On Thursday, Feb. 3, the show “Murderville” was released on Netflix. The show stars Will Arnett and is an American adaptation of its British counterpart, “Murder in Successville.” “Murderville” successfully infuses comedy into the whodunnit genre of television, allowing viewers to take a ride into a murder–ridden town with their favorite celebrities as guest stars.
Will Arnett plays Senior Detective Terry Seattle, a jaded, mustachioed detective who, as he says, has never actually been to Seattle. Arnett, already having an extensive career in comedy himself, combines the best of his witty timing, iconic voice (which viewers may know from Arnett’s previous projects such as “The LEGO Batman Movie” or the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup commercials) and over-the-top theatricality to the role.
Each episode features a new guest star who hasn’t been given a script. Their goal is to participate in the improvisational side of each scene as well as figure out who committed the crime. The first six episodes released on Netflix with guest stars Conan O’Brien, Annie Murphy, Sharon Stone, Kumail Nanjiani, Ken Jeong and Marshawn Lynch. Every guest brings their own brand of hilarity to the show, which diversifies the pace and characters for each episode within the series.
Kumail Nanjiani took to Twitter to talk about his experience on the show. “I laughed a ton doing Murderville w @arnettwill,” Nanjiani said. “They all had a script; I didn’t. They yelled ACTION! & I walked into the scene having no inkling of story, cast, anything. Felt like jumping out of a plane. Without the threat of physical harm.”
Alongside spotting famous actors and appreciating the humor of the show, viewers also can try and figure out the murder for themselves. The show reveals pieces of evidence as it continues; viewers need to consider clues such as whether a suspect is left-handed or right-handed or whether they can whistle. This easily engages and captures the attention of its audience throughout the entire thirty-minute episode, as some clues are more subversive than others, but all are necessary in order to catch the killer. Often, the show can feel as though one is playing a game of “Clue” alongside some of their favorite celebrities.
The aspect of the show that is truly enticing is the fact that each scene is improvised. The allure of watching guest stars and Arnett’s reactions alike to circumstance and comedic dialogue is never–ending. Arnett’s talent at facilitating each guest’s improv and pushing them into different wacky situations does not go unnoticed; he invites actors and audience alike to relish in the amusement of the moment. An additional bonus to this is, of course, that the audience can enjoy laughing with the cast when they break during a bit.
This show also satisfies viewers who are looking for a show that incorporates character building and the protagonist’s social life into its plot. The arc of Senior Detective Terry Seattle’s divorce with his coworker, Chief Rhonda, played by Haneefah Wood, weaves itself into the narrative. Chief Rhonda announces the real culprit at the end of the episode; each time she appears, the audience is given a new piece of information on the development of their relationship and lives post-divorce.
Fans online have posted their opinions of the show on popular platforms such as TikTok and Twitter. Some have been ranking their favorite episodes or appreciating the masterful way in which the show balances its many pieces. Justin McElroy, a podcaster and comedian who co-hosts the show “My Brother, My Brother and Me”, said, “The most interesting thing about Murderville is that clues are really easy to miss when they’re inside setups and punchlines. It’s a really effective hybrid.”
The structure and content of the show itself appeal to a mass audience; currently, the show holds a 77% on Rotten Tomatoes, with an 86% audience approval score. Although the show only just finished filming in mid-2021 and was released under a month ago, it has many fans awaiting its renewal for season two.
