Wonderful to see a mini-Happy Days reunion with Erin Moran guest starring, alongside semi-regular Tom Bosley. Also British acting royalty Hayley Mills appears in an intriguing episode which kept us guessing until the end. The ending was a bit hasty and ludicrous sadly. It's as though the scriptwriter had no idea how to wrap up the final moment of the episode. It was all gripping up to the denouement, but then I felt let down.
13 Reviews
Great to see unshaven DeFore and unshaven Windom
paxveritas13 April 2019
It's always pleasant to see which favorite actresses/actors from the past enliven this series with their guest appearances. Here, Don DeFore, much underrated generally, maybe because he's played so many likeable guys, turns in his usual good job.
This episode has the ingredients of a very good program, and it starts out well - a retired police detective, Barney Kale, sets out to show that his former coworker, Detective Dixon, did not have a natural drowning accidental death ten years ago, but was murdered.
There's the Maine setting, always a plus, assorted characters without much of an alibi, Jessica looking trim and efficient, lovable Seth. We find out about the backgrounds of a doctor, a businesswoman, a young opportunist and his wife, but practically nothing about the victim until the very end, so it's anybody's guess why poor Dixon was knocked off, if he didn't accidentally drown. Jessica, Amos and the Juniper Lake sheriff (wonderfully played in low-key style by J. D. Cannon) don't seem to exert themselves much to learn a thing about Dixon or any enemies he might have made.
The end is a big anti-climax. Don't want to give it away, but really, ask yourself, if you were Lt. Det. Barney Kale, would you have trekked to Juniper Lake to finish the "unfinished business"? HOW stupid is Kale? '
This episode has the ingredients of a very good program, and it starts out well - a retired police detective, Barney Kale, sets out to show that his former coworker, Detective Dixon, did not have a natural drowning accidental death ten years ago, but was murdered.
There's the Maine setting, always a plus, assorted characters without much of an alibi, Jessica looking trim and efficient, lovable Seth. We find out about the backgrounds of a doctor, a businesswoman, a young opportunist and his wife, but practically nothing about the victim until the very end, so it's anybody's guess why poor Dixon was knocked off, if he didn't accidentally drown. Jessica, Amos and the Juniper Lake sheriff (wonderfully played in low-key style by J. D. Cannon) don't seem to exert themselves much to learn a thing about Dixon or any enemies he might have made.
The end is a big anti-climax. Don't want to give it away, but really, ask yourself, if you were Lt. Det. Barney Kale, would you have trekked to Juniper Lake to finish the "unfinished business"? HOW stupid is Kale? '
In the eyes of the local law
bkoganbing30 March 2018
A lot of Jessica Fletcher's cases take place in various exotic locales and just as
many are close to home in Cabot Cove. This one was not too far from her home
town. It also ties in to a murder 10 years earlier of a vacationing police detective.
In fact the detective on that case is in this area again and Pat Hingle and there's another murder of a recently released convict Erich Anderson with a shotgun. That's the thing about shotguns, there's no forensics with them.
There's a nice little stew of suspects that in the eyes of the local law also includes Dr. Seth Hazlitt who's also on the scene. The local law is Sheriff J.D. Cannon and on Angela Lansbury's list he's on it as well.
I was fooled on this one, but on reflecting the sequence of events no other outcome was possible.
In fact the detective on that case is in this area again and Pat Hingle and there's another murder of a recently released convict Erich Anderson with a shotgun. That's the thing about shotguns, there's no forensics with them.
There's a nice little stew of suspects that in the eyes of the local law also includes Dr. Seth Hazlitt who's also on the scene. The local law is Sheriff J.D. Cannon and on Angela Lansbury's list he's on it as well.
I was fooled on this one, but on reflecting the sequence of events no other outcome was possible.
Really ?
raymonddgentry20 June 2021
Warning: Spoilers
A police officer at his retirement party vows to prove his best friend was murdered 10 years ago. At the end, the police officer is found to be the murderer, so he wil spend the rest of his retirement in prison. If he is the murderer, why would he re-open the investigation.
I have never seen or read a more absurd story. Why would anyone produce it ?
