Only Murders in the Building Official Podcast
Episode: S2 E4: Here's Looking at You...
Host: Elizabeth Keener & Kevin Lan | Featuring: Valentina Garza, Rachel Berger, Zoe Coletti, John Hoffman
Release Date: July 13, 2022

Episode Overview

This episode of the Only Murders in the Building Official Podcast dives deep into Season 2, Episode 4 of the series, "Here's Looking at You." Hosts Elizabeth Keener and Kevin Lan are joined by episode writers Valentina Garza and Rachel Berger, actor Zoe Coletti (Lucy), and showrunner John Hoffman. Through interviews, scene breakdowns, and behind-the-scenes insights, the podcast celebrates the show’s blend of mystery, comedy, and heart—this time centering on the arrival of Lucy, the ever-complicated web of suspects, the iconic elevator confrontation, and the secrets hidden within the Arconia’s walls.

Key Discussion Points

1. Episode Recap & Main Developments (01:38 – 03:14)

• Lucy’s Introduction: Lucy surprises Charles on set and becomes a major part of the episode’s mystery energy.
• Teddy & Theo Demas Return: Teddy is out of prison with an ankle bracelet; an emotional scene in the elevator with Oliver foreshadows new threats.
• The Bloody Knife: Lucy produces the apparent murder weapon, deepening the suspicion around the trio.
• Howard’s Accusation: Howard accuses Nina Lin, fueled by a black eye he claims she gave him.
• Secret Passageways: Lucy reveals hidden Arconia corridors, raising questions about who used them the night Bunny was killed.
• Nina Lin as Suspect: Witnessing suspicious plans and arguments, the trio confront Nina—only for her to go into labor, eliminating her as a viable suspect (for now).
• Lucy’s Confession: Lucy admits she was in the walls the night of Bunny’s murder and saw the masked killer—who sneezed or coughed.
• Jan’s Return: The mystery caller is revealed to be Jan.

2. Writing the Episode: Process and Collaboration

Guests: Rachel Berger & Valentina Garza
(03:18 – 09:39)

• Writing Partnership: Rachel (started as a writer’s assistant, co-wrote S1 finale) and Valentina (genre-bending background) describe their collaborative, cross-genre approach.—"We get to do comedy and we get to do, like, a mystery and a thriller, and it can be dark sometimes, but it's also super fun and poppy and visual..." – Valentina Garza (04:49).
• Zoom Writers Room: Pandemic challenges meant adapting classic writing room tactics for remote work via Google Docs and imaginative scene-splitting.
• Finding Lucy’s Voice: The duo discusses developing Lucy—a Gen Z character meant to make even cool Mabel feel old, integrating authentic youth slang and self-aware confidence.

3. Authenticity in Generations & Gen Z Slang

Guest: Zoe Coletti (Lucy)
(11:03 – 13:02, 09:39 – 10:41)

• Lucy’s Cool Factor: Writers wanted Lucy to “put Mabel in her place,” representing a new, intimidating generation.—"You are so lucky. It's probably, like, so easy for you to get Xannies and Klonopin and stuff..." – Lucy (Zoe Coletti as Lucy, 09:05).
• Bet, Hundred Gex Tree, and More: Discussion of Gen Z lingo; even Zoe had to Google some lines. Zoe admits, "I understand, like, I want to say like 99% of the things that my character says. There was a few things I had to Google, like the Hundred Gex tree." (12:24)
• Collaboration with Writers: The process felt inclusive for Zoe, allowing some input and creative freedom.

4. Casting and On-Set Experience

(13:10 – 16:23)

• Auditioning for Lucy: Zoe describes her quick turnaround audition while in Sweden and the whirlwind casting process.
• Working with Legends: Her awe at being on set with Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez, whom she calls her childhood hero.—"They made it such a phenomenal experience... She was my favorite. They say, like, don't meet your heroes. Except I did. And it was the greatest experience." – Zoe Coletti (15:47)

5. The Elevator Confrontation: Writing & Layered Tension

Writers, Showrunner, Scene Excerpt
(16:41 – 22:09)

• Writing Approach: The writing team wanted the elevator meeting between Oliver and Teddy to be awkward and funny—but also to carry real emotional weight.
• Quote – Teddy’s Threat:
  "I'm going to fuck you. I'm not sure when or how quite yet, but I'm going to. Going to fuck you hard. Harder than you've ever been fucked before in a way you won't see coming until one day you'll slip your nubby little fingers into one of my dips you love so much and realize you're choking. Choking on a big heaping bowl of fucking. Namaste." – Teddy Demas (Nathan Lane), (19:49)
• Showrunner’s Take: John Hoffman explains how this scene pivots Oliver’s story from fear to empathy, highlighting the show’s layered emotional storytelling.—"Just when you think, you know, where this story might be going, even within this one episode, we flip it and it points right back to Oliver's relationship with his own son." (20:53)

