Only Murders in the Building Season 3 Episode 9 "Thirty" | Recap & Theories | What Just Happened?! 

Did you guys notice when they were bringing Mabel in the wedding dress and the policeman at the courthouse asked “and you two are” and Steve Martin says “I’m the father of the bride”. The only thing that would have made it better would be Martin short saying “I’m the wedding coordinator” in his franq voice

I'm so relieved to see that Mabel did not get married to try to "do something"with her life. Whew!

I LOVE the creative way they shot this episode. So so great how they placed them in each theory.

I think the red herring is that they correctly solved the wrong "murder". Donna poisoned Ben - but that's not what killed him. Cliff gave Ben the cookie. So Ben might have accuded Cliff of poisoning him. And in his angry stress dance Cliff accidentally pushed Ben down the Elevator shaft.

So creative the way they shot this scene! The way they place the three of them in each theory. GREAT!

I would like to copy and paste part of my theory from last week below because I’m so proud of myself 🤣 Don’t know where this ties in but there seemed to be a strange emphasis on the fact that they made the lighthouse themselves? My theory: I’m suspicious of… Donna - she was throwing up in the bathroom, she killed Ben to protect her son (it follows the ‘mother’ theme) AND I think she was convinced that the show would be a flop, and that if she got rid of Ben, either the show wouldn’t go ahead or a better person would be cast and her son wouldn’t be embarrassed… it also gives further relevance as to why Maxine is in the show… Donna didn’t want the show to get trashed by the critic and that would reflect badly on Cliff and may ruin his chances and producing other shows. Maxine also says that Ben’s performance is bad, if Donna knows this somehow (maybe she shredded a copy of the review??), it gives another motive as to why Ben is the one she killed (other than him being the lead). It also makes sense because she hasn’t been in the show as much as the others, just like Jan and Poppy weren’t in the show as much as the other suspects in the other seasons. Note: there is a theory on Reddit that Donna poisoned Ben, and that Ben confronts Cliff about it and Cliff accidentally knocked him down the elevator shaft by stress dancing at him, which I could totally see being the case!

I almost died when Oliver said "You're the 5 whores?" 😂 You voiced everything I wanted to say 👍🏼

10:31 Tobert told Mabel that Dickie fired him right before the play on opening night. He used this as the reason why he needed to get the footage from Ben’s apartment.

yeah i agree, that Ben fell down the elevator shaft and grabbed Tobert's hanky to try and save himself but Tobert just let him fall... I'm so excited about next weeks episode but also saddened cos its the last one :(

Here’s how I think the pieces fall together: Donna poisoned Ben, Ben suspects and confronts Cliff (and/or Cliff and Donna together) since Cliff offered him the cookies, Cliff pushes Ben (either accidentally, in self-defense, or in defense of his mother - I particularly like that option since it would involve a mother protecting her son and then a son protecting his mother). Tobert was the person who called Ben, and Ben was perhaps waiting to meet up with him by the elevator (to discuss his hasty firing or possibly return his camera since Ben grabbed it and took it with him during said hasty firing). Tobert arrives for their meet-up in time to witness (or even film!) Ben being pushed, and Cliff and/or Donna pay him off not to go public - and then possibly also to steer the trio away from them…If this is true, it would explain all the references to triplets and the number three. There’s three people involved in the murder. 😊 (The mixed-up tattoos are, I think, a production mistake. 😢 No twin or actual triplets.) But, admittedly, that’s a little complicated. So, it may be as simple as cutting out all the extra Donna/Cliff stuff (other than Donna poisoning him), and leaving how Tobert called Ben to say, “Dude, give me back my camera,” then they met up in front of the elevator, and Tobert let him fall - like your theory. Maybe Ben even tried to apologize like he did to everyone else - and gave him a hanky!!! (Which he tried to grab on to when Tobert wouldn’t save him from falling!) That’s kinda sad. 😢…I like it. 😂 I don’t think Tobert’s working with Cinda. (Again, possibly too complicated.) I do think he knows more about Mabel and the podcast than he lets on and is purposely trying to mislead her - whatever his involvement is. Where’s Dickie in all of this? I think either Ben told him off one final time or vice versa (either way, one brother said to the other, “you’re still dead to me”), he left Ben before all this went down, and that’s why he feels so guilt-ridden and sometimes acts weird. (He did say something in an earlier episode about taking his eye off the ball for one second.) But he’ll ultimately be innocent so that he and Loretta can begin their relationship as mother and son without one of them in jail. (IF Cliff and Donna are involved, that would be a nice parallel - one innocent mother & son duo, and one guilty one.) I gotta tell ya, my only thought about “Norwegian red herring” dip was “GROSS!” 😂 - and now my mind is blown. 😮 But I wonder if the red herring part is the assumption that Donna poisoned AND pushed, when in reality, there’s a twist. Whether it involves Cliff (and maybe Donna as well) and Tobert or just Tobert, we’ll see. (But I think I’m convinced now that I’ll like it either way. 😊)

