Twice Dead

This MSW episode begins with JB Fletcher hearing of the death of Bruce Weitz a noted scientist in a small plane crash in Jamaica Bay. Another in Angela Lansbury's wide and eclectic circle of friends.

But when she spots him in Manhattan later on it's to her friend homicide detective Herbert Edelman whom she turns. When Weitz turns up dead for real Edelman and Lansbury go to work.

This is one of the weaker episodes of MSW. And the last appearance of Herbert Edelman as Lt. Artie Gelber who was her police friend in NYC in the same way Tom Bosley and Ron Masak were in Cabot Cove stories.

It all has to do with some hyped up results from Weitz's experiments in a new medicine. Is it real and do we want it on the market? A big pharma conglomerate could go belly up is among the possibilities.

Fans of the series and Edelman should approve.

Doctor Max Franklin absconds from his place of work, taking a lucrative vaccine with him. Franklin fakes his own death, but soon after is actually killed, Jessica sets about finding his killer.

Maybe not one of the best, nor is it particularly memorable, but it's definitely an enjoyable mystery. Post COVID pandemic there are some interesting ideas surrounding vaccines, costs and efficacy etc.

Not particularly hard to spot 'whodunnit,' said person may as well have been walking around with a sign saying, yes I am the killer.

The final screen appearance for Bradford Dillman, good actor, and a fine servant to the show, he made some fine appearances.

Herb Edelman as always is a joy, such charisma, and some nice banter with Jessica, such comedy timing.

7/10.

When a brilliant scientist fakes his own death and is then actually murdered, Jessica sets the record straight when the wrong man is arrested.

Standard Murder, wrote with an interesting story about live cultures, vaccines and murder. It's not the best episode but ok enough to keep one interesting e.

"Twice Dead" begins with a Nobel Prize-winning chemist dying in a plane crash...or so everyone thinks. Well, it turns out he didn't get on the plane and he's in hiding...and Jessica finds him. Unfortunately, soon this 'dead' man would really be dead. Who did it? Was it the pharmaceutical company he worked for or was it someone else?

This is a decent episode with a weak ending. The end needed the killer to admit it even though there really isn't any proof they did it. And, as you often see in "Murder, She Wrote" they are discovered after Jessica sets a little trap that they inevitably fall for...though if they hadn't, the murderer would have gotten away scot-free. Fair to middling overall.

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 11 has been one of the weaker and more inconsistent 'Murder She Wrote' seasons. "Twice Dead", like the unintentionally camp previous episode "Murder in High C", is one of its weakest episodes, it had an intriguing idea but the execution just didn't work. Not an awful episode by all means. Just not a great, or even particularly good, one either.

Lets start with the high points. Angela Lansbury as ever can do no wrong and Herb Edelman in sadly his final 'Murder She Wrote' appearance is both amusing and charming. Likewise with their chemistry. Bradford Dillman, Sam Anderson and Annie Corley are solid.

Production values are slick and stylish as always. 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.

On the other hand, the rest of the cast fail to make much of an impression, saddled with thinly sketched characters are an all round dreary and corny script.

The mystery is not particularly engaging, and has moments where it is both obvious (didn't find the murderer's identity a surprise) and confused as a result of trying to stuff too much in.

In conclusion, has its moments but underwhelming. 4/10 Bethany Cox