Embarking on a typical Only Murders in the Building trajectory, Episode 6 subtly lures viewers in with a tantalizing voiceover, this time narrated by a fresh face: Poppy White, the bespectacled and earnest assistant to Cinda Canning. Her introduction sets the stage, centered around a revelation from Mabel Mora's enigmatic past. As the episode unfolds, it marks a pivotal moment where our trio finally unearths tangible evidence that could potentially exonerate them from the web of murder accusations. However, the looming question remains: Will they be able to capitalize on this breakthrough?
Poppy's diligent digging unearths a contentious figure from Mabel's past—Jimmy Russo—whom she promptly invites to Cinda's latest podcast, where the intention is clear: to implicate Mabel in the crime. Interspersed with these revelations, we witness fleeting glimpses of our protagonists, each possibly indulging in self-deceiving narratives of their lives. Poppy's searing monologue strips away the veneer of optimism, exposing the raw truths about our relentless pursuit of fresh starts and the hope for a divergent destiny. Mabel with Alice, Charles with Jan, and Oliver grappling with the uncertainty of his son's parentage, all struggling to find their footing amidst the chaos. Oliver, particularly, embarks on a personal journey to uncover his lineage, questioning whether he is of Greek descent rather than Irish.
Meanwhile, at the Brazzos set, Charles has embraced his newfound role with gusto, flirting effortlessly with the hair stylist amidst the hustle and bustle. The trio convenes, including Charles' daughter Lucy, to strategize their next move. Amidst this gathering, Pataki, Charles' seasoned double from the past, makes a nostalgic appearance, seamlessly stepping into Charles' shoes for the action-packed scenes, adding a touch of nostalgia to the evolving narrative.
As Mabel scrutinizes the matchbook more intently, she stumbles upon a ghastly discovery – a bloodied fingerprint etched into its surface! This could very well be the elusive breakthrough they've yearned for since the dawn of their investigation. Without hesitation, they turn to their trusted ally, Detective Williams, who, since episode one, has cunningly shielded them from prying eyes. Mabel swiftly dispatches a text, revealing their groundbreaking find and arranging a covert rendezvous to entrust the evidence into her capable hands. Her expertise in fingerprint analysis will unravel the miller's true identity, they hope.
However, Detective Kreps, ever the relentless pursuer, has already cast his shadow over the proceedings. He dispatches a subordinate to the scene, summoning the trio to Bunny's apartment, where an unexpected guest awaits – Cinda, accompanied by Poppy. Kreps sternly cautions them against meddling in his affairs and demands the cessation of their podcasts, his patience frayed by a barrage of anonymous calls, one of which alludes to a cryptic "bird theory." Cinda, ever the master manipulator, employs her arsenal of Kreps' dirty secrets, leaving one to ponder if there's anyone she doesn't hold a grudge against. Her malice knows no bounds.
Unveiling her next move, Cinda declares her intention to exploit Jimmy's tale from his days working alongside Mabel at Long John Silver's. Meanwhile, Kreps drops a bombshell, revealing that Detective Williams is, in fact, on maternity leave, "far away in Denver." This revelation leaves the trio reeling – whom, then, have they been communicating with all this while? The truth dawns on them with chilling clarity: it's the killer themselves!
Mabel, driven by a sense of urgency, pursues Poppy as she makes her exit, her voice imbued with a plea for mercy. She implores Poppy to halt the dissemination of the Russo saga, warning that it will only serve to tarnish Cinda's reputation.
With the imposter's identity now a sinister game of cat and mouse, the trio concocts a devious trap. They devise a cunning plan to lure the murderer into a false sense of security, drawing him in to retrieve the evidence, only to spring their trap and expose him for who he truly is. The killer's clumsy, amateurish responses become a source of dark humor, their absurdity only adding to the tense atmosphere.
