Fire Burn, Cauldron Bubble

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.

"Fire Burn, Cauldron Bubble" is an episode that's both creepy and fun and it is more than welcome to see the picturesque Cabot Cove and its close community. The mystery is an interesting and compelling one, if not the most twisty or truly special ones apart from the atmosphere. The ending is very surprising however, wasn't expecting it.

It's particularly worth seeing for the cast. Not just an always terrific Angela Lansbury, a charmingly curmudgeonly and humorous William Windom and a likable more-than-your-bumbling-sheriff cliché Ron Masak (whose Mort did become more interesting later but he's settling well).

But also a very good guest supporting cast. Particularly Roddy McDowell, Brad Dourif and Dee Wallace, Julianna Donald is solid too.

Production values as ever are slick and stylish. 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 thought-provoking, light-hearted and amiable.

In summary, creepy, intriguing and fun episode with good acting. 9/10 Bethany Cox

Actor Colin Campbell is wrong. The correct one is Colin Cambell (XI)

Witch of cabot cove? Patience coincides with new book.

"Fire Burn, Cauldron Bubble" is an episode set in Cabot Cove with a silly premise....that some long-dead witch has somehow come to life and is visiting the town! But that's not as bad as it sounds, as the show never really emphasizes that this really happened...but that folks CLAIM it has happened. But why?? Why create a tabloid circus in lazy little Cabot Cove??

Apart from the unbelievable fact that Cabot Cove has more murders per capita than any city in the world, this is a good episode with a unique plot. The reason for the killing (and there's ALWAYS a killing) is interesting and make for a decent episode despite the whole witch angle.

This is a fun little ghost witch murder mystery for local Cabot Cove resident Jessica Fletcher to solve. All the local towns people are involved with a few guest stars including a publicist played by Bill Maher.

Librarian and young friend of Jessica's is on the verge of getting married to a local contractor. An author, that the librarian help do research for, comes to town after the local doctor reports having seen a ghost of a witch from the librarian's infamous family...300 years in the past. The next day her long list sister Irene shows up. The sister had been taken at the age of nine to live with an aunt because their mother was sick and dying. It was shortly after that they lost contact altogether.

In the middle of the night there is a sleepwalking incident with a candle and devil worshiping herbs that has her librarian sister concerned and talking to Jessica. Then a gentleman shows up to perform an exorcism.... And then Irene ends up dead!

This was a decent mystery and a fun one to show around Halloween.

During these COVID times it was nice to see a real old fashioned potluck gathering...made me hunger just watching the goings on.

I almost always enjoy "Murder, She Wrote" (I must have seen each episode multiple times in syndication by now); but I REALLY wish that writers who want to tap New England's witch-trial past would get it through their heads: NO ONE WAS EVER JUDICIALLY BURNED AT THE STAKE IN NEW ENGLAND. Witches were hanged rather than burned in England and its colonies because, for complex historical reasons, witchcraft was defined as a crime against the state, not against the church, as it was elsewhere in Europe (even in England's neighbor, Scotland). Also, Maine (which was part of Massachusetts until 1820, long after witch trials had ceased) was VERY thinly populated in the 18th century; major trials of ANY kind were all but unheard of. The focal point for seventeenth-century witch trials in New England (prior to the notorious outbreak of 1692 at Salem Village) was Connecticut, particularly Hartford and Bridgeport.