It is common for television series to pair their main characters with different romantic partners as the show progresses. Most shows with single characters introduce new love interests regularly. This strategy keeps viewers engaged, brings in fresh faces to the cast, and offers new directions for storylines.
However, Only Murders in the Building seems to struggle when it comes to giving its main character, Mabel, consistent or meaningful relationships.
Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building has earned a strong reputation for its excellent cast, which includes comedic actors Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez, as well as its ability to balance humor and mystery. The show recently received an impressive 21 Emmy nominations for its third season.
Despite all the praise, one area where the show falters is in the handling of Mabel’s (Selena Gomez’s) love life. Mabel is one of the show’s central characters, forming a trio with Charles (Steve Martin) and Oliver (Martin Short). However, each season, Mabel’s romantic interests are quickly dropped before the next season begins.
What makes this worse is that most of these breakups happen off-screen, denying Mabel the opportunity for growth that could come from these relationships. While it makes sense that Mabel struggles with maintaining a relationship due to her complex past, this pattern limits her development and holds her character back.
Mabel’s First Love Interest: Oscar Torres
Mabel’s first love interest in Season 1 is Oscar Torres (Aaron Dominguez), a childhood friend who also lived in Arconia. They reconnect while trying to solve the murder of their friend, Tim Kono (Julian Cihi). Their bond grows stronger as they work together to uncover the truth, and for a time, it seems like Mabel and Oscar could be something more.
However, when Season 2 begins, Oscar is nowhere to be found. In Episode 2, Mabel briefly mentions that they chose to remain friends rather than pursue a romantic relationship. After that, Oscar is never mentioned again.
In an interview with Deadline, co-creator John Hoffman explained that the writers decided not to show Mabel developing a relationship with someone she shared a trauma bond with, suggesting that it made sense for Oscar to leave after all he had been through.
While this explanation may be reasonable, it would have been much more impactful for the audience to witness this conversation on-screen.
By choosing to quickly dismiss Oscar without exploring his relationship with Mabel in more detail, the show missed an opportunity to show Mabel processing this part of her life. This lack of closure means we do not get to see how Mabel grows or learns from the relationship.
Mabel’s Second Love Interest: Alice Banks
In Season 2, Mabel begins a new romance with Alice Banks (Cara Delevingne), a mysterious artist and gallery owner. At first, Alice seems to encourage Mabel to face her trauma head-on, helping her process difficult emotions. However, things take a darker turn when Mabel discovers that Alice has been using her personal experiences as inspiration for her art.
Toward the end of the season, Mabel realizes that Alice cannot be trusted and breaks up with her, stating clearly that she cannot be with someone she does not fully trust. Unlike the breakup with Oscar, this one happens on-screen, which is a step in the right direction.
Still, Alice’s role in the story ends abruptly, and she is not discussed in detail again. We never see Mabel fully process the heartbreak or betrayal that came from this relationship.
The emotional toll and trust issues Mabel likely experienced after Alice’s deception are not explored in depth, and this once again limits Mabel’s growth as a character. The potential for a deeper look at Mabel’s trauma and trust issues is ignored, leaving viewers with a sense that her romantic life lacks real emotional consequences.
Mabel’s Latest Love Interest: Tobert
In Season 3, it initially seemed like Mabel might finally get a love interest with staying power. She meets Tobert (Jesse Williams), a documentary filmmaker while investigating the murder of Ben Glenroy (Paul Rudd). Tobert brings out a different side of Mabel, and their chemistry is undeniable.
He is charming and seems to push Mabel in new directions emotionally. At the end of the season, Tobert heads to Los Angeles, and while Mabel initially declines his offer to join him, there is hope that she might visit him in the future, keeping the possibility of their relationship alive.
However, Jesse Williams recently revealed in an interview that he will not be returning for Season 4, which puts an end to any further development in Mabel’s romance with Tobert. The lack of continuity in Mabel’s love life is disappointing for fans who hoped to see her in a longer-lasting relationship.
Once again, it seems the writers are unsure what to do with Mabel’s character in terms of romance, and her relationships end without any real resolution. This will likely be another case where the end of her relationship happens off-screen, leaving audiences without a clear understanding of why Mabel can’t make her relationships last.
Mabel’s troubled past may be preventing her from forming healthy, long-term relationships. However, the show does not fully explore this idea, instead treating Mabel’s romantic life as just another subplot to be wrapped up quickly.
Instead of exploring other important aspects of Mabel’s life, this focus on romance feels like a missed opportunity. Mabel’s character could be developed in so many ways beyond her love life, and she does not need a partner to be a compelling or interesting character.
Yet, each season introduces a new romantic partner only to end the relationship without much thought, leaving viewers feeling unsatisfied.
Seasons 1-3 of Only Murders in the Building are available for streaming on Hulu, with Season 4 premiering on August 27.