Tobert being fired is new information. When tobert met with Mabel in the elevator in episode 3, I think,he said “I’m just coming up to get some recording equipment”

Has anyone else thought that maybe Ben wasn't pushed? I've thought for awhile that Tobert is actually working for Cinda to try to get Mabel to work for her.

Tobert tells Mabel that "Dickie ended my contract" 20 mins 55 seconds into episode 3 when Mabel asks him why he's still here and not in Botswana. Tobert definitely connected to Cinda - he brings up the podcast to Mabel twice whilst they're in the elevator and armoire in Ben's apartment, and that the reason he isn't in Botswana is because a big star is dead, potentially killed by his biggest fan, and its a great story which he had "a really unique access to it". He's got to be working with Cinda to turn that story into a podcast. What we don't know is the terms and conditions of the deal he has with Cinda.

9:38 They show us that Donna and Cliff are kissing on the lips so much, because Cliff is the one that pushed Ben. Cliff used hankie to wipe his lips, full of his mom's lipstick. Ben maybe made fun of him or something and Cliff pushed him. Ben, at the last moment, took Cliff's hankie, trying to grab anything. Cliff could also poison the cookies - he was the one offering them to Ben. Perhaps Ben took one? Cliff could be under tremendous pressure, because: a) It's his first play b) His mom seems to be dying (she's wearing the wig, was vomiting from chemo probably) c) He seems to be an only child, spoiled, but with pressure to "bring results at all costs". He either wants to make his mother happy before her death or Donna is really pressuring him (when nobody is looking) to success. Maybe they have money problems?

The caller to Ben's phone in the party is key to solving the mystery. Dickie expresses to Ben that he needs to take the call, Ben scoffs but when seeing the caller ID changes his tone and agrees, excusing himself to go somewhere quieter. We get to see a glimpse of the phone at 31mins 32 seconds episode 1 but i can't freeze the frame to read it without it being blurred. Can anyone else get a clear view of the caller name? Could it have been Cinda? Tobert had already contacted Cinda, immediately after being fired to sell the juicy info he had on Ben from filming the past year. Perhaps Cinda and Tobert were blackmailing Ben. Locked in my prediction, (which has been the same since about episode 3) Ben's fall was accidental but Tobert has the missing info on how it happened.

I got to Tobert as there was a line earlier that said "Murderers love to be involved in thr solving" or something like that.

Where was Joy. She saw Ben the day of the show to remove a red mark on Ben's cheek?? Why didn't the cops interview her??

Loved the Father of the Bride reference!

I was so excited to see Jules prediction being correct about Ben talking to a plate of cookies!!!!!!! I had predicted last week that Donna might be the killer, but I don’t know if I can picture her going after him a second time. Tobert was another person on my sus list so I like Dan’s prediction that Tobert will watch Ben fall down the elevator shaft without helping him like he did with the baby elephant. I swear, this has just been another great season for Only Murders In The Building! We didn’t get to see some of the police interviews for a few of the cast members and I am wondering if there was any important info in those interviews or not. I really want to lock in a prediction before the final episode, but I think I need to do a little bit more thinking lol.

