User Reviews

Dateline Silverville, New Mexico, 1898: Legendary bandit Cutter McGee ambushes a stagecoach, gunning its driver, and fleeing with its treasure chest.

Residents abandon Silverville by 1905, but by the current day, Max Teller (Steve Forrest) has restored the tiny community, complete with Silverville Museum and a twice-a-day re-enactment of Cutter McGee's ambush, featuring Earl (Gary Kasper) as stagecoach driver, who tumbles from the moving vehicle to the applause of tourists, who delight in this "show within a show."

After her divorce from Roger, Artist Susan Lindsay (Mariette Hartley) has relocated to nearby Chaco Springs, New Mexico, which houses the local population of Silverville's employees, in the region around Coyote Canyon, land once settled by the Navajo Tribe, wealthy in tradition and mystique.

When Susan receives a visit from her dear old friend Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury), on her second visit to New Mexico, Susan offers Jessica a tour of Silverville, which includes its historic re-enactment, as well as Silverville Museum, which exhibits a collection of Susan's paintings and other memorabilia of local interest, as curated by Susan's current beau, Max Teller.

At the Museum, Jessica meets fellow author Charles Strickland (James Stephens), who researches the legend of Cutter McGee, often at Chaco Springs Library, which Mr. Wheatman (Ernie Vincent) operates with a "Quiet, Please" policy.

While Susan is busy, Jessica hikes around Coyote Canyon, where she encounters Sam Keeyani (Graham Greene), who appears upon and soon disappears from a nearby rock almost as a vision, between which times they exchange pleasantries and understandings about the Canyon.

Sam Keeyani turns out to be the Sheriff based in Chaco Springs during a time when roles of "MSW" law enforcement officers are becoming developed with dimension and character, possibly thanks to the influence of Angela Lansbury as new Executive Director. This one isn't out to make hasty decisions and jumping to conclusions about arresting suspects, as Sheriff Sam Keeyani's role is one of wisdom and deliberation, as his actions are woven into nearly every scene here.

Tony Sable (Frederick Coffin) pays a visit to Max Teller, after serving his four-year sentence in Los Angeles for bilking customers in a credit card scheme, in which he and Max deposited spoils in off-shore bank accounts, and now Tony demands his cut, or else he'll report Max's involvement for the funds which he most likely used to purchase Silverville.

Ben Judson (Nicolas Surovy), banker and Chaco Springs Chamber of Commerce President, holds the mortgage on Silverville Museum, upon which Max is making payments. But now, Ben offers to purchase the Museum, which Max has no intention of selling.

"Sam," as the Sheriff prefers to be addressed, confides in Jessica his interest in Alice Chee (Joannelle Nadine Romero), an employee at the Mayor's office, whom Sam once cited for a speeding violation, and now sees as often as possible, as he very often requests reports to be delivered from the Mayor's office, personally by Alice, who advances her resume by taking evening courses in Sante Fe.

Female characters are also experiencing developmental enhancements under Angela Lansbury's reign as "MSW" Executive Director, with an added degree of independence and freedom to tackle more than one responsibility simultaneously, such as Betty (Laura Wernette), who still runs errands as Secretary to Max Teller, but willingly volunteers to work evenings because her job comes first, well, along with the extra perk that comes after Susan dumps Max after he won't confide his feelings to her.

So, that evening, after an arsonist torches Silverville Museum, a long list of suspects arises, beginning with Earl, whom Max has fired earlier in the day, but Sheriff Sam immediately discovers a series of clues to dismiss Earl as arsonist, to Jessica's amazement.

But Jessica, of course, inspires Sam in return, after Betty discovers a body two days later (without screaming. She's composed.) But several others are still on the hunt of the buried treasure, and so Jessica joins Sam on the hunt of suspects.

Sam escorts Jessica to visit his Uncle Ashie Nakai (Floyd 'Red Crow' Westerman), in Coyote Canyon, to share one another's wisdom and kind-hearted compliments, before trapping their murder suspect, during this, the "Night of the Coyote."

This episode represents the first television acting credit for Laura Wernette, as well as the most recent television acting credit by Joannelle Nadine Romero.

This also reflects the first of two "MSW" guest appearances for Graham Greene, the first of three for Nicolas Surovy, the second of four for Frederick Coffin, the third of four for James Stephens, and the fourth of five "MSW" guest starring roles for Steve Forrest.

