In Dan Gilroy’s 2014 thriller Somnambulist, freelance photojournalist Lou Bloom (Jake Gyllenhaal) doesn’t hesitate to manipulate the public with the help of his chief editor, Nina Romaine (Rene Russo). He tampers with crime scene footage; she happily broadcasts the exclusive graphic videos. Why not lie and take advantage, whether through ratings, money or popularity, of the public’s desire for sensationalism? Somnambulist is far from the only element of pop culture to scathingly denounce the vicious cycle of consumerism and hyperbole in the media. But it’s a recent example that has become even more relevant with the rise (and I apologize for the triggering phrase) of “fake news.”

Now, Only murders in the building is still comfortable and not as dark as Gilroy’s film. The Hulu series’ satirical take on its true crime subject matter is commendable and timely, if not modest, like the subway video of Mabel stabbing Glitter Person that’s going viral, and without full context, because the uploader would rather be the first to put it on TikTok. So OMITEpisode nine’s wild cliffhanger, “Sparring Partners,” is the boldest twist yet. It’s an attempt to push how far Cinda Canning could go to maintain her unofficial title as “Queen of the Murder Podcasts.” This cleverly harkens back to the origins of Mabel, Charles and Oliver’s friendship.

To jog your memory: The central trio bonded over Cinda’s podcast, “All Isn’t Right in Oklahoma,” over dinner for the series premiere. The case follows the disappearance of Chickasha local Becky Butler. Cinda interviews her loved ones and finds crucial clues (like finding Becky’s panties buried in the woods with the help of a dog) that boost her follower count. As we learn in “Sparring Partners,” good old Becky has always been by his side. While it’s not entirely surprising that Cinda was somehow involved in Bunny’s death or framing the amateur sleuths of Arconia, Becky’s revelation is a total record-breaking moment.

Mabel learns at the end of the half hour that Poppy White, Cinda’s loyal assistant (and the narrator of episode six, “Performance Review”) is the missing Becky herself. Damn, if that doesn’t open up a whole new box of worms to explore for the finale. Did Cinda and Poppy plan everything together? Does the podcast queen have a thing for Poppy/Becky, and is that why her assistant sticks by her despite the insults and lack of promotion? Who is the real crook here? And is Cinda really the woman Detective Kreps sees in the bar as he witnesses Becky’s disappearance?

OMIT point the finger at Cinda in this episode narrated by Kreps, but with the season two finale remaining, I expect several more twists to this seemingly linear story about Cinda seeking glory and Kreps enjoying it along the way. Is his podcast empire about to fall? Will Poppy be the one to take over, or will it be Charles, Oliver and Mabel? For now, they think their favorite host is the criminal mastermind. But what I still don’t understand is why Bunny? Did Cinda and/or Poppy discover on Rose Cooper’s painting during her research Arconia during the first season? There are a lot of blanks to fill in.

OWe now know Rose Cooper isn’t missing either. Much like Becky changing her identity to Poppy for some unknown reason, Rose posed as Leonora Folger in Episode Two to get her prized likeness. She disappeared all those years ago because, like her said to Charles—who deduced his true identity—she was hiding from an abusive husband. Is it side storyline some sort of clue as to why Becky needed to “disappear?” In any event, Charles’ father was Rose’s true love and helped her. Much to Charles’s relief, he wasn’t a completely bad guy (one would think OMIT would at least throw a name for him but no).

Oliver also has to deal with fatherhood in one form or another. After dragging this script for several episodes, hfinally learns that Will is not his biological child but it’s Teddy and Roberta’s. Despite the lie to his sonOliver confronts Teddy, and the two end up patching themselves up after an elevator argument that Howard witnesses.. It leads to comedy gold over who the worst dad is, and Teddy is right: he wins for involving Theo in a grave-robbing scheme, even though Oliver is training Will to be a theater manager.. Now let’s wait and see if this family reunion ever occurs and if the current Roberta is potentially introduced.

For now, all eyes are on Cinda, Kreps, and whatever Poppy/Becky might have to say about it. OMIT took a big swing with this twist, and not everyone could join it. But I think it’s a great setup for falling dominoes that could push Charles, Oliver and Mabel even closer to success. If eliminating Tim Kono’s killer made them famous, imagine where eliminating Cinda could lead them? It’s also an opportunity for the show to truly examine pop culture, the era of true crime, and our obsession with 15 minutes of fame In the light way only OMIT can get away with it. (Unless Gyllenhaal is the next big cameo? Just kidding.)

Wandering observations:

• Any guesses on who next week’s narrator might be as the mystery finally unfolds? Will it be Cinda or Poppy (aka Becky Butler), or will Oliver and Charles get to do the deed?
• Some good one-liners from Oliver in “Sparring Partners”. HHere are some of my favorites: “This lovely creature [Mrs. Gambolini] kept me up all night telling me to fuck off, which is why I look like Nick Nolte after Mardi Gras,” and “I’m so Greek that I could go bankrupt and no one in the world would help me.”
• At least Bunny’s pet parrot wasn’t a complete waste of a storyline, with the discovery of Rose Cooper’s real painting hidden in Mrs. Gambolini’s cage.
• It was icky of Kreps to ask Mabel to join him in the ring and fight. It’s a good thing he’s dumb, and she can manipulate him into giving information.
• That’s two for two on Mabel’s love interests, huh? Unless she reconciles with Alice in the finale, of course. At least she had a good breakup, unlike poor Oscar (Aaron Dominguez).
• Congratulations to the sublime scenes between Shirley MacLaine (welcome back!) and Steve Martin. And to this sentence from Rose to Charles: “I hope you charge rent to the people in your head, you will make a fortune.”