I have never seen or read a more absurd story. Why would anyone produce it ?
Unfinished business soon to be finished
TheLittleSongbird2 August 2017
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.
"Unfinished Business" is not one of my favourite episodes of 'Murder She Wrote' and is a little bit of a let-down after the two part "Death Stalks the Big Top". It is still a nice solid episode, that is fun and engaging if not as strong in mystery as other Season 3 episodes and of 'Murder She Wrote'. Intriguing premise, made the most of, and maintains attention, if needing a little more kick and a few more surprises and suspense.
There are plenty of suspects here, which is a good thing, most plausible, a couple of others (particularly Erin Moran's) not so buyable as suspects.
Production values are high in quality as to be expected, with slick photography and great location work that provides room for character tension under the surface. 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 tight, thought-provoking and typically amiable and the characters and chemistry are good fun. The story as said is executed quite well and engages, particularly fun is the rapport between Amos and Kale.
Can't say enough good about Angela Lansbury, she is always dependable and there is a reason as to why Jessica Fletcher is one of her best-remembered roles. Tom Bosley and William Windom are solid as rocks, and Hayley Mills as a classy delight. Of the supporting turns, Pat Hingle is the standout.
In conclusion, solid but doesn't leave one jumping out of their chair. 7/10 Bethany Cox
"Unfinished Business" is not one of my favourite episodes of 'Murder She Wrote' and is a little bit of a let-down after the two part "Death Stalks the Big Top". It is still a nice solid episode, that is fun and engaging if not as strong in mystery as other Season 3 episodes and of 'Murder She Wrote'. Intriguing premise, made the most of, and maintains attention, if needing a little more kick and a few more surprises and suspense.
There are plenty of suspects here, which is a good thing, most plausible, a couple of others (particularly Erin Moran's) not so buyable as suspects.
Production values are high in quality as to be expected, with slick photography and great location work that provides room for character tension under the surface. 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 tight, thought-provoking and typically amiable and the characters and chemistry are good fun. The story as said is executed quite well and engages, particularly fun is the rapport between Amos and Kale.
Can't say enough good about Angela Lansbury, she is always dependable and there is a reason as to why Jessica Fletcher is one of her best-remembered roles. Tom Bosley and William Windom are solid as rocks, and Hayley Mills as a classy delight. Of the supporting turns, Pat Hingle is the standout.
In conclusion, solid but doesn't leave one jumping out of their chair. 7/10 Bethany Cox
Jessica has to solve a ten year old murder.
Sleepin_Dragon26 October 2017
At his retirement party, Lieutenant Barney Kale commits to solving his only unsolved murder, that happened ten years ago of Lowel Dixon an old friend of his. Kale invites all the original suspects to a lodge at Juniper Lake. Among that list of suspects is Cabot Cove's own Doctor Seth Hazlit, naturally Jessica arrives to clear the name of her friend.
I really enjoyed this episode, firstly, I was very impressed by the storyline, a bit of a change for Jessica to be concerned by a historic murder. A good list of suspects, including Cynthia Tate, well performed by Hayley Mills, who sounds ever so English, as does every other Brit on the show. Pat Hingle is excellent as Barney Kale, he makes you believe in the desperation of his character to leave the job with an unblemished career and catch the killer.
A very clever misdirection in this episode, a fabulous setting, and wonderfully strong production values, at no point does it feel like you're watching the cast on a purpose built set.
Excellent, 9/10
I really enjoyed this episode, firstly, I was very impressed by the storyline, a bit of a change for Jessica to be concerned by a historic murder. A good list of suspects, including Cynthia Tate, well performed by Hayley Mills, who sounds ever so English, as does every other Brit on the show. Pat Hingle is excellent as Barney Kale, he makes you believe in the desperation of his character to leave the job with an unblemished career and catch the killer.
A very clever misdirection in this episode, a fabulous setting, and wonderfully strong production values, at no point does it feel like you're watching the cast on a purpose built set.
Excellent, 9/10
Gunfire Interrupts Cabin Fever at a Lost Resort
WeatherViolet21 August 2009
Cabot Cove episodes average five per season in this series, and, on occasion, the action transports into the interior of Maine.
