The third season of "Only Murders in the Building" begins with Oliver Putnam, Charles-Haden Savage, and Mabel Mora dealing with the aftermath of their previous adventures. Oliver is particularly focused on reviving his career by staging a new play. However, things take a dramatic turn when the star of the play, Ben Glenroy, suffers a near-death experience. Initially, everyone believes Ben is dead, but he miraculously recovers after being clinically dead for almost an hour.

As the story progresses, Ben attends what would have been the opening night party at Oliver's apartment in the Arconia building. There, he apologizes to the cast and crew for his past behavior, revealing that many have reasons to dislike him. Despite this attempt at reconciliation, tensions remain high, especially between Ben and Charles, as well as Ben and Loretta, played by Meryl Streep. Later that night, Ben's body crashes through the roof of the elevator, confirming his death.

The trio of Oliver, Charles, and Mabel begins investigating Ben's murder. They uncover various motives and alibis among the cast and crew. Mabel receives an offer from true-crime podcaster Cinda Canning to collaborate on the case, but she decides to continue her investigation independently. Meanwhile, Oliver becomes increasingly suspicious of Loretta but chooses not to share his concerns with Charles and Mabel.

As the investigation unfolds, the trio discovers that Ben had obtained a cocktail of medications to cope with the pressure of being the lead. They also learn about a fight between Ben, Loretta, and Charles, which Oliver's friend Jerry witnessed. Jerry had been living in the theater's attic and pretended to be a ghost to avoid detection. The group's dynamics become strained as Oliver accuses Charles of withholding information and Mabel of sabotaging his play.

The investigation leads them to recreate the events surrounding Ben's death. They find out that Ben visited his seamstress friends before arriving late at the theater. The trio also discovers that Tobert, who had been fired by Ben, had eaten a cookie and written "pig" on his mirror out of guilt for ruining his diet. However, these clues initially mislead them from the true culprit.

In a surprising twist, Loretta confesses to Ben's murder to protect someone else, but it is later revealed that she did so to shield her son, Dicky. The actual killer is Donna, the producer of the play, who poisoned Ben to protect her career. The trio rushes to stop Loretta from pleading guilty and manages to expose Donna's guilt. Donna surprisingly confesses to the crime but requests to see the play before her arrest.

As the play concludes successfully, the aftermath reveals more surprises. Loretta reveals to Dicky that she is his biological mother. Meanwhile, Mabel follows Donna's son, Cliff, who confesses that he accidentally pushed Ben down the elevator shaft. Both Donna and Cliff are taken into custody.

The season ends with a dramatic cliffhanger. As Charles' stunt double, Sazz, prepares to speak with Charles, she is shot through the kitchen window of Charles' apartment. The bullet comes from across the atrium, leaving Sazz injured and writing something in her own blood. This sets the stage for the next season, raising questions about the identity of the shooter and their intentions.

Short Narrative: The season 3 finale of "Only Murders in the Building" concludes with a dramatic twist. Donna and Cliff are arrested for the murder of Ben, as Donna had poisoned him, and Cliff inadvertently pushed him to his death. The finale shifts focus to Charles's stunt double, Sazz, who is shot through Charles's kitchen window while retrieving a bottle of wine. As Sazz lies dying, she attempts to write something in her own blood, leaving a mysterious message.

Expanded Narrative:

The season 3 finale of "Only Murders in the Building" unfolds with a series of intense and interconnected events. Initially, the focus is on the aftermath of Ben's murder. It is revealed that Donna poisoned Ben's cookies, intending to incapacitate him rather than kill him. However, Cliff's accidental push down the elevator shaft ultimately leads to Ben's demise. Donna's actions are motivated by her desire to protect Cliff and ensure the success of the play "Death Rattle Dazzle," in which Ben was a weak link.

As the truth about Ben's death comes to light, Donna and Cliff are arrested. This resolution marks a significant turning point in the season, as it ties up the central mystery surrounding Ben's murder. The characters involved in this plotline--Donna and Cliff--face legal consequences for their actions, bringing a sense of closure to this part of the story.

