Season 5 of Only Murders in the Building wasn’t the show’s best — but it was far from the worst (I still consider the second season the weakest). The truth is, unraveling the double murder at the Arconia became so intricate that it was actually tense at times. After five years following OMITB, we’ve learned to read the signs — and maybe that’s why the finale, though entertaining, felt rushed and a bit predictable. Still, the journey remains irresistible..

The season opens with a flashback to a young, in-love Sofia and Nicky, revealing the meaning behind the white flower that was his signature. In yet another game-themed metaphor, time moves forward to their growing disillusionment — their marital crisis peaking on the eve of Nicky’s death.

In the present, the mystery splits in two: where is Sofia, and why did Nonna help steal the mysterious finger? It turns out the finger belonged to Sofia’s lover, whose identity, of course, isn’t revealed right away. As Oliver jokes, if it were easy to figure out, there wouldn’t be another season. Partially satisfied with what they’ve uncovered, the podcasters still have plenty of questions (just like us), but a new bombshell drops: the Arconia is going to be demolished. It’s cheaper to blow it up and replace it with a casino. It might be a dangerous address, but we’re too attached to let it go!

Amid all the chaos, the trio stays focused on solving the crime. Charles mentions a popular fan theory: someone’s been walking around with a fake finger. They suspect it’s one of the billionaires — and, on top of that, that he’s also Sofia’s mysterious lover. But they still need to confirm it.

The final confrontation is as theatrical as Oliver planned: the podcasters, surrounded by unlikely “allied” mobsters (Sofia’s sons), begin their interrogations. Suddenly, Mayor Beau Tillman bursts into the room, summoning Camilla to a press conference — and Mabel confirms another fan theory: the fake finger was the mayor’s. He was Sofia’s lover and Lester’s killer. Everything unravels in about thirteen minutes. Really?

In the classic villain’s monologue, Tillman recounts the night of the double murder. He was at the casino, taking part in the billionaires’ game (they often summoned him for “favors”) when Nicky confronted him after discovering his affair with Sofia. Nicky cuts off the mayor’s finger, and the doorman, Lester — trying to put an end to the Arconia’s criminal underworld — defends the mayor and threatens to expose the entire scheme. During the struggle, Nicky and Lester fall, and the mobster dies accidentally.

Lester runs off with the mayor’s severed finger — proof of the crime — while Tillman chases him. In another scuffle, Lester falls into the fountain, hits his head, and dies as well. The deaths, therefore, were “accidents” — tragic and intertwined. Still, Tillman declares aloud that he killed Lester, which doesn’t quite line up with what we saw… but fine — he wants to be the villain.

Tillman, now fully revealed as the season’s culprit, manipulates corrupt cops to cover up the crimes, hide the bodies, and orchestrate the Arconia’s implosion. Using the podcasters’ recovered phones, he locks Mabel, Charles, and Oliver in the basement so it looks like they died with the building. But all the residents and staff unite in a rescue effort, and the trio escapes just in time, exposing the mayor in front of the press. He’s arrested, and the podcasters save the Arconia. But there’s still more to come.

Sofia shows up to say goodbye: she has “sold” her ex Tillman’s finger to the billionaires and, with her newfound fortune, invites Charles to join her in Italy. He declines, breaking his pattern of getting involved with dangerous women. Good for Charles!

Jay still tries to convince Mabel that he’s not a bad guy — he even confesses to the police that he, Bash, and Camilla not only witnessed the crimes but also helped hide the bodies, becoming accomplices to the mayor. All three are sent to prison.

Three months later, Lorraine is living at the Arconia and receives a message from Sofia — the sisterhood of widows remains intact. Beautiful and finally free from the family that always put her down, Sofia receives a phone call from her sons, informing her of Nonna’s impending death. But enjoying the dolce vita abroad, she simply says a carefree arrivederci to her mother and to the heirs.

Wrapping up their own Only Murders in the Building podcast, Mabel, Charles, and Oliver get excited about Cinda Canning’s new show — The Girl with the Curls — which investigates a crime in London. At the same time, a red-haired woman (none other than Cinda herself) runs through the streets of New York, collapses, and falls… right at the Arconia’s doorstep. Just close enough to count as “inside” the building. Yes, another murder in the building — and a sixth season with a British twist is on the way.

Thus, the fifth season wrapped up a mystery that had been obvious from the start and still left a few loose ends: why did Tillman want to frame Bash? Why didn’t Jay help Mabel? Is Sofia the new Jan? Did Lorraine get money from Sofia? And what about the Only Murders in the Building movie — was it released? Did it bomb or become a hit? And Loretta? Is she still in New Zealand, and will she return to the Arconia? As for the residents who sold their apartments, will they be able to come back?

The entire mystery was almost too easy to decode: fans already suspected the mayor, knew the billionaires were complicit, and guessed that “accidents” would tie the deaths together. Still, it was satisfying to see the trio’s growing “support team,” mixing old tenants with new faces. Camilla’s downfall could only come through death or prison — and the Arconia remains a serial building in every sense.

The show’s celebrity guest formula is here to stay. We’ve gone from Manhattan to Long Island, Queens, Brooklyn, and even Los Angeles — so London makes perfect sense for what comes next. After all, it’s the land of Agatha Christie and Sherlock Holmes. Personally? I’m thrilled. Waiting another year will be the hardest mystery to solve.