Murder Digs Deep

This episode of Murder She Wrote has both Jessica Fletcher and Doctor Seth Hazlitt on an archaeological dig in New Mexico. It's one of the few episodes that William Windom is away from Cabot Cove and we learn he's got an interest in archaeology.

The expedition is financed by tycoon Robert Vaughn who is hoping to uncover one of Coronado's fabled seven cities of gold. As Coronado never managed to find one of them even though he mapped for Spain most of the Southwest USA what do you think Vaughn's chances are?

But he's got celebrity archaeologist George Grizzard along and another archaeologist David Groh as well along with some students of Groh's as well. And a bored wife in Connie Stevens who wishes she was anywhere else but in the desert heat.

It's the murder of the Indian guide Randolph Mantooth that makes a pair of murderers wish that Dr. Hazlitt hadn't brought his good friend Jessica Fletcher along.

Highlight of the story is that Angela Lansbury gathers the cast in Poirot style for her conclusions. During the course she explains how the arrogant Mr. Vaughn has been made a fool of.

Viewers will enjoy that.

In this episode, Jessica Fletcher joins her friend, Dr. Hazlitt (William Windom), on an archaeological dig in New Mexico. Yes, this is unusual...but this is "Murder, She Wrote"! Not surprisingly, there's a death that appears to be accidental but soon it turns out that it was murder...and Jessica is determined to solve it since they are in the middle of no where. The problem is a rich jerk (Robert Vaughn) and a self-aggrandizing professor (George Grizzard) are major impediments in her investigation.

This is a decent episode with a decent puzzle for Jessica Fletcher to solve. The solution to the murderer's accomplice, well, that seems to come from out of left field. But otherwise quite enjoyable.

I enjoyed the lessons in archaeology and heritage, and the episode kept me guessing longer than usual. Jessica's friendship with Seth is always a fun one.

While doing research for a book, Jessica comes out to an archaeological dig in New Mexico, a potential site for the lost golden city of Coronado. However, she finds more troubling issues than the desert sun. When local Indian guide Raymond Two Crows is found dead at the top of a cliff, almost everyone concedes it was an accident and the head of the diggings, Gideon Armstrong, determines not to let the story leak out before he's found what he's looking for.

Archaeological venture, hunting for treasure, Indian in cloak warning off the archaeologists and murder. What's there not to like? The mystery of the dead body and it had fallen off the ledge, however he had died from drowning. In a desert? What a puzzle, what an episode. There's a myriad of characters like Robert Vaughan's tyrant expedition leader, his glamorous and drink loving wife, a writer who wants Jessica to write his Autobiography and others. Great setting, grand denouement- classic MSW episode.

Have always been quite fond of 'Murder She Wrote'. It is a fun and relaxing watch that makes you think as you try to unwind in the evening. If one wants more complex, twisty mysteries with lots of tension and suspense 'Murder She Wrote' may not be for you, but if you want something light-hearted and entertaining but still provide good mysteries 'Murder She Wrote' fits the bill just fine.

"Murder Digs Deep" is another very nicely done episode of Season 2, if not quite one of my favourites of the season like "Murder in the Afternoon", "Jessica Behind Bars", "Sticks and Stones" (as far as previous episodes go). Of Season 2 up to this point, the only ones that don't quite do it for me are "Joshua Peabody Died Here...Possibly" and "Dead Heat".

Back to "Murder Digs Deep" it may be silly (in a way where it's part of the episode's charm and fun) but a lot of fun with a mystery that is not what it seems. There are enough twists to keep one guessing, with the victim and cause of death especially, and the final solution is a surprising one (though no other Season 2 episode has as shocking a reveal as "Sticks and Stones"). The very end is a little abrupt and pat, and the southwestern clothes don't have the charming 80s nostalgic value, instead some are pretty howlingly bad.

However, the production values as ever are high, with some quite striking scenery and everything being very nicely shot. The music has energy and has presence but also not making the mistake of over-scoring, while it is hard to forget or resist the theme tune.

The writing is tight, thought-provoking and typically amiable, while the story is fun and suitably complicated without being convoluted.

As always in 'Murder She Wrote', Angela Lansbury is terrific, as is William Windom. All the cast perform well, with the most inspired performances coming from George Grizzard and especially Connie Stevens.

In conclusion, very nicely done and fun episode if not quite a season or show high-point. 8/10 Bethany Cox