To Kill a Legend

Town lore is that Joshua Peabody was the local hero who led a Revolutionary army which beat the British as the Battle of Cabot Cove*. So it's not all that surprising that a documentary film crew have shown up to make a little film about that battle. What IS surprising is that at about the same time, a document is uncovered which seems to prove Joshua was, in fact, a coward and traitor. In the midst of all the hubbub this causes is a murder...and it takes good 'ol Jessica to figure out who did it and why.

Seeing Seth dressed up in a Revolutionary uniform is reason enough to watch this one. It's most unusual as well and I enjoyed it even if the solution is a bit complicated.

Though I don't recall any battles in history recorded in what is now Maine, why let that get in the way. Maine was considered part of Massachusetts colony, a sort colony within a colony and the boundaries never really were fixed until 1841. But that's a different story.

Still Cabot Cove has its Revolutionary War hero one Thomas Peabody who repelled a British invasion at the Battle of Cabot Cove. An event celebrated for over 200 years and this year is even being filmed for a documentary this year. William Windom in fact gets into Revolutionary war costume and plays Peabody though his costume gets a bit harder to fit in every year. All pleasing to Gail Strickland who is a direct descendant of Peabody and her daughter.

Then an old vintage clock of the period is opened and there's a note from George Washington to Peabody replying to a letter where Peabody is urging the abandonment of Cabot Cove. The letter also says that the Father of our Country suspects Peabody of links to Benedict Arnold who had already gone over to the other side.

It all kind of puts a damper on the festivities. Then a new director for the documentary is murdered and the old director rehired.

It's all connected and Jessica Fletcher does the connecting. As for Cabot Cove, those folks are in a Liberty Valance type dilemma.

Local citizens in Colonial attire and Revolutionary War uniforms prepare for the annual reenactment of the Battle of Cabot Cove around a statue of town founder Joshua Peobody, a legendary figure whose role as a patriot, in fact his very existence, is often disputed throughout this series, but this time around, he has descendants, a notion often questioned by "MSW" fans.

Edith Peabody (Gail Strickland) and her daughter, Louise Peabody (Pierrette Grace), have been life-long residents of Cabot Cove, Maine, and have participated in its patriotic events along with friends and neighbors as Doctor Seth Hazlitt (William Windom), who acts particularly grouchy as a Boston television crew plans to film the re-enactment for a documentary, for which Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) is scheduled to narrate in her capacity as famous Mystery writer.

Director Richard Hawkes (Jeffrey Nordling) arrives in Cabot Cove with his Documentary crew, Producer Bob Kendall (Anthony Heald), Film Editor Amelia Farnum (Molly Hagan), and Sound Editor Scott Patterson (Todd Eric Andrews), to establish shoppe in a local studio, while filming on location by day, with Louise Peobody serving in the capacity of local Production Assistant.

Jessica visits the antique shoppe operated by Thomas Godfrey (Alan Fudge) and wife, Nancy Godfrey (Judith Hoag), at which she decides that an antique music box would add an authentic accent to her presentation at the podium. However, when she discovers that its mechanisms are jammed, and, therefore, doesn't play the Colonial tune, Thomas Godfrey, a clockmaker by trade, investigates to discover a parchment folded inside, he carefully retrieving this to reveal an 18th Century correspondence from George Washington, denouncing Joshua Peobody as a traitor to the American Independence movement.

While Colonial expert, Doctor Roy Blakely (Whitney Rydbeck) examines the letter to determine whether or not it may be authentic, Nancy Godfrey presents Jessica with the antique bureau with drawers, which she had ordered from Vermont. Thomas reminds Nancy that Jessica is their best customer, and to ascertain that this is exactly what Jessica has in mind even though it has arrived from the U.K. instead of Vermont, as its shipping tag indicates.

But back in the U.K. at the beginning of this episode, Alexander Sandsby (Jacob Witkin) and Jeffrey Caldwell (Greg Cruttwell) have an altercation at a warehouse, which catches fire because of arson. Jeffrey, a convicted forger, manages to escape the flames and head across the pond to the Colonies.

As Joshua Peobody Day filming continues, production encounters one delay after another, with maladies such as the music box incident, a horse's charging from its station, mishaps by Seth and company, and a sound recorder's running out of tape, factors which, together, begin to cost the company extra-budgetary measures, and the powers-that-be inform Producer Bob Kendall to fire Director Richard Hawkes from the project, replacing him with the promotion of Amelia Farnum to Director. Louise decides to leave the crew along with Richard, while her mother, Edith, pleads with Jessica to destroy the letter implicating her ancestor of treason.

Jessica ponders the sudden appearance of this letter, here and now, as discovered in Edith's ancestor's music box. After all, if it were genuine, then why would Joshua have kept it, and if it were a forgery, then what reason could be served by taking such extreme measures? Clearly, Edith and Louise have been unaware of its existence, as such a finding could likely serve only "To Kill a Legend." But that night, when a fire breaks out in the studio, Sheriff Mort Metzger (Ron Masak) and Deputy Andy Broom (Louis Herthum) arrive with the crew to contain the blaze, when they discover a body in a rear office.

Jessica assists the Sheriff and Deputy in the murder investigation, with the help of Bob Kendall and Scott Patterson, while Richard Hawkes reappears and is reinstated as Director, when Alexander Sandsby appears on the scene to approach Richard as a British authority on the American Revolution, specifically having knowledge about Joshua Peobody.

Richard initially brushes him off, but Jessica is interested to hear what Alexander has to say, especially about the body discovered after the British warehouse Arson, as she begins to piece together the clues after someone plants the pipe in Edith Peobody's automobile with no sign of fingerprints although that doesn't stop Sheriff Metzgar from arresting her anyway, figuring that Edith would stop at nothing to prevent anyone "To Kill a Legend" even if she has to bludgeon someone and set a fire.

The cast is rounded out by Tiiu Leek as Newsperson. This episode marks the most recent appearance to date by Pierrette Grace, who has been acting on television since 1986.

During the making of a film, an old document comes to light that could tarnish the reputation of a Cabot Cove folk hero - and it is also connected to a murder. An okay mystery with a really good denouement- there's a good insight in film making and editing and audio visuals. The suspects are good, the way Jessica nabs the culprit is ingenious.

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.

Generally "To Kill a Legend" to me is one of Season 11's better episodes. The mystery is entertaining, interesting and keeps one guessing, though sometimes it is a little silly and not everything is as clear as it could have been. The portrayal of the town founder Joshua Peabody has not always been consistently handled, and an aspect or two (like the one previously mentioned) has generated some fan debate.

Andy is still little more than the bland and underwritten deputy character, Louis Herthum does his best, gives some nice subtlety and the chemistry with the other Cabot Cove regulars is equally nice but the character at this very late stage hasn't yet had much interesting.

On the other hand, Angela Lansbury doesn't seem capable of giving a bad performance as Jessica. William Windom is charmingly curmudgeon and the Mort of Ron Masak is much more than the bumbling or pushover sheriff cliché, having faults but he is good at his job and doesn't act dumb. They have a great chemistry that's both tense and charming. Cabot Cove as always is a welcome sight and will always love the close sense of community.

Solid guest supporting cast, Jeffrey Nordling being a standout. The Revolutionary War elements are fun and intriguing to watch and much of the mystery fares well with the odd silly and vague moment (less so than a lot of Season 11 episodes). The reveal is one of the season's more surprising and convincing ones.

Production values as always are slick, stylish and suitably cosy. 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 thoughtful and amiable as well as having an endearing cosiness.

In summary, worthwhile episode and one of Season 11's better ones. 7/10 Bethany Cox