Like most streamers these days, Hulu keeps its numbers largely under lock and key — but when “Only Murders in the Building” returned for its third season, Deadline reported that it cracked the top ten on the Nielsen charts right away (alongside the surprise summer hit “Suits”). According to the outlet, “Only Murders” scored an impressive 719 million viewing minutes after its August 8 premiere, earning the series the number 9 spot on that week’s Nielsen charts for streaming shows. When it comes to original streaming shows, “Only Murders in the Building” was even more successful, garnering the third most-watched spot on the charts for that category.
Beyond solid streaming numbers, the third season of “Only Murders in the Building” scored solid reviews from critics. At The Atlantic, Shirley Li wrote, “The stakes are low, but the joke density is high, and the twists are always more fun than frightening.” Inverse critic Hoai-Train Bui agreed, saying, “Each mystery still unravels with a fizzy, stylish pop, and every new twist is more entertaining than ever.” At Variety, Alison Herman pointed out that this season’s setting was an ideal fit for its comedy stylings: “‘Only Murders in the Building’ has always been a study in urban loneliness and isolation, giving emotional substance to what’s often a wacky farce. Broadway proves an ideal canvas for this theme.” Of course, Meryl Streep received praise as well; as LaToya Ferguson wrote at TheWrap, “Streep’s performance meshes well with the other big-time stars and only enhances the quicky, charming nature of the popular Hulu series.”
