You know that feeling when a character finally clicks, and then they’re just... gone? That is basically the vibe with Tobert. For a hot second during Season 3 of Only Murders in the Building, it felt like Mabel Mora had finally met her match. Jesse Williams didn't just walk onto the set; he brought this weird, magnetic energy as a documentarian with a camera and a questionable moral compass involving baby elephants.
Fans were hooked. Was he a killer? Was he just a guy trying to get a good shot? Most importantly, was he actually going to stick around the Arconia?
Who Was Tobert Anyway?
Let's look at the facts. Tobert (yes, with a T) was hired by the ill-fated Ben Glenroy to film a documentary about his Broadway debut in Death Rattle. He’s the guy who caught that infamous footage of Ben shouting at a plate of cookies in his dressing room. Honestly, it’s one of the more relatable moments in the show—who hasn't been tempted to scream at a baked good?
He and Mabel met in a classic "trapped in a closet" rom-com trope while they were both snooping around Ben's penthouse. It was cute. It was tense. It gave Mabel someone her own age to bounce theories off of while Charles and Oliver were busy having existential crises about their Broadway careers.
Tobert wasn't just a cameraman. He became a temporary member of the investigation team, even getting his own spot on Mabel’s evidence board. That’s a big deal in this universe. But as the season wrapped up, the plot shifted. He got an offer to shoot an indie film in Los Angeles. He invited Mabel to go with him. She said no.
Why Tobert Only Murders in the Building Fans Are Disappointed
The big news dropped late in 2024: Jesse Williams is officially out. He confirmed to People magazine that he isn't on the show anymore. "No, I’m not on that show anymore," he said, which is about as definitive as it gets. It’s a bummer because the Season 3 finale left a tiny window of hope. Mabel told him she might visit him in LA. We all thought that was a setup for a long-distance subplot or a recurring cameo.
Nope.
The show basically hit the reset button on Mabel’s love life again. It’s a pattern at this point. First, it was Oscar in Season 1—gone. Then Alice in Season 2—gone. Now Tobert. Some fans think the writers are just cycling through "love interests of the season" to give Mabel something to do, but it feels a bit like whiplash.
Why get rid of him? Honestly, the show is crowded. Season 4 is packing in huge names like Eva Longoria, Eugene Levy, and Melissa McCarthy. With the trio moving back and forth between New York and Los Angeles for a movie based on their podcast, there probably wasn't enough room to breathe for a relationship subplot that wasn't central to the murder of Sazz Pataki.
The Truth About the "Baby Elephant" Story
One of the most defining things about Tobert was that story he told Mabel about the baby elephant. He watched it get stuck in the mud and didn't help because he was a "documentarian" and had to remain an observer. It was a dark, cynical look at his character.
It also served as a perfect foil for Mabel. She can't just watch. She has to get involved. She has to solve the mystery. By the end of the season, it was clear that while they shared a certain "storyteller" DNA, their hearts were in different places. Tobert is a guy who moves on to the next project. Mabel is a girl who stays and protects her "best buds."
Is There Any Chance He Returns?
In the world of Only Murders in the Building, nobody is ever truly gone forever. Paul Rudd’s Ben Glenroy died in the first five minutes of Season 3 and still managed to be a main character through flashbacks.
However, for right now, Tobert is a closed chapter. Showrunner John Hoffman has mentioned he’d love to bring everyone back, but with Jesse Williams moving on to other projects, it’s unlikely we’ll see him in the Arconia hallways anytime soon.
If you're missing that specific Jesse Williams charm, you'll have to look elsewhere. But if you're here for the mystery, the absence of Tobert means more screen time for the central trio—which, let's be real, is why we're all watching anyway.
What you should do next:
- Re-watch Season 3, Episode 3: It’s the "Grab It" episode where Tobert and Mabel first really connect in the penthouse. It’s the best showcase of their chemistry.
- Track the "Love Interest" Trend: Pay attention to how the writers handle Mabel’s connections in Season 4. Is there a new Tobert-style figure, or is she flying solo this time?
- Check out Jesse Williams' other work: Since he’s confirmed he’s done with the show, keep an eye on his upcoming projects if you were a fan of his performance.
The Arconia is a revolving door. People come, people go, and most of them end up dead or in jail. Maybe Tobert got out just in time.