Let's Solve ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING season 4 episode 7 Valley of the Dolls Recap Review Theory

Strong Island in the house! Or more specifically, a house in Long Island sees the podcast trio tackling new twists and red herrings! We review every single clue in ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING Season 4, Episode 7 "Valley of the Dolls"

00:00 Intro
00:02 Promo released with Spoilers
00:52 Left-Handed Message
01:28 Let's Solve Only Murders in the Building
02:24 Season 5 Returning Characters
03:10 Credit Clue Easter Eggs
03:32 Movie Title Reference
03:54 Subscriber Goal
04:11 Victim Profile: Sazz Pataki
05:44 The Westies
06:24 Bev Melon
06:58 Loretta
07:44 Howard
08:21 Doreen
08:51 Big Mike
08:59 Oliver
09:29 Charles
09:42 Bloody Mabel
10:06 Tin-Foil Hat Theory: Innocent Westies?
14:34 Feedback
17:19 Spoiler Promo Breakdown

Podcast music by Matt Murdick

The murder mystery/true crime podcast spoof with Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez! Upper West Side neighbors Charles, Oliver and Mabel bond over a shared love of true crime. Terrified by a threat inside the Arconia, the trio race out of the city. A member of Charles' family provides refuge and yet, this safe house proves to be anything but.

Do you watch on Disney+, Hulu or Star+? Did we miss any clues? Twitter/Instagram/Threads: @DoublePHQ

Directed by
Shari Springer Berman
Robert Pulcini

Writing Credits
Steve Martin ... (created by) &
John Hoffman ... (created by)

Matteo Borghese ... (written by) &
Rob Turbovsky ... (written by)

Jake Schnesel ... (story editor) &
Ella Robinson Brooks (story editor)

Cast (in credits order)
Steve Martin ... Charles-Haden Savage
Martin Short ... Oliver Putnam
Selena Gomez ... Mabel Mora
Michael Cyril Creighton ... Howard Morris
Meryl Streep ... Loretta Durkin
Amy Ryan ... Jan Bellows
Ryan Broussard ... Will Putnam
Vanessa Aspillaga ... Ursula
Andrea Martin ... Joy
Tina Fey ... Cindy Canning
Ryan Broussard ... Will
Jackie Hoffman ... Uma
Da’Vine Joy Randolph ... Detective Williams
James Caverly ... Theo Dimas
Teddy Coluca ... Lester
Zach Galifianakis ... Zach Galifianakis
Eugene Levy ... Eugene Levy
Eva Longoria ... Eva Longoria
Scott Bakula ... Scott Bakula
Richard Kind ... Vince Fish
Kumail Nanjiani ... Rudy Thurber
Melissa McCarthy ... Doreen
Jane Lynch ... Sazz Pataki
Paul Rudd ... Ben Glenroy / Glen Stubbins
Jason Veasey ... Jonathan
Jesse Williams ... Tobert
Molly Shannon ... Bev Melon
Jin Ha ... Marshall
Siena Werber ... Tawny Brothers
Catherine Cohen ... Trina Brothers
Lilian Rebelo ... Ana
Daphne Rubin-Vega ... Inez
Desmin Borges ... Alfonso
Griffin Dunne ... Milton Dudenoff
Jason Kravits ... Big Mike
Veanne Cox ... Dr. Maggie
Jeanette Branch ... Stunt Guy #1
Vinny DeGennaro ... Stunt Guy #2
Robert Lil Bob McCall ... Stunt Guy #3
Michael McFadden ... Bartender
John McEnroe ... John McEnroe

Produced by
Dan Fogelman ... executive producer
Selena Gomez ... executive producer
John Hoffman ... executive producer
Steve Martin ... executive producer
Jess Rosenthal ... executive producer
Martin Short ... executive producer

Music by
Siddhartha Khosla ... (music by)

Consulting Producers
Benj Pasek and Justin Paul

[DoublePMedia]

I sound tired in this one- Sorry!!! But even without sleep, I won’t rest until we get Justice for Sazz! Who do you think did it?

[kellysacramento]

Some other things we might have learned from the episode:
- Loretta has worked with Eugene Levy
- Howard can't keep a secret
- The actors realize there are plotholes from season 1 (but don't infer anything from it)
- Actors know and observe more than they let us know
- Bev brought a suitcase, but never changed clothes

Now an idea: maybe the movie problem are the plot holes on the season 1 solution.

