Warning! This article contains spoilers for Only Murders in the Building season 3, episode 4.
Summary
- “Only Murders in the Building” season 3, episode 4 explores the concept of the “White Room,” a real phenomenon in acting where actors lose sight of reality during a performance.
- Theater actor Seth Rudetsky has experienced the “White Room” in real life, describing it as a moment of blankness and disorientation.
- When Charles enters the “White Room,” he goes somewhat crazy. Often losing his clothes and uttering profanities, his friends are left horrified by his antics in a dramatized, humorous version of the real-world experience.
Only Murders in the Building season 3, episode 4 includes an element called the “White Room” from which the episode is titled, but is the acting phenomenon a real thing? Only Murders in the Building season 3, episode 4 continued where the last episode left off with Mabel, Charles, and Oliver continuing to investigate the murder of Ben Glenroy. The latter two characters, however, are distracted from their podcast-based sleuthing due to Oliver’s play, Charles’ role in such, and Charles’ relationship with Joy progressing further.
During the sections of the show that portray Only Murders in the Building‘s cast of characters rehearsing for Oliver’s musical, the title of season 3, episode 4 becomes clear. The title of the episode is “The White Room,” which is revealed to be a phenomenon in which actors with stage fright or other kinds of nerves mentally transport themselves to an empty room during a performance and lose sight of what is happening during the production. Charles suffers from the “White Room” phenomenon at multiple points in Only Murders in the Building season 3, episode 4, begging the question of whether the concept is versed in the reality of acting.
“The White Room” Is A Real Occurrence In Theater & Acting
Despite Only Murders in the Building being an over-the-top comedy show, much of the elements of the series’ script are based on reality. From the exploration of true crime podcasting to season 3’s soirée into the world of theater, Only Murders in the Building gets a lot of real-world elements right. This apparently continues with the “White Room” concept, which by all accounts is a real thing in theater acting.
One such case of the “White Room” happening in real life came from theater actor Seth Rudetsky. In an interview with Playbill, Rudetsky recounted a time when he entered the “White Room” during one of his earlier theater acting performances: “We started the first scene and when I got to my seventh line I completely went blank. That’s what’s called entering the white room; meaning there is nothing but whiteness around you. Nothing to grab onto.” As it turns out, Charles’ experience with nerves in Only Murders in the Building season 3, episode 4 happens in real life albeit not in the same dramatized, comedic way.
What Happens To Charles When He Enters The White Room In Only Murders In The Building
When concerning what happens to Charles when he enters the “White Room,” it is left humorously mysterious. Only Murders in the Building season 3, episode 4 only showed the aftermath of what Charles did when he entered the “White Room,” with the show only showing Charles’ perspective of the empty room when it takes place. One such aftermath was his marriage proposal to Joy, who is now a prime suspect in the murder of Paul Rudd’s Ben.
Other than this, the only hint at what happens to Charles when he enters the “White Room” is that he goes somewhat crazy. When he snaps back to reality, he is often without clothing, the surrounding area is completely carnage, and his friends are horrified at the profanity he uttered during his blackout. In Charles’ perspective though, he is simply having a wonderful time dancing or singing in the “White Room,” while the other characters of Only Murders in the Building witness his true antics.
New episodes of Only Murders in the Building release every Tuesday on Hulu.