The primary setting of "Unfinished Business" lies beyond Cabot Cove County and, therefore, the jurisdiction of its Sheriff, yielding the way for other law enforcement officers to interrogate suspects.
It all begins ten years earlier than the present day at the backwoods Juniper Lake, a once-promising resort, at which a group of investors is swindled in a Real Estate scheme, leading to the demise of Dectective Lowel Dixon.
And now, on the night of his third retirement banquet, Lieutenant Detective Barney Kale (Pat Hingle) vows justice for the murder of his former partner, with a vow to return to Juniper Lake for one final investigation.
News of Barney Kale's announcement makes headlines across the state. Dr. Terence Mayhew (Lloyd Bochner), while skeet shooting, reads this report, thus causing him to cancel his forthcoming flight to Tokyo.
Entrepreneur Cynthia Tate (Hayley Mills), former secretary to the investment group, receives a call from Detective Kale at her unlisted number, alerting her of his plans to renew the investigation.
Dr. Seth Hazlitt (William Windom) clips the newspaper article to slide into his desk drawer, as Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) visits his office. He then explains about his losses to the failed investment scheme after the passing of Ruth.
Juniper Lake Resort proprietor Jake Sanford (Don DeFore) rents a cabin to a young couple, Maggie Roberts (Erin Moran) and Gary Roberts (Erich Anderson), before he welcomes Cynthia Tate, who enters upon their exiting. "Do you mean that you haven't heard, Jake?" she asks, then filling him in on Barney Kale's plans to reopen the case of Lowell Dixon.
Later that evening, Jessica receives a call from Cabot Cove Sheriff Amos Tupper (Tom Bosley), who inquires to the whereabouts of Seth. "Amos, can you drive over here right away? I'll explain everything along the way," she tells him.
Upon their arrival at Juniper Lake Resort, Jessica and Amos encounter a screaming Maggie Roberts, who has just discovered a body in a cabin. (Tom Bosley and Erin Moran had played father and daughter on the series "Happy Days" for many years, but here they have no familiarity with each other, as their scenes are carefully framed to guide viewers beyond their famous co-starring roles.)
When Sheriff McCoy (J.D. Cannon) arrives the next morning with First Deputy (Phillip Clark) and Second Deputy (James Bartz), they escort a handcuffed Seth Hazlitt from their vehicle, as a prime suspect to murder.
Under his jurisdiction, Sheriff McCoy examines evidence of Dr. Terence Mayhew's missing rifle, a page containing Cynthia Tate's unlisted telephone number, and Seth's roaming the woods, while Jessica conducts a more clever investigation of her own.
The primary setting of "Unfinished Business" lies beyond Cabot Cove County and, therefore, the jurisdiction of its Sheriff, yielding the way for other law enforcement officers to interrogate suspects.
It all begins ten years earlier than the present day at the backwoods Juniper Lake, a once-promising resort, at which a group of investors is swindled in a Real Estate scheme, leading to the demise of Dectective Lowel Dixon.
And now, on the night of his third retirement banquet, Lieutenant Detective Barney Kale (Pat Hingle) vows justice for the murder of his former partner, with a vow to return to Juniper Lake for one final investigation.
News of Barney Kale's announcement makes headlines across the state. Dr. Terence Mayhew (Lloyd Bochner), while skeet shooting, reads this report, thus causing him to cancel his forthcoming flight to Tokyo.
Entrepreneur Cynthia Tate (Hayley Mills), former secretary to the investment group, receives a call from Detective Kale at her unlisted number, alerting her of his plans to renew the investigation.
Dr. Seth Hazlitt (William Windom) clips the newspaper article to slide into his desk drawer, as Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) visits his office. He then explains about his losses to the failed investment scheme after the passing of Ruth.
Juniper Lake Resort proprietor Jake Sanford (Don DeFore) rents a cabin to a young couple, Maggie Roberts (Erin Moran) and Gary Roberts (Erich Anderson), before he welcomes Cynthia Tate, who enters upon their exiting. "Do you mean that you haven't heard, Jake?" she asks, then filling him in on Barney Kale's plans to reopen the case of Lowell Dixon.