A couple of thoughts. 1. Those scenes with the cookies etc. are the groups theories and not necessarily facts 2. If you were the writers of this show and had someone like Meryl Streep, wouldn't you make her the murderer? 3. Tolbert told that story about watching a baby elephant fall and not doing anything. Seems like a big clue.

I got the impression from camera shots we see on two floors that the elevator doors for the broken elevator were open on every floor, with only the caution tape blocking the opening. The ground floor doors are open when they arrive for the party. Outside Charles' place when Joy arrives to meet him (after taking his daughter home) to go to the party, the doors are open. (floor 14). Also, just before the gang steps into the elevator (on Mabel's floor) , Charles described it as being "a GAPING HOLE for how many hours now?" The three of them just didn't notice that the doors were closed again and the caution tape was removed because they lined up in front of the left elevator and were engaged in conversation. I wonder if Donna is at the courthouse to perhaps confess? With the first play, she didn't want it to go on, but I think she believes this musical one will succeed (you don't see it in the show edit, but watch her reaction to the patter song they put out). Loretta though, is vital to the show becoming a hit. So the irony will be that she decided to kill to keep the first show from happening, but she must confess in order that the new musical version goes on successfully. edit- just remembered the note Donna sent with the cookies to Oliver, "Get well soon and find me a new leading lady," so maybe not. I also didn't take Ben saying to Tobert, "you know what, not anymore" as firing him. It was after T said "I'm doing the thing you're paying me to do." When Ben took the camera, I construed that as just stopping him filming that at that moment. If he's fired him, he didn't need to take his camera, he just had to slam the door. One question I have is when did the gifts get distributed? These are apparently meant to be friendly gestures to make up for his behavior, yet Charles got a nasty note with his. Perhaps he couldn't shake that grudge he's held most of his life and the F You note was already in there, but if it was a reaction to being punched, when did he change the note to include the F YOU?

Agreed. Tobert watched the baby elephant die. Though I think that they might have been grappling over the heart handkerchief when Ben yanked it away. Tobert has the opportunity to grab him, but spectates - as usual.

I'm totally in your "camp" on how Ben died. I've said for weeks it was an accident caused by the elevator door unexpectedly opening. I wasn't thinking that Ben was standing in front of an open door and falling down the shaft; but, that the door opened WHILE he was standing in front of it--with his back to the door. I agree that whomever Ben was with (maybe Tobert, maybe Cliff) didn't try to stop Ben from falling. And that's NOT (as you point out) murder, it's an accident. A "cute" twist, if the elevator door opened behind Ben, is if the REASON the elevator door opened is because of the Trio being in the elevator--and pushing the "Start" button. That means, the Trio was (partially) responsible for Ben's death: AND, the Trio are "the Pickwick Triplets"--and that, in turn, relates back to Mabel's dream sequence of giving birth to Olivier & Charles. Again, I think it's a cute twist.

I just thought Joy's childhood dog was a reference to Mike's (portrayed by Paul Rudd) wedding in Friends. Mable giving birth to triplets also looks like a reference. Although I truly think there has to be a third sibling, next to Ben and Dicky. There are too many mirrors and references to three children (Donna even says: 'be nice to Ben' - ). In the song, there are two brothers and one sister. Could Bens parents have had a daughter, much younger or even older than Ben and Dickie? Or is it symbolic and is it just about someone's child? (How did Bobo get to Broadway when he looks after his - also mutilated - mother, for example?).

19:55 we're going to have a partial cliff hanger!!!

17:34 you can legit see, taste and smell rat poison ON TOP OF THE COOKIE!!! why would Ben consume a poisoned cookie!?!? no im going back to Sazz as the poisoner and the celebrity concierge as the murderer!

