In the latest episode of “Only Murders in the Building,” titled “Valley of the Dolls,” the show continues to deliver thrilling content after last week’s success.
While Episode 6, “Blow Up,” brought a lot of investigation and suspense, this episode leans more into the characters’ relationships, and their emotions, and adds a lighter comedic touch. It proves that even when the investigation slows down a bit, the charm and entertainment of the show remain intact.
Mabel, Oliver, and Charles Take Refuge at Doreen’s House
The episode begins right where we left off in the cliffhanger of Episode 6. After receiving threatening text messages, Mabel (played by Selena Gomez), Oliver (played by Martin Short), and Charles (played by Steve Martin) decide to get out of the Arconia building for their safety.
The trio chooses to hide out at Charles’s sister Doreen’s house, located on Long Island. This is where things get a bit wackier.
Doreen, played by the ever-hilarious Melissa McCarthy, welcomes them into her home. Right from the start, it’s clear that she has a quirky personality, and her house reflects that. She has an obsession with dolls, and not just any dolls – there are porcelain baby dolls, life-size mannequins, and more.
Oliver even notices that one of the mannequins eerily resembles Loretta (Meryl Streep), which adds to the unsettling vibe. This doll obsession is key to understanding Doreen’s character and reveals her deeper loneliness, as she lives alone after her children have grown up and her husband has left.
Tension Between Charles and Doreen
In addition to Doreen’s strange collection, we also get more insight into the relationship between Charles and his sister. It turns out that they aren’t very close. There’s a significant age gap between them, which is part of the reason.
As the episode progresses, we learn that Charles feels responsible for an accident Doreen had when she was a child. This guilt has haunted him over the years and has contributed to the emotional distance between them.
But despite this distance, Doreen misses her brother deeply. She reveals that he doesn’t visit her often, and she masks her loneliness with her doll collection. Throughout the episode, we witness the siblings working through their strained relationship, setting the stage for a heartwarming reconciliation by the end.
Unwanted Visitors
Just when Mabel, Oliver, and Charles think they’re safe at Doreen’s house and can finally focus on solving the case, the peace is disrupted. Early the next morning, Bev Melon (played by Molly Shannon) shows up at the house.
It turns out that Howard (Michael Cyril Creighton), the ever-gossiping Arconia resident, has been telling everyone where the trio is hiding. Bev arrives in a panic, asking Charles if the Brothers sisters are the killers.
She’s concerned because if they are, she’ll need to fire them from the show she’s working on. However, if there’s only a possibility without proof, she can still spin the situation and keep them on board.
Still from Only Murders in the Building (Credit: Hulu)
As if Bev’s sudden appearance wasn’t enough, the actors from the play also show up shortly after, angry that they were left behind with a potential murderer on the loose. Mabel tries to reassure them, telling them that the murderer isn’t after them.
However, Zach Galifianakis’s character dramatically lifts his shirt to reveal a bullet wound, proving otherwise. Despite her reservations, Mabel allows them to stay – but only under one condition: they must give up their phones to ensure the house remains as safe as possible.
Loretta’s Return
Loretta, played by Meryl Streep, is another unexpected visitor who shows up at Doreen’s house, adding even more chaos to the trio’s supposed “safe house.” Loretta’s arrival isn’t random, though. We learn that she’s come to confront Oliver after he broke up with her through a text message on the way to Doreen’s house.
Oliver had turned his phone off for safety reasons, so he missed all of Loretta’s responses. Unbeknownst to him, when Loretta received his breakup text, she jumped on the first flight she could get and headed straight to him.
But when she arrives, she finds Oliver in what appears to be a compromising position with Doreen. In reality, Oliver had just gotten caught in Doreen’s sweater while trying to stand up, but it leads to an awkward moment. Loretta, however, isn’t one to back down easily, and the two finally have a much-needed conversation.
Oliver and Loretta Talk Things Out
Throughout the season, we’ve watched Oliver agonize over his relationship with Loretta. In this episode, they finally sit down to clear the air. Loretta asks Oliver why he thought it was acceptable to break up with her over text, and he explains that he had previously called her and poured his heart out, only to receive an underwhelming “Ugh” in response.
