Jane Lynch on her 'OMITB' future after fate in the season four finale

[This story includes major spoilers from the Only Murders in the Building season four finale.]

Just murders in the building has said goodbye to his beloved and fan-favorite character Sazz Pataki, portrayed by Jane Lynch, and revealed in the season four finale how she died (unfortunately, she didn't fake her death as some fans may have hoped).

When Charles' (Steve Martin) longtime stunt double and best friend Sazz was shot to death in his kitchen at the end of season three, there were countless questions about who did it, why they did it, and whether they were actually targeting Charles ?

Now, at the end of season four, all of those questions are answered: Marshall P. Pope/Rex Bailey (Jin Ha), aka Sazz's prized stuntman mentee, killed her because he wanted to pawn her off Just murders in the building He had dismissed the film as his own, and well, she wasn't going to let him do that.

For someone like Sazz, who spent her life devoted to her friends, “the betrayal of what Marshall does is so unbearable.” [character] that it shocks her because she doesn't see the world that way. “You don’t betray the people who help you,” says Lynch The Hollywood Reporter. “It’s such an earthquake for their psyche.”

Despite the death of her character, the Joy And Wonderful Mrs. Maisel Star was grateful to be able to explore Sazz's life in flashbacks throughout the season, including seeing her in action as a stunt person on set and pursuing her dream of opening a trampoline park in New Jersey to celebrate her and her love Father to share stunting with her world. Most of all, she loved expressing her complete devotion to Charles.

Lynch had several conversations with showrunner John Hoffman about the friendship between Sazz and Charles and “he gave me the idea that the relationship would turn out to be very deep and that Charles would be surprised at how much Sazz sacrificed himself.” not just in death, but in life – and how she took it very seriously that he was her number 1.”

Below in a spoiler chat THRLynch reveals how she felt when she first learned she would be the season four victim, talks about working with Martin on her emotional scenes, and shares whether she would be ready to appear in season five to return to the series with any function.

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I spoke to John Hoffman last year when it was announced that Sazz would be the Season 4 victim, and he said he approached you about it and that you loved the whole storyline. What was going through your mind at the time?

I felt honored and also knew I would be working more since I usually only do two or three episodes of a season, if that. I knew they would talk about me even if I wasn't in an episode. And sometimes it's just as important as actually being there. I was really excited to be the murder victim.

That's a sentence you don't hear very often.

(Laughs) I know.

Were you at all disappointed with the idea that your time on the show would come to an end to some extent after season four?

I guess that was there, but it wasn't the overriding thing. In a sense, I live in the moment and am in whatever job I have. Very rarely do I think, “Oh, I hope this turns into something bigger.” But that was a pretty big deal on this particular show, being the victim of a murder.

Did you talk to John about the plot of Sazz and how it would all play out?

A little bit. He told me I was the murder victim. He didn't tell me how it would happen or what twists there were in the season. But he said little things like, “Oh, you'll like this.” It's a very sweet scene between you and Charles.” He gave me the idea that the relationship would turn out to be very deep and that it would surprise Charles, how much Sazz sacrificed herself for him – not just in death, but in life – and how she took him very seriously about being her No. 1. In their code of ethics and also in the stunt world, we find out, there's this little subculture: Your No. 1 is everything. You protect her. And for her, it extended to life too, not just on set.

I'm glad you did brought I mentioned this because it was so sweet to see Sazz and Charles' relationship in a new light as he hallucinated her and in flashbacks to the time they worked together. What was it like going through those scenes with Steve Martin?

It was just beautiful, everything this season. And of course the other seasons too. We both enjoyed the depth we were able to achieve in this relationship. I love the scene where I'm sitting at the end of the bed with him, and at this point I'm a ghost and he says, “You're my very best friend.” What will I do without you?” I thought that was wonderful, and previously we detailed what Sazz did for him: She gave him friends. He was completely alone. And I think that's something that Charles felt, that he was alone in this world, and especially then, and that it populated his life with friends, people who cared about him. He played poker with us. Up until that point, he was eating lunch alone. So he was very grateful to her at the end of the season.

In the finale, Mabel (Selena Gomez) reveals that Sazz wrote a love letter to Charles with her Only Murders Film script. Do you agree?

Oh yes. She needed a way to stay in the business because she was pretty banged up, and she had been on set long enough to know how this writing thing was done, and she was just so inspired. It's all over the script; the connection with him and how much she cared for him. I love that she said it was like a love letter to him.

In addition to see another side Sazz and Charles' relationship also allowed us to see more of Sazz's life outside of Charles. How did that fill in the gaps for you?

It was great because she – and the writers obviously see her that way – has embraced life. She accepted her role as his stunt person, that he was her #1. When I was allowed to walk through the set like I owned it – jump in the car – everything I did as Sazz had a style and a precision to it, and she just loved that. She just enjoyed it.

Did you know right away who Sazz's killer would be, or did you find out later?

I found out later. All the twists and turns of the season's mystery were revealed to me as we got each script.

When you first heard that your character was going to be the victim. Did you have any idea who wanted to kill Sazz or if the killer was actually targeting Charles?

I had no idea because I couldn't see [Martin Short] or Selena [Gomez] do it. Well, I didn't know. I knew it was going to be wide open, and then he started adding all these characters – like the tenants on the west side of the building. I thought, “Oh, maybe one of them.” And then this story makes you think it could be one of them. So it's a very interesting thing.

How did you feel when you found out that all these great actors wanted to be on the show that you were such a crucial part of?

It was really exciting. I was filming with everyone one day, with Zach [Galifianakis] and Eugene [Levy] and Molly [Shannon] and Eva Longoria. So we could say hello and everything. It was really nice to see her. Of course I didn't work with them, but I just thought it was great. And they were hilarious. I love the scene that appeared on social media showing drunk Molly Shannon. I call it her “contempt for actors” scene. It's so funny and then she farted on Meryl Streep. Light up!

Comedy gold.

They are national treasures – Molly and Meryl.

Back to the finale: It's tragic considering how Sazz's valued mentee was her downfall. What did you think when you came across it?

The way Sazz goes through life is to be as devoted to her friends as she is to Charles. The betrayal of what Marshall is doing is so absurd [character]it shocks her because she doesn't see the world that way. You don't betray the people who help you. You don't betray anyone. When I played that scene where I realized he stole my script and said it was his own, it's an earthquake for her psyche. That really was a juicy, juicy scene.

So Sazz is dead in the series. But Paul Rudd came back in the fourth season (as new character Glen Stubbins) after his death in the third season. Are you hopeful of returning for the already-renewed fifth season?

Oh, if they want me, I'll do whatever they want. I can play myself as a ghost as long as the show is on. I would love it.

What are some of your fondest memories of the show, behind the scenes or on screen?

We sit in our cast chairs and just talk to Selena, Marty, Steve and the various actors who have come in and out. It's almost like being at a dinner party with really bright, shiny people who are funny and nice. We talked about everything. It was a beautiful place; so comfortable and hugging and so very relaxed. This starts from the top down, with both John Hoffman and Steve [Martin]They set the tone, and it's such a beautiful tone. It's such a relaxed tone and the crew is just wonderful. Everyone is nice. A nice group of people.

The season four finale reveals that Lester (Teddy Coluca) is the season five victim and Téa Leoni will be involved to some extent. Do you know anything about the next episode that you can tease?

No. I don't know anything. I barely knew anything about mine. (Laughs) But I'm sure it will be very interesting and very exciting.

Will you watch?

Oh yes, absolutely!

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Just murders in the building Season four is now streaming in full on Hulu. To read THR's interview with showrunner John Hoffman on the season four finale and analysis of the murder in season five.