Later that evening, Jessica receives a call from Cabot Cove Sheriff Amos Tupper (Tom Bosley), who inquires to the whereabouts of Seth. "Amos, can you drive over here right away? I'll explain everything along the way," she tells him.
Upon their arrival at Juniper Lake Resort, Jessica and Amos encounter a screaming Maggie Roberts, who has just discovered a body in a cabin. (Tom Bosley and Erin Moran had played father and daughter on the series "Happy Days" for many years, but here they have no familiarity with each other, as their scenes are carefully framed to guide viewers beyond their famous co-starring roles.)
When Sheriff McCoy (J.D. Cannon) arrives the next morning with First Deputy (Phillip Clark) and Second Deputy (James Bartz), they escort a handcuffed Seth Hazlitt from their vehicle, as a prime suspect to murder.
Under his jurisdiction, Sheriff McCoy examines evidence of Dr. Terence Mayhew's missing rifle, a page containing Cynthia Tate's unlisted telephone number, and Seth's roaming the woods, while Jessica conducts a more clever investigation of her own.
Why???
krobins-9246317 July 2019
Warning: Spoilers
I LOVE Murder, She Wrote, but this episode is so disappointing.
HUGE SPOILER ALERT!!!
The characters are interesting, the plot draws you in, the mystery is old and intriguing... But the conclusion is just ridiculous. Why on Earth would he announce he's reopening this case when he's the original murderer? Then he goes and causes all this rukus that forces him to commit andothe murder... WHY??? It's a great story otherwise but I cant cant geg past this issue.
HUGE SPOILER ALERT!!!
The characters are interesting, the plot draws you in, the mystery is old and intriguing... But the conclusion is just ridiculous. Why on Earth would he announce he's reopening this case when he's the original murderer? Then he goes and causes all this rukus that forces him to commit andothe murder... WHY??? It's a great story otherwise but I cant cant geg past this issue.
What???
jenniferroseescobar20 November 2021
Ending totally illogical on two counts
FlushingCaps27 January 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Since several reviews have flat out stated who the killer is, I feel free to do so to because it is the focal point of this review.
The story opens at a retirement dinner for a longtime police detective, Barney Kale (played by Pat Hingle) where after looking rather uncomfortable as the speaker sings his praises, including mentioning that he solved every murder case he ever tackled, Kale gets up and announces that there was one he didn't solve, from 10 years ago, and he plans to immediately go about solving it now that he can work on it full-time.
It involved someone at a fishing resort not far from Cabot Cove where four investors had a financial failure and we suspects in the detective's death-which was officially ruled an accident but believed to have been a murder. One of the four was Jessica's good friend Seth Haslett.
Jessica is drawn into the story when Sheriff Tupper tells her he can't get hold of Seth and she thinks Seth is en route to the old lake resort. They drive up there and cannot locate Seth until the next day.
We see a young married couple checking into the lodge by Jake Sanford, played by Ozzie Nelson's old friend Thorny (Don DeFore--who is one of the four suspects from the old case) but not long after they check in, Kale arrives and insists on getting his "usual" room # 1-the one the young couple was just given. Jake moves the couple to another room.
While Jessica and Amos are there, they hear gunshots from near the lake and find a wounded Kale, with blood on his head from falling on the stairs, which he claims were tampered with. Before this is settled, it is learned that there is a problem in Room 1 where Kale was the latest guest.
The body of the young man is found, shot by a shotgun. It is assumed he was shot in the dark by whoever it was that wanted to kill Kale-presumably the killer from 10 years ago who didn't want to be caught for that crime.
As the other have detailed in their reviews, only much later in the show do we figure the victim was the intended victim all along, as it seems he never even told his wife why he wanted to go there, to "go fishing" is what he said but that was clearly not true. He had a criminal past that included being a cellmate of a man who worked at the lodge at the time of the original murder.
In Charlie Chan-type fashion, Jessica gets everyone together and reveals that the victim of this weekend was blackmailing the original killer and that that killer was our retired detective Kale, who despite flimsy evidence against him, basically a phone number on a small piece of paper, spills the entire can of beans about why he killed his partner years ago-items that were never mentioned in the show until then-and why he had to kill this blackmailer now.