Frederick Coffin, acting since 1973, and Ernie Vincent, acting since 1986, have unfortunately since passed.

Three, Six, Nine "MSW" Nights: "Night of the Headless Horseman (#3.11)," "Night of the Tarantula (#6.07)," "Night of the Coyote (#9.06)," sprinkled with "A Little Night Work (#5.02)" and a few "Night Fears (#8.02)."

"Night of the Coyote" is an episode of "Murder, She Wrote" that I really enjoyed. Much of it is because several of the characters are Native Americans but they also deliberately chose NOT to imbue them with many of the typical mystical stereotypes. In fact, they set some of these stereotypes on their head...and deliberately so!

Jessica is visiting the town of Chaco, New Mexico* and wouldn't you know it, there's an arson AND a murder. So, along with the help of the Sheriff (Graham Greene) she investigates the case and helps to catch the murderer....like she does in just about every episode.

Again and again, the show seemed to be saying all sorts of mystical native things are real...and then you realize that the natives are actually making fun of these stereotypes. I liked this...and it was very cleverly written. Overall, a most enjoyable episode.

*There is no town of Chaco in New Mexico. There is, however, a place called 'Chaco Cultural Historical Park' which contains Chaco Canyon and it's pretty much in the middle of no where...and well worth visiting, as it has some of the most complete ancient Indian dwellings you can visit.

Jessica encounters a man whilst out in the Western wilderness, he gives her some friendly advice that the are is a dangerous place, she listens to his warning, and later learns that he's The Town Sheriff, soon the pair investigate a murder.

I thoroughly enjoyed this episode, the characters, the story, the very essence of it. It is one of those where the victim is pretty much signposted, you know who's going to kop it very early on, but it's so much more than just the mystery, there's the treasure hunt and those great scenes with The Navajo, The Sheriff's Uncle was terrific.

Two genuinely fantastic performances stood out for me, firstly that of Graham Green, I thought The Sheriff was an awesome character, and secondly, I don't giver her enough credit as often as I should, but Lansbury was genuinely terrific here.

I love the notion of The Skin Walkers too, what a fascinating culture, one to be respected.

8/10.

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 9 up to this early point has largely been disappointing, with the only above decent episode before this one being "The Wind Around the Tower" (also one of the better ones overall of a very inconsistent and, compared to the previous seasons, disappointing season). "Night of the Coyote" is a long way from being one of the best episodes of 'Murder She Wrote' and it falls short of being great. However, of the six episodes up to this point of the season it's an easy second best to "The Wind Around the Tower" and in the top middle/better end of the season overall.

The story is not always the most compelling of all 'Murder She Wrote' episodes, it perhaps takes a little too long to get going and pacing at times could have been tighter. On first viewing, the Sam's uncle strand did seem strange and didn't add very much, now its significance in the case is appreciated more. There have also been cleverer and more surprising denouements of the show, as far as Season 9 goes it is nowhere near as too obvious as "The Mole" or as awkwardly done as for example "The Dead File" but it was hardly one of those "left me floored" denouements.

On the other hand, the cast and setting really liven things up. Can't fault Angela Lansbury, even in the worst episodes she always delivered, while Graham Greene and Steve Forrest (one of the most consistently good "frequent" non-recurring character guest stars in a list that includes the likes of Jessica Walter and Carol Lawrence) are particularly good in support. The setting has a lot of atmosphere and captures the western town feel very well.

Production values 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.

Writing is amiable and keeps one on their toes guessing, while there is enough in the mystery to make one just about stick with it, even if it never properly ignites fire.

In summary, decent episode, especially for this early half of Season 9, but one can do with far better. 7/10 Bethany Cox

Jessica Fletcher is in New Mexico, visiting with an artist friend and learning more about the local history. They are in a place called Chaco Springs (a fictional place, although see my comments at the bottom of this post for where it's likely to be located) and there is a nearby historical settlement called Silverville - a town that was abandoned in 1905 when its silver mine was tapped out. Silverville is now a tourist attraction that performs a re-enactment of the last stage coach robbery and is home to the Cutter McGee museum, devoted to the robber. When the brains behind the rebooted ghost town, Max Teller, gets killed, Jessica is on the case and on a treasure hunt.

A mystic sheriff who disappears, shamans, lost treasure, and Wild West town - what is there not to like? It's a livelier tale, and quite fun. Graham Green as the sheriff is really good - his character is quite quirky yet wise.