Only Murders in the Building Episode 8 Gives Dudenoff’s Story A Hollywood Ending

Much like another Selena Gomez show, everything is not what it seems in Only Murders in the Building season four episode eight. The last episode led audiences to believe the west wing gang of the Arconia killed Dudenoff so they could live in his rent-controlled apartments forever. Yet alas, we’ve been fooled by the Only Murders in the Building writers room once again.

Mabel, Oliver, Charles are joined by Eva Longoria, Zack Galifianakis, and Eugene Levy again, but all hell breaks loose when the team invites the Westies over to play a game of “Oh Hell” as a ruse. When Richard Kind and his crew bust into the apartment, they confront the podcast and acting team about the Dudenoff dilemma. The Westies hold the team at knifepoint and demand that Mabel and the gang hear their side of the story. They stand firm on their statement that they didn’t kill Dudenoff, and they have proof to back it up.

The Sauce family takes the lead to explain their connection to Dudenoff. Alfonso (Desmin Borges) explains that Dudenoff and his wife used to frequent their restaurant. When Dudenoff’s wife passed away, the family started delivering food to him on their way home. Dudenoff invited Alfonso and his family to his apartment for weekly Friday night games of “Oh Hell.” He emphasizes that his wife wouldn’t ever kill Dudenoff because they loved him dearly, while his wife (Daphne Rubin-Vega) and his daughter (Lilian Rebelo) confirm this.

Mabel accuses Christmas influencer Rudy (Kumail Nanjiani) of killing Dudenoff, but he denies being the culprit as well. He shares that he was a struggling actor working five jobs when he met Dudenoff. After getting to know the film professor, Rudy decided to sign up for his class and learn a lengthy monologue to impress him. Dudenoff ended up inviting Rudy to “Oh Hell” night where he met the Sauce family and found a new home.

With the Sauce family and Rudy in the clear, Richard Kind’s Vince seems to be the only suspect left. Yet alas, he has a story too. Also widowed, Vince decides to take a film class to honor his late wife. He bonds with professor Dudenoff because of their shared view points and struggle to connect with the younger generations. Dudenoff invited Stink Eye Joe (whoops, I mean Vince) to “Oh Hell” night and it was the start of a beautiful friendship.

I bet you’re wondering why Dudenoff let his new friends live in the building for so cheap. Dudenoff had acquired the entire floor with his wife as a way to keep the wing to themselves. However, with her gone, Dudenoff is lonely and wants a family. He takes in the Westies as his found family not just because he liked them all, but because he wanted to help each of their living situations.

Taking a page out of Eva Longoria’s book, Mabel surprises the gang with a “sexy surprise” that will rattle the Westies. A long lost member of the Westies, Helga (Alexandra Templer) walks in. Are you wondering who Helga is? She’s the mystery woman who threatened Mabel and the gang on the HAM radio earlier this season. It turns out that Helga was Dudenoff’s locksmith who shared a love for “Oh Hell” as well. After hearing Helga’s story about losing her father, Dudenoff invited her into the Westie group. Helga explains she doesn’t know what happened to the sweet old man. All she knows is one day she came home and there was a letter from Dudenoff claiming he was leaving. She recalls the power surged as she read the note, to which she notes the power only surges when the basement incinerator is used. Anyone remember where Mabel, Charles, and Oliver found Dudenoff’s remains? Yep, in the incinerator.

So if the Westies didn’t kill Dudenoff, how did he up in the incinerator? Vince brings the Westies, the podcasters, and the actors to his apartment where he reveals a hidden tape in his floorboard. He explains that one night, the Sauce family, Rudy, and himself recieved notes from Dudenoff, asking them to join him in the incinerator room for his funeral. You know, as one does. Clearly worried for the old man, the Westies (minus an uninvited Helga) run to the basement to see what’s going on.

The Westies find Dudenoff in front of a film camera awaiting their arrival. He calmly explains to his friends that he’s received a medical diagnosis that gives him months to live. He tells his friends that once he dies, the apartments in his name will be taken away from his friends. However, Dudenoff refuses to let that happen. He reveals that he’s taken a handful of pills to speed up his death and he wishes for the Westies to put his body in the incinerator when he passes. Dudenoff also demands that the Westies cash checks in his name to keep the apartments and that they must say he retired to Portugal. His final request is that none of them tell Helga because he doesn’t want her to experience the loss of another father figure. Dudenoff films a goodbye for Helga in the basement and gives it to Vince for safekeeping. Vince plays the tape for Helga and the others, therefore proving their story is true and giving Helga a final goodbye from her dear friend.

So in sum, Dudenoff ended his own life, but made sure his family was taken care of. The Westies are guilty of nothing but illegally living at the Arconia. It seems like that will remain a secret until Longoria reveals she’s been recording their story this entire time. However, Mabel, Charles, and Oliver decide they won’t publish the story. The Arconia brought Charles, Mabel, and Oliver together as a quirky, flawed, yet loving family, so why should they take the same thing away from the Westies?

With Dudenoff’s death explained, the murderer behind Sazz’s death still remains unknown. Thankfully, Helga delivers valuable information to our crew. She tells Mabel, Chales, and Oliver that Sazz would talk on the HAM radio to get answers to plotholes in their podcast and one time she revealed to Helga that an old protégé of hers was out to get revenge for something Sazz did to them. Who was Sazz’s protégé? What made them want Sazz dead?

While this episode gave audiences answers to the looming Dudenoff plotline, I can’t help but wonder how this story will connect to Sazz’s death. As of right now, there doesn’t seem to be a substantial connection other than Sazz asking questions over the radio, but only time will tell as we near the end of season four.

Only Murders in the Building season four is streaming now on Hulu, with new episodes every Tuesday.