Yes, you read that right. Selena Gomez is the best thing about Murder in the Building.
Now that season four is almost upon us, I thought I’d reflect on what keeps me tuning in to this quirky little show week after week.
The short answer to that is Selena Gomez as Mabel Mora.
I’m not a Selenator (I didn’t even know what that was until I looked it up), and I’m not interested in Gomez’s personal life or struggles. That’s her business.
What I really care about is how much enjoyment I got from watching Gomez play Mabel, and why we need more of her and less distractions that take away from what makes this show so engaging in the first place power.
Mabel is tenacious
Mabel always hits home when it comes to the show’s focus, which is solving murders. Everything else is fluff.
While side stories add dimension to the series as a whole and can be interesting, sometimes they become such an integral part of a season that they lose the original charm.
This is particularly evident in the third season.
When Mabel loses her temper with Oliver and Charles in Murder in the Building Season 3 Episode 6 “Ghostlight” because he cares more about his musical than finding Ben’s real killer, it’s like she Get this sentence out of my head:
Cinda invited me to partner with her while doing Canning, and I said that I was already part of the team. She said I don’t need you, and I’m starting to see that she was right.
All I do is put up with your selfish craziness!
A musical, a white room, a proposal, but one person dies! Someone who really means something to me! Whether you two care or not, I’m going to find out who did it!
Mabel
Oliver is self-indulgent from the start. It’s part of his character, and without it, Oliver wouldn’t be Oliver.
But why do we need to watch an entire season about the trials and tribulations of making a musical, even if it’s a brilliant production that might finally get Oliver the recognition he so craves?
Of course, the musical’s producers are important to the overall plot of the season’s story, but it seems more focused on showcasing A-list celebrities than solving the mystery of who killed Ben.
For example, is the presence of Matthew Broderick integral to the mystery?
Would this story be incomplete without him rehearsing over and over again as Charles’ understudy in “The Sound of Death”?
More guest stars means less Mabel
And Meryl Streep, she’s truly a great actress and she deserves all the accolades she’s received in her life for playing Loretta.
Loretta’s story is clearly compelling and integral to this murder mystery, and her budding romance with Oliver is endearing and fun. They make a great couple.
But she gets so much screen time singing that she crowds out the other core characters, especially Mabel and her lovable self.
All this triviality also takes away important screen time that could have been used to build the friendship and partnership of Mabel, Oliver, and Charles.
These three men are the heart of Murder in the Building, and their dynamic is why people like me first fell in love with the series.
But that development appears to have been put on hold (Choose your guest star here.)
Let me add that guest stars have always been a part of this show and it’s always fun to see who pops up. The first season was perfectly put together.
But the fun stops when guest stars start taking over the show.
Mabel keep it real
I read numerous comments on various social media claiming that Gomez’s performance was “mediocre.” I totally disagree.
Mabel is understated and vulnerable. She is also smart, savvy, and talented.
She went through a lot of personal tragedy in her young life, but she handled it extremely well.
She could roll herself into a ball and let the world pass her by.
Instead, she suppresses things, which may not be the healthiest thing to do, but she perseveres and doggedly seeks a solution to the problem at hand.
How she was able to handle all the drama and function as a person is a testament to her strength and bravery.
Perhaps the reason she persevered despite the odds was because it was her own form of therapy.
This is not about playing a “bland” role. Gomez plays this role very well.
You also have to remember that Murder in the Building already has two exaggerated characters: Oliver and Charles.
If she were as dazzling and glaring as Oliver and Charles (or even Charles’ stand-in Saz), the show would be unbearable. Mabel adds balance.
Steve Martin and Martin Short do a great job with their characters, making them interesting without being too annoying. Gomez is the perfect choice.
Mabel doesn’t need romance to be Mabel
Mabel is a strong and independent young woman. She doesn’t need romance to complete her.
The romantic competition between Torbert and Theo for Mabel’s heart in season three was unnecessary. She didn’t seem keen on it anyway.
In fact, she seemed a little uncomfortable with the whole thing.
I understand that Theo and Torbert somewhat replaced Oliver and Charles, as these two were too focused on the musical and not particularly interested in solving Ben’s murder.
It was cute when Charles gave Torbert his “approval” after learning the two were “dating.”
But the whole “romance” with Torbert seemed forced. Additionally, he tricked her into meeting him at a club. Oh, I know she dressed up for the date, but it doesn’t matter.
The writers seemed to give her a love interest, as Oliver fell in love with Loretta at first sight, while Charles had a bit of a revolving door of romantic interests.
But Mabel didn’t need it. Let her figure out her life first before adding unnecessary trouble. Let her breathe!
She said so herself when she told Torbert she wouldn’t follow him to California, but the door remained open.
Her romance with Oscar in season 1 makes sense because there’s a history there.
Now that she’s living with Theo, there’s a good chance something will happen between them if she doesn’t move out early.
But don’t force a “boat” just for the sake of having a “boat.” Is it a bad thing for her to be friends with men her own age and not make them love interests?
Mabel and Howard, on the other hand, make a great team, and I’m excited to see Howard get more involved in solving the Arconian murders in the future. He’s funny.
There may be no chance of romance happening there.
Mabel bridges the gap between the older and newer generations
The relationship between young Mabel and the older Oliver and Martin is the most important part of the show.
It’s what ties everything together and makes this series so engaging, at least to me.
The relationship between the three men shows that two distant generations can not only share the same interests, but also come together for a common cause, even if that cause is solving a murder.
Through each other, they get to know and understand the other side of the mirror better, and slowly shed their preconceived notions about each other’s generation.
But more importantly, Mabel, Charles, and Oliver learn from each other, which helps them grow as individuals.
We’ve already seen some of them.
Mabel is coming out of her shell. She is learning to trust others, become more bold, and not afraid to show others how smart and talented she is.
Charles is learning to live again without locking himself away physically and mentally.
Oliver, well, he still has a long way to go. Still, he slowly but surely realizes that there is more to the world than just himself.
This is especially evident when he says some inherently cruel things to Mabel in Season 3’s “Ghostlight”:
Oliver: “Now, I know you’ve never had adult jobs before, but guess what? They’re important.
Oliver’s words not only show his arrogance and selfishness, but also show an attitude that sometimes appears when the older generation is dealing with the younger generation: We know everything, but you don’t.
The key is that he realized he had made a mistake. This is growth.
Mabel knows the meaning of respecting elders
Mabel is witty and sassy in her responses to her older colleagues, but not mean-spirited.
Yes, sometimes she thought Oliver and Charles were old-school. Her deadpan, witty reactions embody this, especially when their attempts to appear cool and sassy to the younger generation fail.
But she doesn’t embarrass them, which she could easily do with a simple eye roll and a smart-aleck comeback.
She can express her disgust, annoyance, and anger in a kind, compassionate, and respectful manner.
As a member of the older generation, I appreciate that.
Selena Gomez did a great job of making Mabel Mora her own.
The name Mabel means “lovable” and it embodies everything about Gomez’s character – one of the most delightful characters on television today.
We just need more Mabel, more of the Arkenian trio, and less crap. Hopefully we can achieve that in season four.
What do you say, TV fanatics? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
