#23.12.24

[ehghtyseven]

a special smile for G :D

[samsi6]

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Morgens juchzt ein Kind

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In der Fußgängerzone

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Durchs Schneeflockenweiß

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[littletornado]

[ehghtyseven]

aww, tommy wanted to hold sid's hand after the goal

[joshhhhhhhhhhhhhhh]

A Friend in Deed

There is a version of this narrative that is, if not my favourite Columbo episode outright, certainly top 5. Because the central conflict of this episode is that of Columbo versus his own police commissioner. That's just hype, plain and simple. Among the star-studded list of people that have been arrested under Lieutenant Columbo is the man's own superior officer. I love that. And leaning into the series' own unique ideas of justice and classism we even see Columbo get the help of a lower class common thief to catch the upper-class fancy murderer. Yeah, I'm down. Unfortunately this episode suffers from... well, quite a few things. First of all is I'd say it takes too long to get going, we're around 40 minutes in when I'd say the episode starts starts. The initial murder actually isn't by the aforementioned police commissioner Halperin, but instead an off-screen murder by accomplice Hugh Caldwell. Caldwell is the less interesting of the personalities (really he's not interesting at all), it's only at that 40 ish minute mark when Halperin kills his own wife and it feels like the game really begins. This is also when Columbo starts properly suspecting him as well, thus cue the actual hey they've got their dynamic now. It's fairly smooth sailing from there on out but I mean, 40 minutes to get there? And what do we do with those 40 minutes, spend like 5 of them watching Columbo's car break down and see him try to get jumpers from people? I don't automatically think these longer-length episodes are dragging their feet to hit such a length but scenes like this really make you wonder. I also think they establish Halperin's actual character rather poorly - he's introduced to us gambling and then talking shit to his own wife before we learn he's the police commissioner. These ideas aren't incompatible or anything but they probably needed a better blend so I even realised it was the same character. I also don't understand what he and Caldwell actually have to do with one another, like why do they know each other and why does Caldwell trust Halperin (THE POLICE COMMISSIONER BTW) with the fact that he killed his own wife, Caldwell in general is barely in this episode despite being the initial murderer. I like Artie Jessup but I also think he was introduced in a weird spot, like there were too many moving pieces at that point to where he probably should've been saved for later. Gotcha is solid but for the setpiece being what it is and the commissioner's treatment of Columbo throughout the episode I would've liked more of a reaction than the resigning himself to silence thing. Telling Columbo he's "just lost his badge" after being accused was a banger tho, no notes. But yeah no, really great concept and lots of good execution but muddy and meandering enough to hold itself back. Shame, really. Oh well. Season 3 done though, we really are getting there.

[wearestardust]

Chosen family