Others have pointed out the ridiculous plot point of the detective telling the world he was going after that murderer from 10 years ago, when he knew the killer was the man he sees in the mirror every morning. It appeared all that knew him had forgotten about that crime-based on that retirement dinner-so why say anything about it now?
If the blackmailer had already contacted him, he could have arranged a meeting with him anywhere else and found a way to kill him-likely setting up a self-defense scene that would have been believed. There's no reason the blackmailer would have needed to tell Kale to meet him at this isolated area to set up the blackmail. He could have met him anywhere, including anywhere around the city of Portland where the detective lived.
Furthermore, we are supposed to accept that the old cellmate somehow had knowledge that nobody else had about that old murder, knowledge that he shared with the young man. Cannot think of a reason why he would have told his cellmate information that could have helped him commit blackmail. We never did hear about any sort of evidence against Kale from that murder. If he had something on him-all he would have had in the prison was certain knowledge.
He would not have had any tangible piece of evidence that could be used to blackmail the cop. Try to picture: An ex-con threatens a highly respected police officer, recently retired, with blackmail based solely on what another ex-con told him in prison. On this, he expects the cop to pay him a large sum of money? I think if the young man just went straight to the press and told them what he knew, it would have simply been an ex-con wanting to smear the reputation of a cop with some unfounded story and likely would have never even gotten into any local papers.
Before the conclusion, I was thinking this was a really good episode, but this terribly weak ending makes no sense.
On a minor note, this series often missed the boat when they had various guest stars. In this episode, Erin Moran was the young wife. She became known as Joanie on Happy Days, whose father on that show, of course, was Tom Bosley, sheriff Tupper here. It would have been easy to have the two together at some point but they never did. Now this was not a Perry Mason-type series where there was almost never anything funny.
They injected a few laughs in many things, particularly involving Amos and Seth. It would have been a good chuckle if Amos passed by the young wife, and said, "Excuse me, don't I know you from somewhere?" I would have had Erin respond, "I don't think so. Did you ever spend any time in Milwaukee?" (the setting for Happy Days) Amos could have said, "No, except one time years ago I did visit a cousin there."
So with the show's resolution totally failing logic in two areas, I simply had to drop my score from what was going to be a 9 or even a 10 down to a 2. You just can't give a show a high score when the ending was this weak, no matter how good the rest of it was.
The story opens at a retirement dinner for a longtime police detective, Barney Kale (played by Pat Hingle) where after looking rather uncomfortable as the speaker sings his praises, including mentioning that he solved every murder case he ever tackled, Kale gets up and announces that there was one he didn't solve, from 10 years ago, and he plans to immediately go about solving it now that he can work on it full-time.
It involved someone at a fishing resort not far from Cabot Cove where four investors had a financial failure and we suspects in the detective's death-which was officially ruled an accident but believed to have been a murder. One of the four was Jessica's good friend Seth Haslett.
Jessica is drawn into the story when Sheriff Tupper tells her he can't get hold of Seth and she thinks Seth is en route to the old lake resort. They drive up there and cannot locate Seth until the next day.
We see a young married couple checking into the lodge by Jake Sanford, played by Ozzie Nelson's old friend Thorny (Don DeFore--who is one of the four suspects from the old case) but not long after they check in, Kale arrives and insists on getting his "usual" room # 1-the one the young couple was just given. Jake moves the couple to another room.
While Jessica and Amos are there, they hear gunshots from near the lake and find a wounded Kale, with blood on his head from falling on the stairs, which he claims were tampered with. Before this is settled, it is learned that there is a problem in Room 1 where Kale was the latest guest.
The body of the young man is found, shot by a shotgun. It is assumed he was shot in the dark by whoever it was that wanted to kill Kale-presumably the killer from 10 years ago who didn't want to be caught for that crime.
As the other have detailed in their reviews, only much later in the show do we figure the victim was the intended victim all along, as it seems he never even told his wife why he wanted to go there, to "go fishing" is what he said but that was clearly not true. He had a criminal past that included being a cellmate of a man who worked at the lodge at the time of the original murder.