I still want to believe 3 people are involved, even if they didn't all murder. 1 in Season 1, 2 in Season 2 and now 3 in Season 3. And I would love if there are 3 people narrating it so we are led to think it's one of them who pushed Ben, but we find they were all guilty in some shape or form. One has to be Tobert's monologue and like he originally said "he is just an observer, this is the last time you will hear from him," I would like that even though he's been investigating with Mabel, he's still been documenting the whole time somehow (hidden cameras and bugs everywhere). He knew Mabel was going up to Ben's penthouse. He was convinced and paid well by Cinda to investigate for her as the murder of Ben would make a great podcast, and he's planning to give Cinda the trio's info so she can crack the case before them. He witnessed Ben's fall. I believe the call Ben got was from Dr C to make sure he was fully clear of the drugs he was taking and Dr C wouldn't be investigated, but someone interjected like Cliff who may have deliberately or accidentally caused Ben's fall. Maybe via a stress dance. Cliff being called a boy is also the closest to being called a 'baby'. Maybe he was the baby elephant which his mother had to rescue and cover up his crime. Demeo does mean to descend. There is still a question around Ben and Dickie's testimonies about how they both said they had to look after each other. Ben looked after his brother and mother when he was younger and Dickie stating that he looked after Ben as the golden child always making messes. Also, at the end of Season 2 leading up to Ben's stage demise, Ben asks Oliver if he talked to "him" and will he apologise. If this is meant to imply Charles, Oliver didn't know that Charles punched him. It didn't seem like Ben had much of a chance to talk to Oliver. He went straight to get his face fixed up. Was it just a plot hole? If the final episode is Opening Night, then it would be strange to have Donna confess and be arrested beforehand. Cliff wouldn't have wanted to have gone on with the show. They would probably shut it down. Either she didn't do it or they keep it quiet from Cliff until opening night is over and it's a big success. If she is dying and her end is near then she may have kept that from Cliff as well. She won't go to prison because she doesn't have long to live. And if this show is a big hit, then Oliver would have fulfilled his dream and he will be more than happy to retire or take a back seat and invest in his family. I really should get back to work 🙂

😅My best guess. I called Donna for poisoning prior to ep9 reveal, then Cliff as (accidental) killer based on soundtrack song titles leak. Big reveal is played out against the finale of the play. Donna realises the cops are closing in, and knowing she has terminal cancer/likely to be convicted and that Cliff can’t survive without her/in prison, she decides to kill them both. Perhaps with a poisoned final kiss…oh the drama. In the background you hear the crowd cheering the play. It’s a success but the Demeo’s won’t live to enjoy it. Dark I know. Or Ben just tripped. Totally plausible.

11:38 seriously tho did Ben not smell or see that damn rat poison ON TOP OF THE COOKIE!?!?

Yooo, a lot of my theory was right !!!! I was so shocked and kind of sad... Like it feels predictable. I REALLY hope there is a twist in the last episode. This season felt predictable... compared to last season and the first season where I didn't guess either. I do love how this episode was shot and glad to see Ben/Paul Rudd again and I must say... I don't know which was more rewarding; me guessing the plot well or Ben sewing hankies with five old women while practicing the play the night before opening... That scene was so sweet and vulnerable. I loved it !

we didn't see the interviews for Kimber, Bobo and Ty!!!

I definitely think there's a clue in why they're showing the cliff and donna kissing thing. Not sure what it is, if they're pointing to the lipstick, framing Cliff or what. I did think Donna was a killer before last episode to go with the storyboard theory. If thsts a red herring idk whst to think 😂

Who killed Ben Glenroy? THE ARCONIA!!! Donna poisoned the cookie, but what about the elevator incident? My co-worker raised an interesting theory: Ben's death was an accident! If that's true, then the killer is...THE ARCONIA!!! What if Ben was arguing - or just talking - with someone, they moved to the elevator, he presses the button and the elevator door opens but all that''s there is an open elevator shaft. Ben realizes it, turns to grab onto something/someone, but still falls down the elevator shaft. (In the process, Ben grabs the handkerchief.) The person who witnessed this - still not sure who it is - was too freaked out to say anything. Look at the clues: After the first opening night's events, the trio goes back to the Arconia and an elevator is on the blink. The residents of the Arconia are frustrated and keep talking about how some of the elevators act janky. Also, Ben may not have known about this because he just moved into the building into Amy Schumer's old apartment. He wasn't as aware of the clunkiness of the elevators. I think the killer is the Arconia. The building is responsible because the elevators are a hazard.

yeah Tobert told Mabel he was fired by Dickie the next day!

