Michael Hagarty needs Jessica's help when he tries to prevent his estranged daughter's engagement to a man who is later found dead.Michael Hagarty needs Jessica's help when he tries to prevent his estranged daughter's engagement to a man who is later found dead.Michael Hagarty needs Jessica's help when he tries to prevent his estranged daughter's engagement to a man who is later found dead.
Photos
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe last of Len Cariou's appearances as Michael Hagarty.
- GoofsThe name "Mainland Hong Kong Bank" makes no sense: The term "mainland China" always implies "without, or as opposed to, Hong Kong". It would be like calling a bank "Continental Hawaiian".
- Quotes
Jessica Fletcher: How did you know I'd be here?
Michael Hagarty: Well, I am in the spying business, my dear... Besides, I read it in the 'Chronicle' yesterday.
- SoundtracksMurder She Wrote Theme
Written by John Addison
Featured review
A lot of malice, but not a whole lot of spice
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.
Love the character of Michael Hagarty, one of my favourite recurring 'Murder She Wrote' characters and his rapport with Jessica is impossible to resist, but he deserved a much better final episode than "Sugar & Spice, Malice & Vice". Along with "The Sicilian Encounter", it's one of his weakest and most un-compelling ones, disappointing because his other five episodes are very good to truly great, "One White Rose for Death" and "The List of Yuri Lermentov" are particularly excellent with his character.
A shame because Len Cariou does do a very good job with what he is given and he does share a very charming rapport with Angela Lansbury's (also terrific) Jessica. Lenore Kasdorf and Efrem Zimbalist Jnr are decent in support.
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. Some of the writing is thought-provoking and fun and the father-daughter relationship has some heart. One can understand the protective side to Michael.
On the other hand, the story didn't engage me sadly. It's somewhat dull and not hard to figure out (suspects are too few here), that the prime suspect's innocence is never in doubt is getting tired. There's also a who cares quality to it, because the victim is not an interesting one and is too much of an overtly difficult to like person for no reason other than for the sake of it, what Michael's daughter actually sees in him is much more of an enigma than the actual mystery.
Michael himself, charming rapport with Jessica aside, has been written far more compellingly in his previous episodes (even in "The Sicilian Encounter"). Sometimes it is good to see a different side to a character, but here Michael's darker side sees him at his least likable and compelling and feels too out of character for him. For one of the show's best recurring character, he deserved better than that. The writing on the whole is pretty dreary and takes itself too seriously. The rest of the supporting cast are nothing to write home about.
In summary, the main reason to see "Sugar & Spice, Malice & Vice" is to see every Michael Hagarty episode. Otherwise to see a great 'Murder She Wrote' episode look elsewhere because to me this is not it (though there are certainly worse Season 9 episodes and of the show in general). 5/10 Bethany Cox
Love the character of Michael Hagarty, one of my favourite recurring 'Murder She Wrote' characters and his rapport with Jessica is impossible to resist, but he deserved a much better final episode than "Sugar & Spice, Malice & Vice". Along with "The Sicilian Encounter", it's one of his weakest and most un-compelling ones, disappointing because his other five episodes are very good to truly great, "One White Rose for Death" and "The List of Yuri Lermentov" are particularly excellent with his character.
A shame because Len Cariou does do a very good job with what he is given and he does share a very charming rapport with Angela Lansbury's (also terrific) Jessica. Lenore Kasdorf and Efrem Zimbalist Jnr are decent in support.
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. Some of the writing is thought-provoking and fun and the father-daughter relationship has some heart. One can understand the protective side to Michael.
On the other hand, the story didn't engage me sadly. It's somewhat dull and not hard to figure out (suspects are too few here), that the prime suspect's innocence is never in doubt is getting tired. There's also a who cares quality to it, because the victim is not an interesting one and is too much of an overtly difficult to like person for no reason other than for the sake of it, what Michael's daughter actually sees in him is much more of an enigma than the actual mystery.
Michael himself, charming rapport with Jessica aside, has been written far more compellingly in his previous episodes (even in "The Sicilian Encounter"). Sometimes it is good to see a different side to a character, but here Michael's darker side sees him at his least likable and compelling and feels too out of character for him. For one of the show's best recurring character, he deserved better than that. The writing on the whole is pretty dreary and takes itself too seriously. The rest of the supporting cast are nothing to write home about.
In summary, the main reason to see "Sugar & Spice, Malice & Vice" is to see every Michael Hagarty episode. Otherwise to see a great 'Murder She Wrote' episode look elsewhere because to me this is not it (though there are certainly worse Season 9 episodes and of the show in general). 5/10 Bethany Cox
helpful•53
- TheLittleSongbird
- Nov 3, 2017
Details
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content