6. Secret Passageways of the Arconia

(23:28 – 27:57)

• Origins & Logistics: The passageways’ origins are creepy, but their presence enables lots of plot twists. The writers detail how they tracked passageway logistics and the passageway’s role in the plot.
• On-Set Experience: Zoe describes filming in cramped, hot passageway sets, frequenting labeled entrances and exits to avoid getting lost.—"There was a few casualties for sure." (26:51)
• Quote:
  "A lot of the passageways were connected. So, like, the entrance one just had a tiny little, like, nub of a passageway at the end of it. But all of the other ones are connected." – Zoe Coletti (26:57)

7. Suspects, Themes, and Key Evidence

(27:28 – 30:42)

• Nina Lin, Howard Morris: Howard’s accusation, the layers of Nina’s punch, and discussion about whether anyone is truly off the suspect list.
• Quote:
  "Her boyfriend may or may not be an MMA fighter, so she probably knows how to throw a punch." – Valentina Garza (28:29)
• Theme—Fatherhood: Both writers and Hoffman cite the centrality of fatherhood and layered relationships this season. Insight into how intimate, unseen moments (enabled by passageways) create new tensions and empathy.
• Bloody Knife: The reveal of the murder weapon in Charles’ apartment deepens the trio’s involvement.
  "It creates like a really interesting complex cluster." – Valentina Garza (30:39)

8. Musical Moment: "Angel in Flip Flops"

(30:42 – 32:57)

• Song Creation: “Angel in Flip Flops” (Charles’ hit in Germany) came from EP Kirker Butler and Steve Martin’s musical sensibility.—"Steve wanted to make sure he was singing on the correct key. So we'd play it, like, before we would start. Right. Just before they would say action. So that he could get the key, of course, because, you know, he's brilliant..." – Zoe Coletti (32:15)
• Endearing Repetition: The cast heard fragments of the song up to a hundred times on set, to comedic effect.

9. Charles and Lucy: Emotional Resonance

(32:59 – 34:53)

• Father-Daughter Dynamic: Charles’s regret and Lucy’s longing for connection lead to a touching heart-to-heart.
• Quote – Lucy’s Line:
  "This is why out of the five dads that I have had, you are by far my favorite." – Lucy (33:47)
• Zoe’s Perspective: This scene was a highlight to film for Zoe, offering vulnerability and closure, but opening hope for a renewed bond.

10. Teasers, Clues & Audience Theorizing

(36:00 – 42:38)

• Zoe’s Clue:
  "My clue would be that the little peepholes in those passageways, they show some pretty exciting stuff. So I think, look forward to those." – Zoe Coletti (36:10)
• Whodunit Summit:
  • Elizabeth's pick: Howard the Cat Guy—due to sneeze evidence and his behavioral quirks.
  • Kevin's pick: Theo, motivated by possible revenge and knowledge of passageways.
• Fan Theories:
  • Multiple fan emails and theories are discussed, including speculation about Howard, Alice, and far-fetched possibilities like Amy Schumer.
• Quote:
  "You can never assume that anyone is off the board until episode 10." – Valentina Garza (28:54)

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• "This murder is so relaxing." – Kevin Lan (04:27)
• "Speaking of young whippersnappers, that's kind of creepy... Like, there's a child running through your walls." – Kevin Lan / Zoe Coletti (10:55)
• "It was like watching Darth Vader take off his helmet." – Oliver, recounting Teddy’s vulnerability (22:11)
• "She will cut a bitch. You can use that in the podcast." – Rachel Berger channeling Howard's accusation (28:00)
• "There was a few casualties for sure." – Zoe Coletti, on the cramped passageway set (26:51)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Episode Recap: 01:38 – 03:14
• Writers’ Room & Lucy’s Creation: 03:18 – 09:39
• Gen Z Slang & Zoe on Lucy: 11:03 – 13:02
• Zoe’s Audition & Set Stories: 13:10 – 16:23
• Elevator Scene Breakdown: 16:41 – 22:09
• Secret Passageways: 23:28 – 27:57
• Theories & Suspects: 27:28 – 30:42
• "Angel in Flip Flops" Song: 30:42 – 32:57
• Charles & Lucy Heart-to-Heart: 32:59 – 34:53
• Zoe’s Clue & Whodunit Summit: 36:00 – end

Summary

Episode 4’s podcast offers a rich blend of serious craft breakdowns, hilarious on-set anecdotes, and playful theorizing that matches the show's tone. The writers and cast detail how the episode balances mystery with genuine emotion, notably through Lucy's involvement, the infamous elevator scene, and the show’s ongoing use of physical spaces as narrative devices. The meta-podcast format encourages listeners to become armchair detectives, absorbing clues, reveling in character complexities, and joining the communal guessing game of "whodunit"—all with a wink and a smile.