I like the Tobert murder theory.

When he was oniking in the mirror me and my sister couldn't help. But laugh so hard

Much of the show's soundtrack/background music has been released, but are there spoilers in some of the titles?

Is the last name Streep Scandinavian? Is Meryl Streep the Norwegian Red Herring? I genuinely don't know, im asking. Any 💬 thoughts?

I watched the entire season 3 again and wonder about those white room scenes. Were they just filler scenes are are there clues? They did this white room scene twice. Why if not important? One time he saw the Statue of Liberty and the next time, fish. The fish that Joy was angry with was name President McKinley (who was assassinated). Maybe this is a stretch or just red herrings, but no one seems to be talking about those white rooms.

It wasn’t Donna….she would do anything to protect his son……including confessing to murder

I said that I would come in and put a comment to “lock in” my theories and I’m going to do this now (Sunday I am probably going to be swamped all day so I want to make sure I don’t forget to get my theories in). I know I’m so wrong on this, but I can’t help what I feel, I’m voting Dickie as the person that was involved in the “elevator shaft fall” death of Ben. Unless if there is a new character that pops up in the finale that is either the father or a son of “Dickie” I’m locking in Dickie as the final killer of “Ben”. There were times a “Richard II” poster kept popping up in the background, Dickie said that he couldn’t take it anymore and he also said that he left the party early, got wasted and put on BEN’S CoBro costume and went out to go looking for his “whores”. He also said he had to call his lawyer and so many other sus stuff. I mean, the song “Creature of the night” was supposed to be Oliver’s showstopper originally and the lyrics “is it you? Is it true? Creature of the night!” (Think of Dickie in a CoBro costume) If he put on Ben’s costume, that means he went to Ben’s apartment to get it. I think that Ben was pushed or accidentally fell not long after Oliver’s party. Maybe even the same floor as the party before he even got to his apartment. I think Tobert witnessed the actual killing. He probably has footage. I think he wanted more info to find out about the poisoning to complete his documentary on Ben’s death. So the one thing we need to figure out is who actually poisoned Ben before he went on stage…… I think Donna being the one who poisoned Ben might be the red herring that was mentioned. This is also probably wrong, but I think Donna was the actual target and not Ben (for the poisoning). Cliff was the one bringing the cookies to people and I think he poisoned his mother’s cookie, but she gave it to Ben. With the sick and twisted relationship that Cliff and Donna have, maybe Cliff realized the abuse he was getting from his mother and he poisoned her cookie. So I’m locking in -Cliff poisoned the cookies to kill his mother -Dickie either pushed or accidentally let Ben fall down the elevator shaft during a confrontation -Tobert witnessed one of the tragedies, most likely the fall from the elevator.

8:11 did Donna really do it, tho!!! we still don't have full confirmation!!!

We don’t know that Donna did any of the things shown in this episode. There’s no evidence she put poison on a cookie. It’s pure speculation by Mabel, Charles and Oliver which they’ve convinced themselves to be fact as it’s a scenario which seems to fit their timeline. Why is everyone’s first thought that Donna is at the courthouse to somehow make sure Loretta goes to prison? Why can’t Donna be there to offer support to Loretta as a friend/or as her employer?

