Home Care

Suspicion falls on a nurse when two of her patients die at home in this very good MSW episode. The plot is quite enticing with enough twists and turns. Season 12 is a vast improvement on season 11, and this episode is a prime example of that.

In the itty bitty town of Cabot Cove, at least a hundred killings occur during the course of "Murder, She Wrote"...making it the most dangerous town on Earth! Here they have an unusual case, as a local home health nurse, Lila (Meagan Follows) is accused of euthanizing several disabled and elderly residents! And, before the case can adequately be investigated, the community is up in arms and threatening to take action...so, of course, Jessica figures out what REALLY is happening.

The plot to this one is very interesting...and even more interesting because the young nurse is played by the same lady who starred as Ann of Green Gables in the PBS miniseries. Good acting, a very good story and a few nice red herrings...this one is a bit better than average.

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.

Season 12, along with Seasons 9 and 11, is one of the weaker and more variable ones of 'Murder She Wrote'. It is though a season that got off to a good start. "Home Care", along with "Big Easy Murder", is another one of the season's best episodes, a season that became very hit and miss after "Home Care" with the worst episodes of Season 12 also being among the worst for 'Murder She Wrote' overall.

The character of Andy, despite Louis Herthum's valiantly subtle efforts, is still rather bland and underwritten, being little more than Mort Metzger's deputy. Jessica having a very old friend that she's known for years yet one that's only introduced here does require some suspension of disbelief.

Angela Lansbury is terrific as always, as is charmingly curmudgeon William Windom and ever easy to like Ron Masak. Have always loved the charm and tension between the leads/regulars. Megan Follows and Audra Lindley are particularly good of the solid enough, if perhaps not exceptional, overall supporting cast.

"Home Care's" mystery is compelling, twisty and sometimes with an eeriness. Jessica's genuine care for Maggie is very believable and touching, one does root for the chief suspect despite the outcome being obvious from miles away and the identity of the killer is a surprise.

Production values are slick and stylish with great use of the setting. 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 amiable and thought-provoking.

All in all, very well done. 8/10 Bethany Cox

Cabot Cove is shocked when two older residents die suddenly, both bad been cared for by young nurse Lila Nolan, who is quickly accused of carrying out euthanasia on both of them.

Way ahead of most of the show's later episodes, it's a brilliant episode, much better than most from this era. A concept (Euthanasia killings) that I haven't seen on this show before, not a topic generally used in the mid 90's. I didn't guess the killer's identity, it came as a surprise to me.

Megan Follows and Frances Bay both really stood out in this one, two very charismatic performances, Sarah was so vinegary, but funny.

Maggie Saunders is a bit of a monster, it's almost a little hard to see why Jessica was so genuinely upset by her death, I'm surprised she lasted as long as she did.

Very well made, slick and well produced, a shame the end is nearing, this proves the show still had so much to offer.

9/10.

When a young woman who Jessica Fletcher taught in high school is accused of being a mass murderer she can't believe it. But she certainly trusts the instincts of Dr. Hazlett who got young Megan Fellows started as a nurse. Both of them work overtime to catch the real murderer of Audra Lindley.

The problem was that there were a string of mercy killings in Boston where Fellows was working before she came back to work in her home town.

The town is all worked up especially since another elderly patient of Fellows' passed away also. Despite William Windom saying it was just plain old age, the rumor persists.

Lindley had a few people not liking her either. Just find the right one.

An interesting episode about lynch mob psychology.