Columbo: Agenda for Murder

I love watching the actor Patrick McGoohan...he was just terrific in shows like "The Secret Agent" and "The Prisoner". But he was also really good in various TV shows as guest stars...and I particular loved his several appearances on "Columbo". This being said, I was not completely in love with "Agenda for Murder" as it was his weakest appearance on the program. Now it isn't bad....but the finale seemed a bit too easy and hard to believe.

Oscar Finch (McGoohan) is a very important mover and shaker--the sort of guy who is good at pulling strings and he has a strong future in politics. However, out of the blue, a man from the past threatens to derail so much Oscar has built for himself. So, he does what any sociopath would do...he kills the guy. However, Oscar is no dummy....he meticulously plans the killing and it appears to be foolproof. Of course, being on "Columbo" you know it isn't.

Watching this with my wife was a big plus, as she writes thrillers and knows a lot about crime...perhaps too much! So, when they used very tenuous dental evidence in this one, I told her this was ridiculous....and she said that in the early 90s it was believed to be an exact science and folks WERE convicted using it. However, she also admitted that in recent years, they've come to realize that it is NOT an exact science and isn't as reliable as they'd assumed. So, perhaps some of my gripe is simply about the misuse of such evidence...not in the writing of the show. Still, the ending DID seem very abrupt and anti-climactic. Enjoyable, of course, but not among the better episodes....which is generally the case with these later "Columbo" episodes.