Storytelling through Song & Scriptwriting ~ Only Murders In the Building



 Dear Reader,

    Murder. Treachery. Hidden secrets and... song? 

   In today's article we'll be diving deep into a rather new aspect of storytelling. That can be done not through the bleeding droplets of ink on simple parchment but through song and television. 

   So, without further ado: lights, camera, action!

What is Only Murders In the Building?

    A thrilling whirlwind of comedy and murder, Only Murders In the  Building does one of the most wondrous of jobs when it comes to storytelling, incorporating not just dashes of panache in its script and character dialogue but also through its score and music. The series follows Mabel Mora (Selena Gomez), Oliver Putnam (Martin Short) & Charles-Haden Savage (Steve Martin) solving cold murder cases via their podcast, within their block of apartments known as the Arconia. With the first two seasons being your regular yet exciting comedy-thriller show, the third season follows another murder that needs to be solved while also incorporating the faltering production of Oliver Putnam's Broadway show: "Death Rattle Dazzle!" 

Scriptwriting

   In this article I want to mainly focus on the third season, primarily because other than the usual excellent storytelling masterfully crafted via the script, the show also manages to include actual screentime showcasing the fictional Broadway show. Managing to create a culmination between the two, the actors are forced to play double roles and learning musical numbers which although belong to the score of the fictional play, somehow manage to parallel the actual events of the third season. 

   Interestingly, not only do the series' scriptwriters manage to strike a balance between the main storyline, they also actually sew an intricate story for the Broadway musical, which follows the story of a detective who must solve the cold matricide where three infant triplets who seem to be the lead suspects in the murder. Willing to do whatever it takes to protect the triplets, their Nanny, who is played by the character Loretta Durkin (Meryl Streep) sings two great musical numbers which highlight the love of a maternal figure. This is done not just to represent the lengths a mother would go to protect her children, but also due to the the many mother-child relationships which arise in the series's third season.  This all in all, creates an intricate web of flair and comedy (with touches of homicide) all  while the trio try solving the murder of the Broadway show's leading actor, Ben Glenroy (Paul Rudd). 

Song

   The songs, were written by the award-winning songwriters of "The Greatest Showman" and "La La Land": Sara Bareilles, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. The melodies act as delicate yet heartfelt ballads which express the melancholy of protecting one's own flesh and blood when danger is on the horizon. Moreover, they help to truly capture the shows' characters' relationships with one another, especially Loretta's and even the Broadway show's mother-son producers Donna and Cliff. 

   Streep eloquently sings two of the numbers with power and poignancy due to her gentle yet soothing voice. Look for the Light starts off as a gentle lullaby and culminates into a vow of perpetual protection and guardianship. “I will wait at the shore for you / I will weather each storm / Standing by ‘til safe you return from the night,” she sings. “My love is a lighthouse / So darling, my darling, look for the light.” 

   On the  other hand, For the Sake of a Child encapsulates the suave yet dangerous Nanny who'd go to extreme lengths to protecting the triplets. The song is a dual ballad sung by the Nanny and Detective as he threatens to go into their home and charge the triplets with murder but the truth comes to fruition throughout the number. It's interesting to note how the songwriters purposely created some of the melodies to suit Streep's unique voice, adding an extra layer of originality to not just the series but even the Broadway musical.

   However, there still are other great musical numbers in "Death Rattle Dazzle!" one of which include the great director Oliver Putnam (Martin Short) himself. "Creatures of the Night" acts as the first song in the musical, establishing the eerie yet mystical feel of the play while also enveloping a sense of excitement, complimenting the series itself. Overall the songs and script create a complimenting parallelism between the fictional and real, the mysterious and the comedic but more importantly, the truth and lies that warp their way into the main trio's hands.





Links:

Only Murders in the Building | "Look for the Light" Music Video | Hulu (youtube.com)

Only Murders in the Building | "For the Sake of a Child" Music Video | Hulu (youtube.com)

Only Murders in the Building | "Creatures of the Night" Music Video | Hulu (youtube.com)

 
  Therefore, it can be said that it is not just through simple scribbles on a piece of paper that stories so great and dear can come to life! Anyway, I hope you liked today's literary twist! Until next time.

Yours,

Pearl's Odyssey (2025) All rights reserved ©

Comments

  1. AnonymousJuly 29, 2024 at 1:11 PM

    The vocab used is outstanding! I am definitely watching this series now!

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousJuly 29, 2024 at 1:23 PM

    Very intriguing insight! Just listened to the score at your recommendation and loved it! Mesmerising!

    ReplyDelete

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