Diksha Sundriyal
The fifth season of Hulu’s ‘Only Murders in the Building’ takes Charles, Mabel, and Oliver into dangerous territory as their next case seems to have strong connections to a mob figure. The story begins with the mysterious death of Arconia’s footman, Lester, but it soon takes a turn when it is revealed that there was more to Lester’s life than appeared on the surface. His case intertwines with the disappearance of Nicky Caccimelio, a known mob boss who has developed a reputation as the Dry Cleaning King of Brooklyn through his business called Clean-Ups. The man and his business become a major focus of this season’s mystery, and the more that is revealed about them, the more it makes them seem real. SPOILERS AHEAD.
Nicky Caccimelio and Clean-Ups are Fictional Elements in OMITB Season 5
Nicky Caccimelio and his dry-cleaning company Clean-Ups are entirely fictional creations for the fifth season of ‘Only Murders in the Building.’ However, the writers infuse a sense of realism in them by connecting Nicky to the Caputo crime family. There was a real criminal organisation run by Carlo Caputo, but it was based out of Madison, Wisconsin, which, at best, had connections with the Chicago outfit. They did not have any known operations in New York, so Nicky’s connection to them adds another layer of fiction to it. As explained early on in the show, the mob is not what it used to be back in the time of ‘The Godfather’-like movies. This holds true, to an extent, in real life as well. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Mafia, which is also known as La Cosa Nostra, is no longer as powerful or influential as it used to be in its heyday.
Their criminal operations have been significantly cut down, and much like Nicky in the Hulu series, illegal gambling remains one of the major criminal activities they are still involved in. The agency also states that this watered-down version of the mob doesn’t mean they are not dangerous anymore. The mob and their criminal endeavours still pose a significant threat to the country on a number of levels. We see a figment of this danger and its consequences for Nicky in ‘Only Murders in the Building.’ Explaining the fall of the mob to Charles, Mabel, and Oliver, Nicky’s wife, Sofia, explains that her husband kept his reputation as a mob boss simply because he didn’t want anyone to know how far their crime family had fallen. She says he kept that image up, even when he had little to no involvement in any criminal activities, because he did not want the family’s criminal legacy to wash away under his reign.
Earlier, it was believed, due to Nicky’s mob connections, that his laundry service, Clean-Ups, might be a front for his illegal businesses. But, Sofia claims that the business was Nicky’s main thing, and even if he were involved in something illegal, that would be the side business. However, as the investigation unfolds, it becomes clear that despite its legitimate nature, Clean-Ups did work as a front for a business that Nicky ran on the side. This turned out to be the underground club called the Velvet Room, which has an entrance through the Arconia but is located directly below Clean-Ups laundry services. This shows that Nicky was most likely keeping things from his wife, or perhaps she knew about it all along. These plot points and details allow the story to take Nicky’s arc in a whole new direction. Additionally, it serves as a stroke of realism for an otherwise fictional storyline.
Read More: Where Was Hulu’s Eenie Meanie Filmed?
