The only Columbo episode that completely ignored the mold, and it's not that bad, though I'm also glad they didn't do more like these. One the biggest strong-points of the series is the elaborate perpetration of the crime at the beginning, in which the viewer learns who the killer is (etc.), and Columbo is (usually) still far away. The attraction of it is that every episode begins like an atmospheric thriller, and not until quite a bit later turns into a detective story. But, for 'No time to die', this is not the case.
This episode is about the hunt for a crazy kidnapper, who might be a killer - well, for sure he is, as we find out. The two familiar 'Melrose Place' faces leading next to Peter Falk is somewhat strange, but it works fine in a somewhat cheesy way. The same goes for a familiar 'Frazier' face, a familiar 'The nanny' face and even a familiar 'The A-team' face, and there's more, even. Joanna Going has a familiar face as well, though I couldn't find out where exactly I've seen her before - as a '90s model she fits in perfectly, though.
The story relies heavily on coincidences once again, but it's hardly a problem. Not a great episode, but as a 'now for something almost completely different' within the Columbo saga, it's perfectly doable.
A small 7 out of 10.
This episode is about the hunt for a crazy kidnapper, who might be a killer - well, for sure he is, as we find out. The two familiar 'Melrose Place' faces leading next to Peter Falk is somewhat strange, but it works fine in a somewhat cheesy way. The same goes for a familiar 'Frazier' face, a familiar 'The nanny' face and even a familiar 'The A-team' face, and there's more, even. Joanna Going has a familiar face as well, though I couldn't find out where exactly I've seen her before - as a '90s model she fits in perfectly, though.
The story relies heavily on coincidences once again, but it's hardly a problem. Not a great episode, but as a 'now for something almost completely different' within the Columbo saga, it's perfectly doable.
A small 7 out of 10.