[Drewid]

I want Theo back he’s just genuinely amazing when on screen. I also miss the characters from season 1 and 2 who are missing

[PropaChels_CFC]

Been waiting for this for 2 days!! I can't be the only one who is really suspicious of Loretta. She's an actress (maybe a Dudenoff connection) and the picture of the westies did look like her somehow. She just seemed strangely off in this episode

[sweetjess]

The fact that they finally brought up that this all traces back to season one was so satisfying. I went back to the 1st episode part of Charles's opening line was "its not like theres 19 bodies buried in a 14-story building ", hmmm is this the actual case? Are there more bodies buried in the Arconia. As suspected the killer has been on them since the beginning...so this IS the "Long Game". The killer is the one that
1. Poisoned Winnie
2. Sent the note to the podcast AND Jan
Looking back at season 2, I believe the killer was the one "looking at Charles" (the mysterious photos of him and Lucy), as well as being involved with the sand bag almost killing Charles in season 3. I knew the Westies were involved in cashing Dudenoff's checks, but I think that was more for appearances to have people think Dudenoff was alive. They obviously knew he was dead but I'm not 100% convinced they are the ones that killed him. Now these are my questions:
A. Is the killer doing this because they were involved in killing Dudenoff?
B. Was Dudenoff actually murdered or did he die and the Westies wanted to cover it up in order to keep their apartments?
C.Are there more buried bodies in the Arconia?
It's all coming together, I'm so excited.

[johngoldsmith]

We want EVERYONE BACK!!! Theo, Ms. Indoko, Ivan the Waiter - Everyone!

[theartofintuition]

The lifesize dolls caught my eye. They could be used as a body stand in. I also think the "watching you" person cleaned up Sazz's body to hide "another murder in the buidling." I still feel Marshall shot Sazz. Agree the big bad for the series will be solved in season 5. Who ever it is, they don't want people around the incinerator or poking around the building. I have seen theories that a serial killer from decades ago (mentioned in season 2) is one of our main cast members...makes sense. That would make for a great final season, with all the old cast members back from Season 1! Bring Back Theo!!!

[jacksondaley]

i think they will solve sazz's murder and the shooting on set will add to the list of unsolved mysteries which i think will be the main focus of the final season

[GayleenFroese]

Sazz's "There's a problem with your movie" message sounds like something she'd send if she'd _just_ discovered a problem herself. If she wrote the script, it wouldn't be news to her that there was a problem--she'd have known, or at least suspected, from the moment she heard the movie was being made.

[AmyS]

I think the bracelet shown during the credits is the doll bracelet that Loretta proposed to Oliver with. The fact that it is shown with a Dudenoff social security check lends credence to the theory you mentioned about having been Dickie's father.

[JoshuaRampersad-ykfv]

Scott Bakula the mastermind, behind the long game.

[belzski]

Got to look harder at Lester. He was an actor so maybe took Dudenoff’s classes? That might also tie him to Fish.
He’s also always in the background with people not really paying him attention. And wouldn’t he have to be fairly fit to be pulling a cart around most of the day?
I actually thought that he’d be revealed in season 5 as the strangler. As a result, (if he’s the strangler) he doesn’t like the attention the Arconia is getting?

I’m like Howard. Right handed but do a lot with my left hand including using my phone 😂
Edit: @13:40 Charles also uses his phone with his left hand.

[saskia]

3:32 it was the ring with which Loretta Proposed

[CariocaRoblox]

my theory: Marshall is the brother of Tim Kono, the first victim in the series, both are played by Asian actors; Marshal may want to take revenge because the Podcast became famous because of the first crime, so now he wants to take revenge

[Tulpen]

I completely agree with your tin-foil theory about the Westies!

[saskia]

The fight with loretta and charles sis shows that loretta is quite strong... like strong enough to carry a body ? ( sorry i keep commenting, i can't sleep lol)
But at the same time, loretta being the killer would be too similar to s1 where the gf of the trio is involved

[kimwaltz]

I have to tell you that the characters and story have become so personal that I watch your podcast before I watch the show so that I am not so stressed and surprised. I know I am not following your instructions, but I can't help it.

[tressexpress]

That little beaded thing in the closing credits is the doll bracelet that Loretta used to proposed to Oliver

[jennyb]

I was debating on watching the spoiler, but I did, and I think the note in it might validate my original theory, if not for Sazz, for Dudenoff. My tin foil hat theory was that Sazz hired someone to kill her. She was in pain, a sick pup, and wanted to go out in style, but it was a sensitive subject and didn't know how to break it to Jan or Charles. I suspected the chiropractor to be who she hired. And Glen may have hired her too- maybe a brain tumor causing hallucinating rats. Now this note from Dudenoff inviting them to a funeral, maybe that's where she got the idea.

The only thing I can't piece together is who put the cameras in - it would have to be someone from the Arconia since it's from season 1. I'm sure Howard is connected to all Murders (intentionally or not), but now I'm starting to lean more towards Uma because she always seems to be in the lobby or elevator when they are.

Also, could Dudenoff be Sazz's dad? I know they have different last names, but maybe he was a stepdad, or maybe Pataki is a stage name. Maybe Dudenoff was a stunt man turned teacher after breaking too many bones, which is why Sazz listens in on the ham radio, had the code and info about the Westies, etc.

Also, could Sazz have been seeing Helga after her and Xmas guy broke up and before Sazz started seeing Jan. They said Helga was crazy; maybe she's who Sazz was trying to get away from.

[finlaybeaton]

I passed up on Lester before.... but now I am thinking maybe.

Failed actor, access to all the apartments