What if this wasn't actually Cliff's first production? Donna got rid of Jerry last year (probably because the show was a flop) and he's been lurking around the theatre since. Maybe waiting to enact revenge. Lost his job and husband, he doesn't have anyone actually looking out for him. Getting rid of Ben would mean the show loses their big name. Basically, just to stick it to Donna and show her that either way, she can't win and her son's debut will flop. Maybe she's been repeating it's Cliff's first gig on his own to cover up the flop from last year. I think she has the money to do that. Still don't get why she'd choose Oliver to direct given his debt with her and the unfortunate Splash but oh well. Or maybe, it's Sazz. Jan has been manipulating her, she's into it and Jan got away with creating the perfect crime from behind bars. Maybe Sazz done it so she could be behind bars with Jan??? Idk maybe that's too much I don't get how Tobert would do it KNOWING that the trio have a podcast and are excellent with solving murders. I've been between 3 main suspects from the first two episodes but now I'm just spewing out any ideas.

I’m not sure if there are two killers that would be a twist for sure. But why would 2 different people kill him. Ben could have also unalived himself the 2nd time if he was so depressed. After watching this and other videos on the analysis so far I am putting on my Poirot mustache and will solve this murder now. My wacky wild why Tobert is the killer theory is in the song of Charles character. The play/musical mirrors the show essentially where we have 3 primary suspects to me at least. Why else would they specifically mention the names and genders and personalities of the babies why is it so relevant? Why is it this is the only other full song in the show besides the Nannies lullaby? Penelope is Donna because she may have premeditated the murder due to the ratings of the show as one theory. Secondly Dickie is Patrick because he killed the hand that fed him if he killed Ben because he worked as his agent as the second theory. Thirdly Poco is Tobert who is the bad boy of the show and because he is passionate about the documentary being cancelled he killed Ben. At the end of the song the camera pans in towards only Charles and who does Charles point to he points to the man behind the camera which I feel like Charles picking Tobert or Poco as the killer. I’ve listened to this a lot at work so I may be overthinking it lol. But we’ll see next episode there may be two killers or ie two babies did it. I feel like Donna being the first killer is too much of a cop out and that it may be no one at all we suspect as well.

Just cuz Donnna was at the hearing doesn't mean anything in particular to me. Too many holes in this story. They showed Donna putting poison in the cookies but Donna could have thrown out the poisoned cookie and gave him one without poison in the end

This is now my off the wall guess about things. I think Ben is Donna's Mother. Cliff is Donna's boy toy and that's why Ben calls him Boy. Donna shredded up the reviews of Ben horrible review to protect him. She's more Motherly to Ben as she is to Cliff. I don't know why we don't know Donna is Ben's Mother but I doubt Dicky is Ben's adopted brother. Donna never poisoned Ben. I think Donna hired Dicky to protect Ben. It's an odd thought.

I don't think Donna did it. Yes, probably she wanted to help her son because she wants him to be successful [specially if she hasn't a lot of time to make sure he becomes a big name in the business (I think she's sick, she was vomiting and I don't believe it was "nerves" as she said; then when she rearanges her hair you can hear a *click* like if it was a wig. Moreover, Oliver sais that she was "in and out" of the party, I guess to go to the bathroom and vomit)] but when Ben goes to the party she is happy to have a story to sell tickets. Who cares about a bad critic?, people would love to go to the nondead actor's play. Perhaps she did poison him, but someone else pushed him.

Sazz did it

13:10 RED HERRING!!! it's not Donna!!!

What if Theo accidently caused Ben falling - again? 🤔

I don't understand how people use a ladder to get into a theater. That doesn't makes sense?? Please explain

Robert said Dickey fired him not Ben.

I have changed my mind so many times but here's something new. Ben never died. When he fell threw the elevator I said that's not Ben. Yes he's dressed like him but it's a dummy doll. In OMITB they never showed the police taking away Ben from the elevator. Maybe Dicky was trying to kill Ben and Ben made this plan to escape. I don't trust one word Dicky says about his alibi. He went off to take drugs and see whores. I think Loretta knows Ben is her real son. He referred her as a snake and Ben is Cobro. I think the whole cast is is on it with Ben and they will bring down Dicky and maybe Donna and or others. My final answer.

Why not just fire Ben rather then kill him.

Kinda mad that it’s always lady killers. 😒