
TV Show review
Review basis: 5 seasons · through October 28, 2025
August 31, 2021 · TV-MA · Returning Series
Woke Score
Lower is better
Review
Only Murders in the Building is a Hulu comedy-mystery series about three neighbors in a New York City apartment building who bond over true-crime podcasts and investigate murders happening in their home. Across five seasons from 2021 to 2025, the show mixes light humor, sharp twists, generational friendship, and meta stories about Broadway and Hollywood. It includes natural diversity suited to a modern NYC setting and occasional modern cultural nods, but keeps focus on mystery and character comedy without strong political or identity-driven messaging.
Breakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for Only Murders in the Building.
Woke representation / casting
Natural mix of backgrounds fits NYC apartment building setting and character logic; Selena Gomez as young Latina artist, Latino friend, Black detective, and deaf resident appear without quotas, swaps, or identity signaling.
Woke political dialogue
Light comedic references to podcasts and modern life; no activist speeches, systemic lectures, or ideological monologues.
Identity-driven story themes
Incidental LGBTQ+ relationships and diverse character backgrounds support plots but stay background; not central, queer-centric, or representation-first messaging.
Western institutional / cultural critique
Gentle satire on true-crime obsession and show-business excess; no modern activist takes on patriarchy, capitalism, or Western institutions.
Woke character or canon changes
Not relevant.
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
Almost no right-leaning complaints about woke or DEI content; popularity remains high with only isolated, non-political gripes.
Creator track record context
Core team leans mainstream comedy; a few directors and the casting lead bring moderate identity or DEI elements, but these do not dominate the overall light, non-political tone.
Production