They cunningly devise a plan to lure him into Morningside Park, where they intend to stage a cunning trap, depositing a fake piece of evidence in a predetermined location and lying in wait for his arrival. This intricate scheme is inspired by Charles' harrowing experience at Brazzos, as recounted in Season Seven, Episode Twenty-One, "The Fake Evidence." However, instead of the genuine article, they devise a mischievous twist, planting a dazzling "glitter bomb" to catch him in an unexpected and stylish manner.
The trio huddles inside Charles' car, the tension palpable as they bide their time, their anticipation heightened by the coinciding release of Cinda's latest podcast episode. Amidst this tense standoff, we witness a fleeting moment where Cinda politely declines Opooy's brazen request for a "performance review" aimed at securing a promotion, her refusal laced with a subtle defiance.
Jimmy regales them with a tall tale from Long John's, his narrative dripping with exaggeration as he absurdly suggests that Mabel had maliciously severed his fingers and served them up, deep-fried, as a twisted culinary delight. Mabel swiftly corrects the record, revealing the truth behind the incident: Jimmy, a persistent pest, had it coming when he finally met his match in Mabel's deft push, his hand inadvertently trapped in a slicer.
Oliver's keen eye catches a barrage of calls from the jail on Charles' phone, igniting a revelation—Charles is still embroiled in a romantic entanglement with Jan. As the trio engages in a spirited debate over this new development, the killer stealthily enters the frame, cloaked in a hoodie and mask, his identity concealed beneath a veil of darkness. Their attention rapt in conversation, they fail to notice his silent approach towards their hidden stash.
Charles shares a poignant reflection on how his aversion to confrontation often leads him into predicaments where he struggles to extricate himself from relationships. Suddenly, Mabel catches a fleeting glimpse of the killer in the rearview mirror, but by the time they spring into action, he has vanished into thin air. Mabel, shaken, chooses to withdraw, seeking solitude to calm her frayed nerves, while Charles concocts a plan to sever his ties with Jan once and for all.
Meanwhile, tensions boil over as Cinda callously guns down Poppy, her sense of entitlement clashing violently with Poppy's aspirations for advancement. Poppy, convinced of her deservingness, is blindsided by Cinda's relentless need for control, her grasp on the reins of power unyielding.
At the correctional facility's hallowed halls, Charles's cunning plan unfolds as Pataki, posing as "him," delivers a letter to Jan, unraveling their bond in a comedic yet poignant scene. Mable, returning to her sanctuary, finds her world shattered as Alice, the confidante she'd entrusted with her space, has transformed it into a twisted reenactment of Mable's darkest memory. This betrayal cuts deep, exposing Alice's duplicity and plunging Mable into an existential abyss as Alice spins a web of false motives, her words echoing hollowly.
Oliver, his mind racing with the DNA enigma, seeks solace with Charles, both men anxiously awaiting the truth's revelation. Meanwhile, Poppy's call to Mabel uncovers unsavory truths about Cinda, her words echoing like a warning bell: "She'll bend reality to craft the perfect tale."
Amidst this revelation, fate seems to intervene as Mabel catches a glimpse of the elusive killer on the train, sending her heart racing. Oliver, receiving a video from his son Will, witnesses a shocking scene: Mabel, seemingly armed, lunging towards the killer, their faces adorned with glitter, a macabre twist to an already surreal moment. The crowd's cries of "Bloody Mabel, Part Deux!" echo through the station, propelling her into a panicked flight.
The ending, a stark departure from predictability, begs the question: Was this a mere coincidence, or had Mabel been under surveillance? And can we truly affirm the identity of the assailant, given the show's penchant for subverting expectations and revealing hidden agendas? Perhaps the next episode will unravel a twisted tale, where Mabel's actions are misinterpreted, the innocent mistaken for the guilty. In this labyrinthine narrative, nothing is as it seems, and the fate of that fateful stab remains a tantalizing mystery, deliberately obscured to keep us on the edge of our seats until next week's episode unfolds.
