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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Jan 4, 2018 21:45:35 GMT -5
Columbo: Ranked Undoubtedly, Columbo is one of my all-time favorite shows. The titular homicide detective, brilliantly portrayed by Peter Falk, is probably my favorite detective ever, even over Hercule Poirot and Lord Peter Wimsey. There's something about the way he acts - he's a regular shmoe, but with a mind that works faster and better than many realize. And it's not just Columbo himself who sells this show: the catch is that we see the murder committed and know who did the deed, we watch to see how Columbo catches the crook. It sounds like it shouldn't work as well as it does, but it does! Having gotten the complete box set filled with every single episode of the series, I've decided to rank them. It'll work in this way: for every DVD I'll rank the episodes featured within it. I'll update this post with a table of contents as it goes along. Once I finish a season, I'll rank the episodes from that season; once I finish the entire series, I'll rank every single thing from worst to best. Here we go, folks! Oh, one more thing... enjoy. Table of Contents:
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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Jan 4, 2018 21:57:22 GMT -5
Season 1 Includes both of the original pilots as well as the entirety of Season 1, making for 9 episodes in total.
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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Jan 4, 2018 22:08:40 GMT -5
9. Death Lends a Hand (S1E2)When the CEO of a private detective agency threatens the wife of a publisher with blackmail and she threatens to expose him, he accidentally kills her.
This episode certainly isn't bad, but it's definitely at the bottom of Season 1. Columbo is brilliantly, but the rest of the episode isn't exactly star material. I personally don't care for our murderer here, and he's certainly dumb enough; if he had let the matter alone our hero wouldn't have been able to figure out he did it. Still, it's not completely bad, just not that good either. Rating: 6/10
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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Jan 4, 2018 22:16:24 GMT -5
8. Death by the Book (S1E1)When one member of a mystery writing team wants to break from his less talented partner, he becomes the victim in a real-life murder mystery.
The first actual episode of Season 1 was a good one, but not exactly a stand-out. The main problem is that, while it makes sense, the revelation at the end isn't as good as others, and a certain blackmailer shows herself to be quite stupid as well, but otherwise the episode is decent. Rating: 7/10
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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Jan 4, 2018 22:21:53 GMT -5
7. Dead Weight (S1E3)A war hero shoots and kills his business partner; an easily manipulated young divorcรฉe is the only witness.I really like this episode, and it would be higher, if it weren't for the fact that the ending is a bit anticlimactic. Not a let down, but certainly not as good as others. Other than that, this one is a stellar production. Rating: 8/10
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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Jan 4, 2018 22:29:53 GMT -5
6. Prescription: Murder (Pilot #1)A psychiatrist uses a patient he is having an affair with to help him kill his wife, but his perfect alibi may come apart at the hands of a seemingly befuddled LAPD lieutenant.If you're gonna introduce a series or a character, you need to do it right. This did it right. Featuring the first time we ever see the bumbling detective, this TV movie actually gave us a more refined character, he's actually rather spiffy here. That said, there's still the cigar and the usual stuff that we've come to love the character for, and all in all, a great way to introduce him and what would go on to become one of the greatest TV shows of all time. Rating: 8/10
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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Jan 4, 2018 22:36:31 GMT -5
5. Short Fuse (S1E6)Pressured to give up his birthright, a chemical company heir enacts a clever plan to get rid of his blackmailing uncle and take over the family business. But Lt. Columbo suspects the man's death was not just a tragic accident.This episode has one of the most enigmatic villains in a Columbo episode; he's charming, silly, and enjoyable, but deep down inside he really doesn't want to give up what's rightfully his. And when the big revelation comes at the end, where he's nearly driven to insanity, really, this one doesn't let up. Rating: 8.5/10
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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Jan 4, 2018 22:43:41 GMT -5
4. Suitable for Framing (S1E4)A wealthy art collector is murdered, and all signs point to a robbery gone wrong. But the nephew's alibi is a little too convenient, and Columbo pulls a fast one to ferret out the killer.Most of the time, the killer likes to play along with Columbo before they go all "no more Mr. Nice Guy" on him. In this episode, however, he's on edge from the very beginning, pissed off that this fool of a cop is still bumbling around with him. The best part, however, is the conclusion. Our hero completely marvels us with his intelligence once again, and it's certainly one of the best endings of this season. Rating: 9/10
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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Jan 4, 2018 22:51:30 GMT -5
3. Ransom for a Dead Man (Pilot #2)A brilliant tort attorney gets rid of her boring husband by faking his kidnapping and keeping the ransom. The FBI may be fooled, but not Columbo.What makes this, the second pilot of the series, so compelling, is its characters. Not only is Columbo great as always, but there are two others who were also brilliantly written, cast, and played: Leslie Williams, the cold-blooded murderess who happens to be a brilliant attorney, and her step-daughter Margaret, who knows that her step-mom is rotten to the core. In fact, I almost wish we could have seen more of the latter in later episodes, as something of a sidekick to Columbo - she's really that good. Rating: 9/10
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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Jan 4, 2018 22:57:30 GMT -5
2. Lady in Waiting (S1E5)A mousy heiress murders her brother, pretending she thought he was a burglar. Lt. Columbo unravels her alibi.Another episode that benefits from having great characters, what sells this one is the villain herself. We can sympathize with her at the beginning for doing what she did, but we, like her fiance, become less thrilled with what she becomes after she's free from her brother's clutches. It makes for a highly interesting and highly enjoyable episode, and the pay-off is great too. Rating: 9/10
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Post by Biblically Accurate Angel on Jan 4, 2018 23:02:52 GMT -5
1. Blueprint for Murder (S1E7)Elliot Markham, a brilliant architect and con-man, murders a Texas millionaire and hides his body in order to keep his visionary construction project financed.Undoubtedly the best episode of Season 1, the season's finale is great because it doesn't feel very much like a Columbo episode; you'd almost expect it more from Murder She Wrote or an unspecified '70s murder film. However, everything works together to make this a great Columbo episode. Season 1's finest hour, and certainly one of our dear detective's as well. Rating: 10/10
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