Only Murders in the Building Season 5: The reason Episode 6 finally explores Oliver’s childhood

Only Murders in the Building Season 5 Episode 6 titled Flatbush brought back a familiar face in Arconia, Meryl Streep's Loretta Durkin. Loretta returned after her electric tea kettle caused a house fire and her childhood apartment burned down. As she mourned the loss of her memories and belongings with Oliver, the couple was presented with a chance to visit the Flatbush neighbourhood in Brooklyn, where Lester's widow currently lives.

Flatbush was an emotional outing for Oliver in Only Murders in the Building Season 5, as it was revealed that the Broadway director once had a home there. We got a glimpse of young Ollie growing up in the foster care system, living with his second foster parents in Flatbush. The purple scarf-wearing young Ollie stood out from the crowd of kids even back then, and the recent episode revealed a key part of the character's backstory.

More on this in our story.

It's back to basics in Only Murders in the Building Season 5 Episode 6

Martin Short's Oliver Putnam has always been the flamboyant Broadway director, a big-mouthed crowd-puller who dreams extravagantly. However, Only Murders in the Building Season 5 Episode 6 changed this view by giving a peek into Ollie's childhood, when he revisits Flatbush.

In an interview with TV Line, co-creator John Hoffman reveals that Oliver's foster care backstory has always been a part of Only Murders in the Building's narrative. However, Season 5 was the perfect time to visit it because the latest outing is centred around Arconia's history and the meaning of home. The mystery comedy series has shifted gears with the latest season, where the past is catching up with the trio in unexpected ways.

Breaking down Oliver's childhood story in Only Murders in the Building Season 5 Episode 6, Hoffman said:

''I just loved subverting the idea that he was always the Bon Vivant — the big mouth, the pied piper. Knowing that, actually, that personality was born out of a very different experience growing up, was interesting to me.”

Additionally, the Flatbush neighbourhood in Brooklyn also allowed the creators to feature a link between Lester and Oliver, who are connected in the present through Arconia.

Oliver reconciled with his past in Only Murders in the Building Season 5 Episode 6

While Only Murders in the Building Season 5 Episode 6 brought tragedy for Loretta, she got to spend a day with her husband in his childhood neighbourhood. It's almost symbolic how Loretta lost her childhood home to fire, when Oliver returned to his. The Broadway director spent the recent episode reconnecting with his past and sharing details about his second foster home with Loretta.

In Flatbush, Oliver's childhood memories come flooding back to him and he reveals that he lived there from 9 to 12 with his second foster parents, Sue and AI. Young Ollie did not feel at home with Sue and AI and this was when he was introduced to the glitz world in the form of Mycyn Theatre. His foster parents were not fans of his new interest and instead wanted him to help at home. However, Ollie found a way to sneak from his home and watch a play. He was touched when a kid said this line:

''In my whole life, I’ve only really felt like myself in two places.''

Remembering this memory from his childhood, Oliver finally had an epiphany in Only Murders in the Building Season 5 Episode 6 and said:

“Being back here today, I finally understand why I’m so afraid to leave the Arconia.”

Oliver and Loretta realized that while they lost their childhoods in different ways, they finally have a chance to start afresh and build a new life together. Seeing Oliver's foster backstory made his relationship with Loretta and Charles & Mabel even more special, given that he found a family at last in Arconia.

You can stream Only Murders in the Building Season 5 Episode 6 on Hulu now.

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