Weave a Tangled Web

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.

"Weave a Tangled Web" is a well done episode with some nice surprises along the way and does a good job with the bigamy theme and its consequences. The mystery is engaging if standard, though it was a case of Jessica perhaps a bit too compassionate. The killer's identity while not a massive shock when putting all the clues together, but the final solution was pretty clever.

On the other hand, Angela Lansbury is terrific as ever in the role. William Windom plays Seth with his usual curmudgeonly charm and Ron Masak and his character of Mort Metzger is settling in quite well if still appropriately fish-out-of-water standard (considering that it's only their second episode).

The supporting cast are strong, especially Pamela Bellwood in "Weave a Tangled Web's" juiciest role. George Chakiris is underused a little but makes the most of his screen-time.

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 All in all, very well done if not a favourite. 8/10 Bethany Cox

At a high-class New York party, Jessica is startled to meet a Cabot Cove citizen who is leading a double life. This serious-toned episode has bigamy as one of its subject; it's a good mystery which is high on drama there's a great performance by Pamela Bellwood as the wife who leads a double life.

Fairly new sheriff Ron Masak hasn't quite figured out he's come to the murder capital of New England when he took the job as sheriff of Cabot Cove. In this case the key is the double life led by Pamela Bellwood who does have a job that requires traveling. On one of those occasions a trip to Cabot Cove and she met James Sutorius who already had two kids and whom Bellwood married.

Of course that was without divorcing jet setting and glamorous Mel Ferrer. So with her job as a cover she maintains both lives until George Chakiris who is an all around no good discovers it. Chakiris winds up stabbed to death and Bellwood looks good for it.

But as is the case for Chakiris there are lots of alternatives. And we know who will ferret out the truth.

Best part of this episode is some of the banter from Ron Masak who is trying to settle into his job and crusty old William Windom giving him the Yankee business. It's like Windom was trying to break in a new partner for an act.

I found this story very interesting but I did not like it. In this series JB Fletcher/Angela Landsbury is very polite and sympathetic.

The problem is she is like many people today who make excuses for criminals and their behavior and then acts like she wants them to do the right thing. If they don't do the right thing they get away with their deception on people.

The story is about a man killed that was unfaithful to his wife and is a gambler. He was about to get a divorce and was found dead in a motel after meeting with a young married woman named Veronica.

Jessica later goes to New York. There is a scene where you see the Twin Towers in 1989 in the night light of NY City. Jessica meets the wife of a rich old man who is donating money to Jessica's cause. His wife happens to be Veronica who is also married to some man in Cabot Cove but under a different names. She is a business woman and lives with both of them at different times of the week and neither one know of each other.

Jessica tells Veronica that her deception is wrong and Jessica seems to fall for the excuse she give. Jessica encourages her to straighten things out but she does nothing to expose the woman.

What I don't like is people protecting other people who are deceiving everyone around them and expecting the deceiver to come clean. In Murder She Wrote that happens but not in real life. Love is not enough to excuse liars.

I like Jessica's manner but I hate the phoniness of this series.

Who killed Eric Bowman, a gambling philanderer, who didn't seem to care who's lives he damaged.

It's a clever story, it's plays on how conservative and straight laced Cabot Cove is. The very thought that gambling and infidelity could be going on at the murder capital of the world is shocking.

I have just watched Pamela Bellwood, who plays Vivian appear in Sparkling Cyanide, a nice actress, who undergoes a startling transformation.

There is a moment of pure comedy gold here, Jessica's drunken facing scene in the bar USA scream fest, and shows her versatility.

I have never understood Floyd's accent, I've never understood how the character managed to become a Deputy either, he's a bit dim bless him, but Nye plays him very well.

It won't rock your world, but a play acting drunken Authoress from Maine rocking around the dance floor will lighten the darkest of days.

Good, 8/10.