But as it turns out, Loretta doesn’t remember this phone call. She asks Oliver what time the call happened, and when he says it was around lunchtime for her, she starts laughing.
For the scene she had been filming that day, both she and her stand-in were wrapped in gauze, and the production assistant must have mistakenly handed the phone to the stand-in. It’s a classic mix-up that adds a humorous touch to the episode.
The two laugh off the misunderstanding and seem to patch things up – at least for a while. But then Doreen steps in again. After drinking too much vodka, Doreen tries to seduce Oliver one more time. She even dons pigtails in her attempt, but Oliver remains loyal to Loretta.
This leads to a sweet conversation between Oliver and Loretta, where he admits that he had considered proposing to her during their time in Los Angeles. It’s a tender moment that deepens their relationship.
However, Oliver, being his usual self, takes things a step too far. He reveals that he created a fake account to get close to Loretta, which deeply upsets her.
Still from Only Murders in the Building (Credit: Hulu)
Loretta explains that she had developed a connection with “Ronnie,” the fake persona Oliver had used, and had even taken screenshots of their motivational conversations. This betrayal causes Loretta to step away for a moment to process her feelings.
Doreen and Loretta’s Hilarious Fight
Loretta isn’t the only one upset by Oliver’s actions. Doreen, feeling embarrassed after her failed seduction attempt, tries to apologize to Loretta. But the apology quickly escalates into a fight, with Doreen taking the first swing.
Loretta, having learned stage combat from her acting career, fights back, leading to a hilarious showdown between the two women. The scene becomes even more comical when Eva Longoria, playing herself, begins shouting stage directions at them from the sidelines.
Despite the chaos, the fight serves as a cathartic release for both Loretta and Doreen. By the end, Loretta and Oliver manage to work through their issues, and we get to see Oliver’s more vulnerable side.
He admits that it’s been over a decade since he’s been in a serious relationship, and he fears that Loretta won’t be able to handle his chaotic life. But instead of running away, Loretta surprises him by proposing. Of course, Oliver happily accepts.
Charles and Doreen Reconnect
It’s not just Oliver and Loretta who experience growth in this episode. Charles and Doreen also have a heartfelt moment of reconciliation. Throughout the episode, it becomes clear that Doreen’s doll obsession stems from her loneliness. Her children have grown up, her husband is out of the picture, and she’s been feeling isolated for a long time.
In a touching conversation, Doreen opens up to Charles about their difficult childhood. She reveals that their mother wasn’t always the best parent, often distant and emotionally unavailable. However, she vividly remembers one particular moment when their mother held her hand during Charles’s first play.
It was the first and only time their mother showed such affection, and it left a lasting impact on Doreen. She admits that she feels abandoned by Charles as well and wishes he would visit her more often.
Charles, feeling guilty for not being there for his sister, promises to make an effort to visit her more frequently. This scene provides a touching resolution to the tension between the siblings and adds depth to Charles’s character.
The Actors Solve the Mystery
While Mabel, Oliver, and Charles are dealing with their personal issues, the actors at the safe house are busy working on the case. The actors, feeling left out of the investigation, decide to take matters into their own hands. They create a “murder wall,” complete with all the clues they’ve gathered, and claim to have solved the mystery.
Their big revelation is that the case goes all the way back to Season 1. They point out that the trio never thoroughly investigated who poisoned Oliver’s dog, Winnie, because they assumed it was Jan (Amy Ryan), the killer from Season 1.
The actors also note that the text messages Mabel, Oliver, and Charles received in Episode 6 are similar to the notes from Season 1.
Still from Only Murders in the Building (Credit: Hulu)
Charles realizes that his friend Sazz had pieced all of this together before her death. She had left behind clues that pointed back to these same revelations, and Charles believes this is what she had been trying to tell him – that the trio has been targeted since the very beginning.
The True Killer is Revealed
While the trio is hiding out at Doreen’s, Howard is back at the bodega, continuing his own investigation. He’s trying to figure out who has been cashing the checks in Milton Dudenoff’s name. As he examines the signatures, he notices that they are all different, but the phone number listed on each check is the same.