The finale then shifts its attention to Charles and his stunt double, Sazz. In a pivotal scene, Sazz approaches Charles with a sensitive matter she wishes to discuss. However, before she can reveal anything, she decides to retrieve a bottle of wine from Charles's apartment. This decision proves fatal, as she is suddenly shot through the kitchen window. The shooting occurs from across the atrium, suggesting a sniper was involved.

As Sazz falls to the ground, she attempts to write something in her own blood. Theories abound about what she might have been trying to convey, with some speculating that she was writing the letter "Jay." This mysterious message sets the stage for the next season, leaving viewers with numerous questions about the identity of the sniper and their intentions.

The fate of the main characters at the end of season 3 is as follows: Donna and Cliff are facing legal repercussions for their involvement in Ben's death. Charles is left reeling from the sudden and tragic event involving his stunt double. The rest of the characters, including Mabel and Oliver, are likely to be impacted by these events as they navigate the aftermath and prepare for the next chapter in the Arconia's saga.

The TV show Only Murders in the Building Season 3 (2023) does not have any widely reported or documented post-credit scenes. Available detailed episode summaries, recaps, and analyses of Season 3, including the finale "Opening Night," do not mention a post-credit scene or extra footage after the credits. The focus is primarily on the main plot resolution and the theatrical setting of the season, with no indication of additional scenes following the credits.

Therefore, it can be concluded that Season 3 does not include a post-credit scene.

The five most popular specific plot or character questions about Only Murders in the Building Season 3 are:

1. Who killed Sazz Pataki? This question arises from the shocking murder of Sazz, who was shot in Charles's apartment, leaving a blood-written clue and setting up the next season's mystery.

2. Who shot Sazz? Closely related to the first, this question focuses on identifying the shooter responsible for Sazz's death, a key unresolved plot point at the end of Season 3.

3. Who is after Charles? This question concerns the threat looming over Charles, a central character, and who might be targeting him following the season's events.

4. What did Sazz know before she died? Viewers wonder what information Sazz had uncovered that led to her murder, as she seemed to know her killer and left a cryptic clue with her blood.

5. What will Mabel decide about her future? This question focuses on Mabel's personal arc, specifically whether she will figure out what she wants to do with her life and stay in New York, reflecting her emotional and character development through the season.

These questions are drawn from fan discussions and aftershow analyses that highlight key unresolved mysteries and character developments specific to Season 3's plot and characters.

Only Murders in the Building, Season 3 (2023), is not considered family friendly and is rated TV-MA, meaning it is intended for mature audiences only. While the show balances its darker themes with humor, there are several elements that may be objectionable or upsetting for children or sensitive viewers.

Violence and Gore:
The season includes scenes of violence that, while often played for comedic effect, can be visually striking. For example, there is a scene where a character is seen with a meat cleaver embedded in their chest, accompanied by visible blood. Earlier seasons featured a character found dead with a significant head wound in a pool of blood, and while the gore is not extreme, the imagery is present and could be disturbing for some viewers. There are also dream sequences involving stabbing, with blood spray depicted.

Language:
Profanity is frequent and severe, with multiple uses of the "f" word, "shit," "goddamn," and other coarse language throughout the season. There is at least one use of the "c" word in a previous season, and the language generally intensifies as the series progresses. The broadcast (ABC) version is heavily censored, but the streaming versions retain the strong language.

Alcohol, Drugs, and Smoking:
Characters are frequently seen drinking alcohol and smoking. In one episode, two characters share a joint, and there is discussion about marijuana use. Prescription drug misuse is also referenced.

Sexual Content:
While sexual content is generally mild, there are moments of innuendo, references to sexual situations, and occasional visual gags involving nudity in art (such as paintings). These are not graphic but are present.

Themes and Tone:
The show deals with dark themes--murder, suspicion, betrayal--but leavens them with humor and camaraderie among the main characters. The emotional tone can shift quickly from lighthearted to tense, and some scenes may be frightening or intense for sensitive viewers, especially those involving crime scenes or confrontations.

Summary for Parents and Sensitive Viewers:
Season 3 of Only Murders in the Building contains moderate violence (including blood and weapon imagery), frequent strong language, substance use, and some sexual references. The tone is often comedic, but the subject matter and some visuals may be too intense for children or those sensitive to crime-related content. Viewer discretion is strongly advised.