Just like in every season of Only Murders in the Building, Season 5 of the show, which premiered its first three episodes on Hulu on September 9, introduced some new characters. Among them are a trio of billionaires: Jay Pflug (Logan Lerman), Sebastian Steed (Christoph Waltz), and Camila White (Renée Zellweger). And while they all have some suspicious connections, Lerman’s Jay, who showed up with a mysterious severed hand, will likely be one of the main suspects in Mabel (Selena Gomez), Charles (Steve Martin) and Oliver’s (Martin Short) investigation into the death of beloved doorman Lester (Teddy Coluca). “This is the new mob of New York!” Oliver said in the trailer. “These people could be killers!”

But while fans are surely excited to have the Percy Jackson & the Olympians alum join the Only Murders cast, Lerman has been showing his rage on TV for quite a while now. In fact, one of his most effective and critically acclaimed roles was in early 2024 when he played Addy Kurc in the Hulu Limited Series We Were the Lucky Ones. The one-season series, which was directed by Thomas Kail, earned a whopping 94% score on Rotten Tomatoes, and has established itself as one of Lerman most must-see titles ever since.

What Is ‘We Were the Lucky Ones’ About?

Based on the 2017 bestselling novel of the same name by Georgia Hunter, We Were the Lucky Ones tells the true story of a Jewish family in Poland as they become separated at the start of World War II and begin their fight for survival in one of the darkest times in history. Throughout the season, each of the Kurc family members go on their individual journeys, with some being forced into hiding, sent to concentration camps, joining the resistance, and crossing continents to ensure a brighter future. In addition to Lerman, the series also stars Joey King as his younger sister Halina, Henry Lloyd-Hughes as his brother Genek, Robin Weigert as the Kurc matriarch Nechuma, among many others.

As for Lerman’s character Addy, his story is quite different from the rest of his family. Instead of being in their hometown of Radom, Poland, when the Nazi troops invade, Addy is in Paris, France, living his dreams of being a composer. As the conditions in Europe worsen, Addy’s torn between what to do. Should he return home to help his family, or should he save himself from the terrors facing Europe without ever hearing from them? “My character’s journey is a refugee story of somebody who’s getting out of Europe and who’s trying to get any country to take him in,” Lerman told Collider. “I haven’t really seen that explored before, and it was exciting for me, as an actor.”

Logan Lerman’s Character Is a Beacon of Hope in ‘We Were the Lucky Ones’

Given Addy’s location at the start of the war, his journey serves as a contrast and as a beacon of hope to viewers throughout the series. In his search for a safe haven, Addy ends up serving in the French army before securing a ticket to Brazil. And while his journey is filled with some light-at-the-end-the-tunnel moments, his arduous journey is also filled with visa obstacles, harsh delays, major miscommunications and life-or-death situations. Throughout it all, Addy, who is author Georgia Hunter’s real-life grandfather, conducts himself with ease and grace. Through his musical gifts, he inspires his fellow travelers, brings levity to an otherwise harrowing series, and even finds love with his soon-to-be-wife Caroline (Nicole Brydom Bloom), a US Embassy worker in Rio de Janeiro.

Decidedly, while We Were the Lucky Ones never earned the amount of attention Season 5 of Only Murders in the Building will surely receive, it’s a series, and a performance of Lerman’s, well worth seeing. After all, it’s an inspirational true story of a family surviving through one of the harshest periods in history, only with the hope of their reunion driving them forward. It’s emotional, gripping, and has Lerman as the heart and anchor throughout.