Suspicious, Howard manages to get the surveillance footage from the bodega, and to his surprise, he sees five familiar faces: the Westies.
Howard calls the phone number on the checks, and Vince Fish (played by Richard Kind) answers, pretending to be Milton Dudenoff. This confirms Howard’s suspicions – the Westies have been cashing Dudenoff’s checks. Howard promptly hangs up, knowing that they’ve been found out.
The last set of episodes before the finale of The Circle Season 7 kept viewers on the edge of their seats. While the Disruptor Twist did not make a comeback, the competition remained intense. Alliances shifted, and an unforgettable streak of hangouts took place. This season is one of the most exciting to date, and the unpredictable nature of the game means anyone could still win.
Michelle Buteau, the lively and charismatic host, continues to guide the show, which has been a hit reality series on Netflix since its debut in 2020. In The Circle, players are isolated in their apartments and can only communicate through a special social media app, also called The Circle.
The aim is to stay in the game through a combination of direct messages, games, and strategic blockings. Players compete for the grand prize of $100,000, with only one player walking away victorious. The first four episodes of Season 7 aired on September 11th, and the finale is set to drop on Netflix on October 2nd.
With various subscription options available on Netflix, fans have easy access to the show. The standard plan with ads costs $6.99 a month, while the ad-free version is $15.49. For those seeking the premium, ad-free experience, the cost is $22.99 monthly.
As Michelle Buteau mentioned, the tension was high in the latest episodes, especially when Kevin Fernandez and Gianna, also known as the Scalotta Twins, couldn’t agree on who to block. However, in The Circle, a decision must always be made.
Kevin took the initiative, extending an olive branch and taking responsibility for the blocking decision. Gianna and Rachel, also known as Deb Floyd, agreed to form an alliance with Kevin if he took the lead. The pressure was intense, but after some negotiation, the Influencers chose to block Darian Holt. Darian’s decision in Disruptor Mode to put Kevin in the hangout had backfired completely.
Still from the season (Netflix)
Darian, after some time in his apartment, decided to leave on a positive note and visited Jadejha Edwards, his romantic interest in The Circle. Their reunion was filled with joy, and it was clear that their connection was real.
However, the game was still on, and Darian warned Jadejha to distance herself from Kevin, hinting that he shouldn’t have been an Influencer. They also realized that Gianna might not be trustworthy. Jadejha was left to figure out her next move, but for the moment, their relationship and a shared Polaroid seemed to be the only thing that mattered.
The next morning, Darian revealed himself to the group in a final Circle message. He spoke honestly and confirmed that he was a genuine player. Although he avoided naming Kevin directly, Darian subtly criticized him for being disloyal.
This caused a stir in the group chat, with Jadejha throwing Kevin under the bus, while Kevin took the high road and accepted the blame. Garrett added to the tension by probing Kevin’s motivations for targeting Darian, which could have implicated Madelyn Rusinyak. This situation left Tierra, also known as Antonio Hayes, wondering if Kevin was as trustworthy as he seemed.
As the drama calmed down, private conversations took place between Madelyn and Garrett, as well as Kevin and Tierra. But the peace didn’t last long. The next game, called #Circleama, was designed to stir things up. Players could ask each other anonymous questions, and no subject was off-limits.
Kevin asked Jadejha who her favorite player in The Circle was, and she diplomatically named Garrett, Gianna, Rachel, and Madelyn, without revealing too much of her strategy. Meanwhile, Gianna asked Garrett about his alliances and who he trusted. He acknowledged that Jadejha had been loyal to him and expressed his reluctance to align with anyone who would betray his allies.
Madelyn, not one to hold back, questioned Tierra’s originality and suggested that Tierra was simply following the group’s lead. Although Tierra tried to brush off the accusation, the other players took note of the defensive tone in her response.
Garrett, on the other hand, asked Rachel who she thought was playing dirty. Rachel confidently named Gianna as someone she trusted, but she also called out Kevin for betraying their alliance. This move caused a stir, with Kevin feeling targeted once again.
