August 18, 2025: Our Columbo rewatch concludes (for now?) with Grand Deceptions!

This episode aired May 1, 1989

This is another episode where we glimpse Columbo’s badge and the name “Frank Columbo”. Despite the fact, Peter Falk and the series creators insist Columbo’s name remains a mystery.

My thoughts on this episode in chronological viewing order…

Echoes of “By the Dawn’s Early Light”.

Keegan is kind of a jerk and worthy of becoming a victim.

Ah the classic ill-fated blackmail move.

Wait! That’s the old guy’s wife and not his daughter!

I notice there’s a heck of a lot more preamble before the murder in 80’s Columbo.

Don’t love the jaunty post-murder music.

What was he still doing there? Maybe he had a stroke? Collapsed? There could be many reasons.

“Well we’re just going to have to call it an accident and go with that.” Will they?

They found the flashlight! Big deal?

The leaves under the collar!

This sequence of Columbo interviewing the screwball cadets is supposed to be funny but feels kind of pointless.

Of course Columbo walks into the room marked No Admittance.

They use the IChing sticks to understand the process of Chinese decision-making. Wut?

“One more thing, sir” and a search through his pockets. Gotta have one of each of those in every episode.

How did the leaves and dirt get under his collar? It’s like somebody dragged him. Braille, of course, has all the answers. Big mistake.

Love these Dog cameos. He’s responsible for car security.

Why is that toy soldier behind the books?

Aha! His secret love nest!

A second episode points to…MURDER!

Columbo asks to use the bathroom. It’s an emergency!

Columbo drinking the General’s best sherry. He doesn’t drink when he’s on duty…except special occasions.

The exact same glass is in the love nest? Come on!

And her fingerprints are on the traveling toothbrush!

A surprisingly heartfelt scene between the old guy and his cheating wife.

This memorial chat sequence stretches to bounds of “humor”.

“Mr. Keegan knew, and now he’s dead.”

The existence of two separate report, conveniently green and red to differentiate, is silly.

Secret weapons sales!

Low blow. He tells the General he’s been sleeping with his wife.

“Oh, I’m implying more than that. I’m implying you murdered the man.”

This whole explanation of the soldier on the bookcase and the different box sizes I am sure makes sense of your really stop and think about it but at this point I’m just ready to take Columbo’s word for it and move on.

This Columbo figure, like Columbo’s ringmaster reveal in “Murder, Smoke and Mirrors” is unnecessary and just feels indulgent and weird. Regardless, I want one.

Padding aside, this episode has the distinction of being one of Columbo’s dullest outings. Padded, at times confusing, and lacking in any standout scenes or interactions. I miss old Columbo.

The post August 18, 2025: Our Columbo rewatch concludes (for now?) with Grand Deceptions! appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.