the chance to grow up, she might have been able to talk to someone about her pain and struggles. Zoe has the relatable storyline of feeling misunderstood and just wanting to connect with a friend.
Tim Kono
Tim's murder may be at the heart of the series, but he's also a compelling character in his own right and not just a reason for the plot to keep moving forward in a thrilling, breathtaking way.
Fans know that Tim and Mabel bond when she spends school breaks at the Arconia as a child, and in the season 1 finale, Tim shares with viewers that he always felt lost, abandoned, and uncool when he was growing up. While his story becomes wild and intense, his sad emotions and desire to belong are a common thread that many people feel.
Howard
As a fun TV show set in NYC, Only Murders In The Building does a great job introducing viewers to the quirky and strong-willed residents of the beautiful, old-fashioned Arconia. It not only seems like a fairly glamorous place to live, but some of the people who live there have some interesting stories of their own.
While Howard is a little intense, his love for his pets is relatable and sweet, and it's heartbreaking watching him go through a tough time after losing his beloved cat.
Poppy
Cinda Canning's assistant, Poppy, is another relatable character thanks to her personality, job title, and desire to do well at work.
Poppy has good ideas and she wishes that Cinda would listen to her, and in season 1's hilarious final moment, Poppy says that they should produce a new podcast called "Only Murderers In The Building." Cinda insists on taking credit for the title. Many viewers can see themselves in Poppy: determined to succeed and hoping that their dream comes true.
Sam
Where there's a popular true crime podcast, there's a large fanbase waiting impatiently for the next episode and obsessing over the details of the case.
Sam is one of the podcast's biggest fans, introduced in the episode "Fan Fiction," and anyone who loves the true crime genre can definitely relate to feeling so strongly about a podcast and the people behind it. Sam just wants to be part of the story and loves getting the chance to meet Mabel, Oliver, and Charles.
Will Putnam
Oliver's son Will is in a tough and understandable position. After being generous with Oliver and giving him money to help him through his unemployment, Will feels that he doesn't have any more money to lend his dad, and this causes some tension.
Since Will isn't a murder suspect or Arconia resident who is being mean to Oliver, Charles, and Mabel, Will feels more relatable than some of the other characters. He's also stunned by the events of the past little while and it makes sense that he would visit Oliver at the end of season 1 and ask to hear more about what's been going on.
Detective Williams
Detective Williams fits into the history of strong female detective TV characters. She thinks that Tim's murder has been solved, and yet once her wife becomes a fan of the podcast, she realizes that there could have been something that she missed.
Williams is intelligent and perceptive, but she's also willing to it when she has made a mistake or didn't look into a case closely enough. Fans can relate to Williams's opinion of true crime podcasts. Even those who like listening to these stories can it that Williams is right when she says that people can become a bit too invested.
Mabel Mora
Mabel is not only the most stylish character on the series, but she's also one of the kindest. She bonds with Oliver and Charles, despite thinking that she probably has nothing in common with them at first, and she really enjoys spending time with them and trying to solve Tim's murder.
Mabel's story is a relatable one as she loses several of her best friends at a young age and just wants to fit in. She misses Tim, Zoe, and Oscar, and when she begins working with Charles and Oliver, it feels like Mabel is trying to reclaim the investigative days of her youth. Viewers understand that Mabel is still finding herself.
Charles Hayden-Savage
Steve Martin's best movie roles are often hilarious, and the beloved and talented actor brings his writing and acting skills to Only Murders In The Building.
Charles was once famous for portraying a detective on the TV series Brazzos and he's living with the loneliness and pain of his last big break-up. Fans can relate to how much he wants to find love, acceptance, and community, and it makes sense that he would team up with his neighbors. It's also only logical that he would begin dating Jan and hope that she's a good person although, of course, viewers know how that turns out.
Oliver Putnam
Oliver's storyline is one of the most honest and real for anyone who has gone through a period of unemployment or struggled to pay rent. He's doing his best to keep it together, but he's worried and scared about the future.
Oliver is also a relatable character for anyone who is the "ideas person" in their friend group and who enjoys excitement and drama. Now that season 1 has ended with Oliver, Charles, and Mabel in trouble, fans are certain that Oliver can come up with a brilliant plan in season 2.