Still from the season (Netflix)
Jadejha took her turn to question Kevin, asking him which of his alliances he planned to sacrifice next. Kevin, who had already faced a lot of scrutiny, responded cautiously, saying he was just playing the game. Tierra then sent Rachel a message, explaining why she deserved to win over someone pretending to be someone else.
Rachel fired back, accusing Tierra of being a catfish herself. The game wrapped up with Rachel asking Kevin about his supposed profession as a lifeguard, a lie that was beginning to catch up with him. Kevin’s hesitation in answering put a spotlight on him, and his non-response didn’t help his case.
As the ratings loomed, the players worked hard to solidify their alliances and improve their standings. There were plenty of private chats, including one between Kevin and Gianna, and another between Tierra and Jadejha, the latter being an important heart-to-heart conversation.
Before the next set of ratings, another game was introduced—Pick 3. Each player was given a list of fifteen items and had to choose the three they couldn’t live without. Although the game was more lighthearted, Rachel shocked the group when she said she would never give up sex.
With alliances constantly shifting, the upcoming ratings had the potential to make or break each player’s game. When the results came in, Garrett found himself at the bottom. He was followed by Madelyn, Jadejha, Tierra, and Rachel.
Once again, Kevin and Gianna were the top-rated players, with Gianna taking the first spot and Kevin in second. This meant the two of them would be the Influencers for the third time in the game.
Kevin and Gianna had just formed an alliance, but now they faced the tough decision of who to block. After discussing their options, they considered targeting Garrett, who had been ranked last. However, Gianna was hesitant to break their alliance, despite Kevin’s argument that Jadejha posed a greater threat. In the end, the Influencers chose to block Garrett.
Garrett, after being blocked, visited Rachel’s apartment. He was shocked to learn that Rachel, whom he had ranked second, had placed him last. The emotional conversation that followed revealed that Rachel had been working with Madelyn to rank Garrett low in the ratings.
She explained that after discovering Kevin’s lies, she decided to support his game, which is why she had ranked him high. The encounter was emotional, with Garrett in tears as Rachel shared the painful story of her son who had passed away.
Still from the season (Netflix)
The next morning, Garrett’s parting message revealed his true identity and explained that he had been playing both sides of the game. He called out the Influencers for blocking the weakest player, and his message sparked a desire among the remaining players to turn on Gianna and Kevin. Meanwhile, Rachel and Madelyn, who had once swapped profiles in Disruptor Mode, took the opportunity to throw insults at each other in the group chat.
In a heartwarming twist, the players received video calls from their loved ones. Kevin’s parents called to congratulate him on his performance in the game. Jadejha’s father gave her a pep talk, though he wasn’t thrilled to hear about her new romantic interest.
Tierra, who had been playing as Antonio, had an emotional conversation with herself, reflecting on the risks she had taken in the game. Madelyn’s family encouraged her to heal from her past trauma, reminding her that it was just a game. Finally, Rachel, also known as Deb, received a call from her husband and sons, which brought her to tears.
Before the final ratings, the players took part in one last game called It’s Giving Awards. This was their last chance to make an impression before the final blocking. Kevin won the It’s Giving Lucky Award, while Gianna was awarded the It’s Giving Realness title, despite being a catfish.
Gianna and Rachel both received the It’s Giving Loyal Award, but they were also labeled as manipulators. The most significant award, It’s Giving Circle Winner, went to Rachel, drawing even more attention to her game.
As the final ratings approached, the players learned that the top-rated player would become the Super Secret Influencer, with the power to block anyone they chose. The ratings revealed a three-way tie for first place between Gianna and Rachel, Kevin and Madelyn, and Tierra and Jadejha. In the end, Madelyn was declared the Super Secret Influencer, securing her place in the finale.
With the power to block someone face-to-face, Madelyn’s decision would determine the final five players. However, in typical Circle fashion, the episode ended on a cliffhanger, leaving viewers eagerly awaiting the finale.
Who will Madelyn block? Will Kevin and Gianna’s alliance survive? Can Rachel, the wildcard, pull off a surprise win? Fans will have to tune in to the final episode to see who walks away with the $100,000 prize.
