September 12, 2025: Our Columbo rewatch continues with…”Rest in Peace, Mrs. Columbo”

This episode first aired March 31, 1990.

This episode was written by Peter S. Fischer who also wrote “Publish or Perish”, “A Friend in Deed”, “An Exercise in Fatality”, and “Negative Reaction”.

The wife of the home buyer in the opening scene is played by Rosanna Huffman, wife of series co-creator Richard Levinson. She also played the part of Tracy O’Connor in “Suitable for Framing”.

My thoughts on this episode in chronological viewing order…

Opening on Mrs. Columbo’s funeral is a gut punch. Poor Columbo looks broken.

This Voice Over and flashback are weird.

“There’s a game at the Sports Arena.” Ah, yes. And I’m sure he is a huge fan of “home team”.

Ah, the maudlin mourning of her husband. Longingly trailing her fingers over the framed photo.

She is out for revenge. Leaves her half-finished drink and cigarette at the crime scene. Doesn’t do a very good job of getting rid of the murder weapon. It’s like she wants to be caught.

Back to the funeral and more V.O., this time by a meaningless character. What the hell is the dead man’s secretary doing at Mrs. Columbo’s funeral?

Mrs. Columbo has a dead thumb. Should it be a brown thumb?

Columbo admits he loves his wife. He wouldn’t know what to do with her. Is he setting her up?

Vivian’s story doesn’t add up. They’ve arrested past murderers with less evidence.

Back to the funeral and another cheesy V.O., this time from Lovejoy. What hell is HE doing at Mrs. Columbo’s funeral? Is the post-burial buffet that good?

Whenever they say Falcon Ridge, I think Falcon Crest. Similar vibe.

“You got a guy called Heinrich to make chili?”
They changed the recipe and it’s not longer quite as good – like these new Columbos.

Wish this revenge plot had been related to an actual past episode.

Wait! Now Columbo is saying they don’t have children, contradicting what he said in a previous episode. Are the online theories correct? Is he actually delusional and only imagining he has a wife?

She’d like to meet Mrs. Columbo? Oh, I bet she would.

“You won’t need a lawyer. We aren’t accusing you of anything.” Is that how it works?

Boy, this angry suspect is OTT.

What the hell is she rubbing on her face and lips while watching this slideshow? It looks like a cat’s paw.

Columbo talks about killing the taste of the snails, but didn’t he happily eat snails in a previous episode?

Oh, no! Mrs. Columbo was found on the kitchen floor!

Back to the funeral and the wrap-up. Lonely Columbo asking Vivian back to his place should be a red flag for her.

Why is she initially panicked at the sight of him eating the poisoned marmalade?

Warm. Sweaty. Dizzy. Columbo is a pretty good actor for a cop.

Why is she giving him a massage while admitting to the crime?

“I don’t think so ma’am. This is not my kitchen floor. And this is not my house.” Gotcha!

Ah, the old secret recording trick, one of the most unsatisfying of mystery tropes.

Of course he had the marmalade tested as soon as he received it.

I do like the slap and I do feel kind of sorry for her. Kind of.

And we end on Columbo calling to check in on his wife? Or his imaginary Mrs. Columbo.

While I do like the fact the production wanted to try something new with these silly voice overs and flashbacks, it really felt like they lacked faith in the show’s established formula (here and in recent episodes). If it aint broken, don’t fix it!

Overall, I thought this episode was fine – but found the whole Mrs. Columbo funeral charade pretty ridiculous. Still, I did like Helen Shaver’s Vivian Dimitri and thought it was an enjoyable (albeit predictable) Gotcha!

The post September 12, 2025: Our Columbo rewatch continues with…”Rest in Peace, Mrs. Columbo” appeared first on Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog.