Worst Episode(s)
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andy_1976 — 9 years ago(December 25, 2016 07:30 AM)
In my opinion the worst episodes are No Time to Die, Undercover, Murder With Too Many Notes and Columbo Likes the Nightlife.
Other ones generally considered weak are Last Salute to the Commodore, Dagger of the Mind and Murder in Malibu.
You mention Requiem for a Falling Star. I agree it isn't one of the best episodes, but in my opinion it is far from the worst.
There are 69 Columbo episodes in total (including the pilots), so I'm sure everyone will rank them in different ways. But I'm sure what all Columbo fans can agree on is there are MANY great episodes. -
lanceus — 9 years ago(January 01, 2017 10:07 PM)
I just found out that Columbo Goes to the Guillotine is a snooze-fest. I think I may have seen it on its original run on ABC, but not since then.
Well, they can't all be winnersand Columbo has a very strong success ratio. -
thatsweetbird — 9 years ago(January 09, 2017 12:12 PM)
I only in recent years have started watching this series which began when I was only a youngster. I've enjoyed it and understand why it is cherished by many.
I don't think it's giving him too much credit to say The best thing about it is Mr Falk's performance, He creates a character that we enjoy seeing doing his job, like a Sherlock Holmes or a Hercule Poirot.
The character is so good that the show is watchable even when the plots are thin and or full of illogic and farfetchedness.
A "gritty crime drama" this is not:)
So I guess I've seen all or most of the "classic Columbo" from the 70sNow I'm seeing the later episodes starting in the late 80s.
I don't know why they didn't make episodes for over ten yearsI wish they had
I've now seen the first two of these newer episodes . While I still enjoyed themFalk picks up right where he left off I guess I shouldn't expect them to be the equal of the best of the earlier episodes.
Since watching "C" I've realized that the show was the blueprint for many shows that can be characterized as "light weight crime dramas"that's meant to be descriptive not critical Shows that don't include too much violence and gruesomeness and are solved by one main character played by a charasmatic actor usually well known to the public from earlier movies and showsDiagnosis Murder, Matlock, Murder She Wrote, Quincy, etc. I've only watched a little of those shows and I don't think they are as good as Columboincluding these later episodes
I'm not sure this kind of show exists anymoreI'm not sure as I don't watch many new shows there certainly are many crime dramas but they seem to be much more "modern" (that's not better mind you to me -
mcgmcgmcg — 9 years ago(January 02, 2017 07:09 PM)
The one with the Commodore in the title.
I just don't get it.
Especially how he solves the murder with the watch.
"The Commodores Watch". WTF?
Great acting by the Alcho daughter though.
All the others I am ok with except 'No Time To Die' is ordinary as well.
No cash here!! Here, no cash!!! Cash, no!!!! Robbo? No Cash! -
OldSamVimes — 9 years ago(January 03, 2017 03:29 AM)
I just watched that one.
It's a strange episode because they don't show the murder at the beginning, and the person who you think did it actually didn't.
I agree about the daughter, the actress did an excellent job.
Oh, I also liked 'Mac'. -
thatsweetbird — 9 years ago(January 23, 2017 01:44 PM)
Just watched "Grand Deceptions" from 1989. This is the least episode of Colombo I have seen so farI certainly hope it's the worst I will see haha.
While much about the episode is drab compared to the best Colombos I would single out the lack of cleverness in the plot/solution. I like most fans don't mind the occasional far fetched clue in the showif it's clever enough. But here we have a "solution" that is just plain non sensical it's really an insult to the audience because even with Mr Falk "explaining " it in his inimitable fashion it does not make sense. And a crime show movie who's solution makes no sense
And the rest is draba waste of the energy and talent spent on this episode in my opinion. Still a big fan of the show and Mr Falk -
thatsweetbird — 9 years ago(January 24, 2017 10:59 AM)
For sure I have too much time on my hands because I'm responding to my own post here
I'm rewatching the episode (Grand Deceptions) and I don't really find anything that not good about it
EXCEPT that it totally does not make sense!:)
I see that they show the villain as receiving the figurines in the box for books. This rules out the possibility that he somehow unexplained arranged them to be that way because this is all before he is blackmailed by the victim.
If the "solution" in this episode makes sense I don't see it. It's a little surprising they would go through making the entire episode on that foundation But they did -
LorqVonRay1999 — 9 months ago(June 28, 2025 09:50 PM)
I am watching the complete series beginning to end. Excellent show, especially the episodes til 1978. I just finished the only episode I would consider bad so far. It is No Time to Die from 1992. I knew right away it would be different because it's based on an Ed McBain story. But I had no idea it would be so dramatically different in every possible way. Other than the inclusion of the Columbo character, nothing is like a typical Columbo episode. Columbo is just not himself. I guess they wanted to experiment with the character and storyline, maybe mix things up a bit? But it's a misfire for me.