Selena Gomez stars as Mabel Mora in Only Murders in the Building, playing a cynical, true-crime-obsessed young tenant living inside a luxurious New York City apartment building called the Arconia. While the competitor article mistakenly links this hit series to Netflix, it's actually a Hulu original series created by Steve Martin and John Hoffman. Streaming exclusively on Hulu in the U.S. and Disney+ internationally, the show pairs Gomez with comedy legends Steve Martin and Martin Short to lampoon modern podcast culture and amateur sleuthing.
Mabel Mora serves as the grounded, deadpan anchor of the trio. Her character's obsession with true crime isn't just a quirky trait; it's the catalyst that forces her to team up with two eccentric neighbors—washed-up television actor Charles-Haden Savage and struggling Broadway director Oliver Putnam—after a suspicious death occurs in their building. Instead of treating the premise as a straightforward thriller, the series uses Gomez's understated delivery to mock the sensationalism of real-world crime documentaries and podcast obsession.
The Character Evolution of Mabel Mora
Mabel enters the series hiding secrets beneath a yellow trench coat and a sarcastic exterior. She doesn't join the podcasting trio just for fun; she has a personal, complicated history with the Arconia and past victims that slowly unravels across multiple seasons.
- Season 1: Mabel deals with the murder of Tim Kono, confronting past trauma tied to a group of childhood friends known as the "Hardy Boys."
- Season 2: She becomes the prime suspect in the murder of Arconia board president Bunny Folger, forcing her to clear her name while feeding the podcast's ravenous listener base.
- Later Seasons: Her role expands from an accidental suspect into a professional investigator, navigating art world corruption and theatrical sabotage alongside her older co-stars.
Gomez brings a specific brand of generational detachment to the dynamic. While Charles and Oliver romanticize the golden age of theater and television, Mabel views everything through a lens shaped by internet sleuthing, memes, and true-crime podcasts. This generational clash fuels the show's primary comedic engine.
Why the True-Crime Satire Hits Home
The show works because it holds up a mirror to contemporary media consumption. Millions of listeners tune into serialized audio investigations every week, dissecting digital evidence from their couches. The characters in Only Murders in the Building do exactly that, but with disastrous, comedic results.
They record audio in closets, harass neighbors, and ignore basic police protocol because they want to capture true-crime narrative beats. Mabel frequently points out the ethical flaws of turning real tragedies into entertainment, balancing the show's silliness with a sharp critique of modern spectator culture.
Behind the Scenes and Critical Acclaim
The casting of Gomez was an intentional choice by co-creator Steve Martin, who wanted a young performer who could play deadpan and match the rhythm of veteran comedy writers. The risk paid off. Gomez earned multiple Emmy nominations for her acting and producing work on the series, proving her transition from pop stardom to prestige television.
Production takes place on elaborate soundstages in New York City, recreating the fictional, opulent architecture of the Arconia. Costume design also plays a major role in defining Mabel's identity, with her signature outerwear becoming a recognizable symbol for fans tracking the show's aesthetic evolution.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I watch Only Murders in the Building?
The series streams on Hulu in the United States, Star+ in Latin America, and Disney+ under the Star banner internationally. It is not available on Netflix.
Is the Arconia a real building?
The exterior shots of the Arconia feature the Belnord, a real historic apartment building located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. The interior sets are built on soundstages.
Does Selena Gomez sing in the series?
While Gomez is a global pop superstar, the show primarily showcases her acting. However, musical elements and theater-themed subplots do appear, especially throughout the Broadway-focused third season.
How many seasons does the show have?
The series has run for multiple successful seasons on Hulu, earning widespread critical praise and numerous award nominations since its 2021 premiere.
