The first season of Only Murders in the Building landed as one of the year’s most surprising TV hits, and its second season, which recently wrapped on Disney Plus, kept that momentum. The show blends sharp humor with a gripping mystery, anchored by a standout trio. Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez lead the cast, supported by memorable supporting players who appear as themselves, including Shirley MacLaine, Nathan Lane, and Amy Ryan, among others. A handful of guest stars also pop in as real-life versions of themselves. The draw isn’t just the witty dialogue or clever twists; the setting matters just as much. The Arconia, a luxurious and exclusive New York apartment block, becomes a character in its own right, its refined atmosphere threading through every scene and driving the plot.
For a traveler imagining a trip around the Arconia’s fictional neighborhood, the show sits in the same vibe as iconic spaces like the Friends residence and other architectural landmarks. The setting nods to real architectural feats rather than naming a single real-world building. From the late 19th to the early 20th century, ambitious structures rose that could fill an entire block and function as tiny cities. These monumental complexes housed large communities and offered a self-contained world, a microcosm within the metropolis where daily life could unfold without wandering far.
Even with dense populations, the series makes these interiors feel intimate, turning routine apartment-door exchanges into stages for chance encounters and unexpected adventures. The premise follows three retirees who love podcasts and true crime as they team up to untangle the neighbor’s mysterious death. The show channels the mood of classic Manhattan murder stories while highlighting how a tight-knit, seemingly anonymous community can yield gripping drama and surprising camaraderie. The idea of a neighborhood podcast collecting the most chilling local events feels almost inevitable in a world where fear and fascination coexist.
The on-screen façade draws inspiration from a real Upper West Side landmark known as the Belnord, built in 1908 by architect H. Hobart Weeks and transformed into an apartment building long before modern times. It housed as many as 1,500 residents, with interiors richly decorated in period style. The building’s history includes notable moments from the 1930s, including a tenant strike against owner conditions that drew public attention and forced a rethink of property management. The central plotline of the second season centers on the murder of Bunny Folger, chair of the parish council. The creators likely threaded real-world tensions and social dynamics into the drama to deepen the texture of the fictional world.
Not every interior sequence features Belnord. Some scenes were filmed in nearby studios or other locations whose design echoes the exterior. Other real-life buildings in the area also provided inspiration, broadening the architectural palette for the show.
One of the first buildings that comes to mind for its name and aura is the Ansonia, an Upper West Side landmark raised by the late William Henry Stokes. It became famous as one of the era’s grandest structures, a sprawling complex with many rooms and a striking entry. The Depression era and changing fortunes led to a decline, but its eventual restoration underscored the enduring appeal of bold, ambitious design. The building has housed famous residents and hosted events that fed New York’s mythos as a place of power, spectacle, and resilience.
Another architectural beacon tied to the city’s lore is the Dakota, constructed in 1884 and designed by Henry Janin. Often described as cursed by legends, the Dakota counts Madonna, Antonio Banderas, Melanie Griffith, Billy Joel, Cher, and others among its famous residents. After a recent high-profile purchase, even a late-career chapter for a renowned actor reflected the Dakota’s ongoing appeal. Its history includes dramatic moments tied to cinema and music, and the building remains a touchstone for New York’s cultural imagination. The site of a notorious real-world event connected to the area adds to its mystique, fueling stories that echo through the show’s fictional world.
In the second season, hidden passages and concealed exits within the Arconia add another layer to the mystery. These secret corridors recall the architectural intrigue associated with historic urban fortresses, repurposed for drama and suspense in contemporary storytelling. The idea of a labyrinthine building offering both safety and danger taps into a broader legend about hidden spaces and the people who occupy them. The narrative even nods to real-life crime lore that has fascinated audiences for decades, weaving fact with fiction to heighten the tension. A noted New York filmmaker has long toyed with similar themes in a forthcoming project, highlighting how these architectural legends continue to inspire new generations of storytellers.
Only the murders in the building has laid a strong foundation for a potential third season. With the show’s continued success, fans wonder whether the adventure might stretch further. The actors have shared thoughts about their plans for the future, and audiences celebrate a return that felt like a revival after years apart. The blend of comedy, mystery, and a distinctly New York ambiance has resonated with viewers across Canada and the United States, proving that witty storytelling paired with intriguing settings can endure across seasons.