So I have this tendency to browse through the streaming services to see if anything might tickle my fancy. This can occasionally send me a path to wasting thirty to ninety minutes of my life on something abysmal to the senses, but occasionally, a gem is unearthed, as was the case this past weekend when I stumbled upon Krister Johnson’s “Murderville”.
I have been a long-term fan of the procedural dramas, dating back to the good ol’ days of ADA McCoy on “Law and Order”, because I always enjoy a good detective story. I like them when they are super serious (“Luther”) or if they are tongue-in-cheek (“Brooklyn Nine-Nine”), but often times the shows can be predictable in their outcomes. Maybe it is because I have seen hundreds of these kinds of episodes, but it can be frustrating to find something new in the genre.
“Murderville”, starring the infinitely hilarious Will Arnett, takes the procedural detective story and turns it on its head with a whole new approach: guest detectives trying to solve cases in improvised scenes. Arnett is there as the senior detective to help the guest interrogate the murder suspects, but there is no script for the guests to follow, no clue as to what kind of situation they’re stepping into.
At the end of the episode, they must announce their decision as to who committed the murder, and they find out if they got it right. They are given clues as the identity of the true killer throughout the story, so it is up to them to take notes and discover the truth themselves.
Now, as a theater kid, I love the whole concept of doing an improv show, and “Murderville” does not disappoint. Arnett is superb in all six episodes as Detective Terry Seattle, finding a unique rapport with each guest investigator as he bumbles and blunders his way through the investigation. He acts as the center of every scene, helping to both keep the guests on point as well as move the scene forward.
The reoccurring cast from top-to-bottom is almost effortless in their abilities to improv their scenes, especially when playing off Arnett. Haneefah Wood is hilarious as Seattle’s primary foil, the chief of police saddling him with new partners who also happens to be his ex-wife. Philip Smithey and Lilan Bowden add depth to the department as Seattle’s work rival and the forensics investigator, respectively, and they enjoy wonderful chemistry with Arnett, as well.
It is the guest hosts, however, that really make this show stand out. Not every guest is a “classic” actor, such as Conan O’Brien, so watching them navigate the investigation with the hit-and-miss assistance of Detective Seattle is wildly entertaining. “Schitt’s Creek” alum Annie Murphy and Sharon Stone seem to be the most “serious” guests in terms of trying to solve their murders, but Arnett and the suspects do a magnificent job of unsettling and frustrating both of them. Kumail Nanjiani and Ken Jeuong have hilarious performances in their guest spots, but the magical Marshawn Lynch and his wonderfully belligerent rapport with Arnett is easily the best episode of the season.
“Murderville” is kind of a unicorn in today’s television show landscape. Because of the improv format of the show, the stories, performances, and character interactions are completely unpredictable. Arnett’s surly Detective Seattle constantly steals scenes and pushes his guest investigators into bad situations, but he always does it in a way that lifts up their performances. And while we are accustomed to the detective always getting the murderer, leaving the ending of the show up to the guest detective’s ability to deduce the perpetrator makes for a wild ride all the way to the finish.
If you are looking for a fun, goofy, thirty-minute sitcom that is perfect for a weekend binge, you need not look any further. With run times between 30-40 minutes, this is the kind of show one could enjoy on a rainy afternoon or a skip day with ease.
- How many seasons: 1
- Where can you stream it: Netflix
- Come For: Will Arnett as Detective Seattle
- Stay For: The detectives-in-training, Detective Seattle on the earpiece
The B Report 
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