In Charlie Chan-type fashion, Jessica gets everyone together and reveals that the victim of this weekend was blackmailing the original killer and that that killer was our retired detective Kale, who despite flimsy evidence against him, basically a phone number on a small piece of paper, spills the entire can of beans about why he killed his partner years ago-items that were never mentioned in the show until then-and why he had to kill this blackmailer now.
Others have pointed out the ridiculous plot point of the detective telling the world he was going after that murderer from 10 years ago, when he knew the killer was the man he sees in the mirror every morning. It appeared all that knew him had forgotten about that crime-based on that retirement dinner-so why say anything about it now?
If the blackmailer had already contacted him, he could have arranged a meeting with him anywhere else and found a way to kill him-likely setting up a self-defense scene that would have been believed. There's no reason the blackmailer would have needed to tell Kale to meet him at this isolated area to set up the blackmail. He could have met him anywhere, including anywhere around the city of Portland where the detective lived.
Furthermore, we are supposed to accept that the old cellmate somehow had knowledge that nobody else had about that old murder, knowledge that he shared with the young man. Cannot think of a reason why he would have told his cellmate information that could have helped him commit blackmail. We never did hear about any sort of evidence against Kale from that murder. If he had something on him-all he would have had in the prison was certain knowledge.
He would not have had any tangible piece of evidence that could be used to blackmail the cop. Try to picture: An ex-con threatens a highly respected police officer, recently retired, with blackmail based solely on what another ex-con told him in prison. On this, he expects the cop to pay him a large sum of money? I think if the young man just went straight to the press and told them what he knew, it would have simply been an ex-con wanting to smear the reputation of a cop with some unfounded story and likely would have never even gotten into any local papers.
Before the conclusion, I was thinking this was a really good episode, but this terribly weak ending makes no sense.
On a minor note, this series often missed the boat when they had various guest stars. In this episode, Erin Moran was the young wife. She became known as Joanie on Happy Days, whose father on that show, of course, was Tom Bosley, sheriff Tupper here. It would have been easy to have the two together at some point but they never did. Now this was not a Perry Mason-type series where there was almost never anything funny.
They injected a few laughs in many things, particularly involving Amos and Seth. It would have been a good chuckle if Amos passed by the young wife, and said, "Excuse me, don't I know you from somewhere?" I would have had Erin respond, "I don't think so. Did you ever spend any time in Milwaukee?" (the setting for Happy Days) Amos could have said, "No, except one time years ago I did visit a cousin there."
So with the show's resolution totally failing logic in two areas, I simply had to drop my score from what was going to be a 9 or even a 10 down to a 2. You just can't give a show a high score when the ending was this weak, no matter how good the rest of it was.
Highly illogical, lieutenant
feindlicheubernahme2 October 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Hands down the worst episode of Murder, She Wrote that I've seen so far. And that's because it makes absolutely no sense. I almost had a fit when the lieutenant was outed as the murderer. Well, when he outed himself, confessing to double murder in spite of a total lack of evidence against him, in finest MSW tradition.
These points have been made by others but I'm so irritated that I'll repeat them:
1) Why the hell would you announce to the world that you're reopening an old, forgotten case... when you're the murderer?! Trying to provide logic that the scriptwriters couldn't be bothered with, I could say that maybe the lieutenant had to meet the blackmailer at the scene of the crime. But even then, he still wouldn't need to "reopen" the case.
2) Why would you have to meet the blackmailer at the scene of the crime anyway? He would have met you anywhere to get his money. (And what's the point of the long introductory scene showing the ex-con as an absolute jerk and then the story explaining that his wife had decided she didn't love him anymore? I understand about fleshing out characters, adding colour. But, in this case, adding colour is like twirling your paintbrush in the air; it's completely meaningless and irrelevant since there's no follow-up.)
3) The old cellmate knew something about the first murder that was so damning that someone else he merely told it to could use it as blackmail material 10 years later? What did he know? How did he know it? Since it forms the motive for the second murder, it's information that we really should be made aware of. But we're not, most likely because no one could come up with anything halfway plausible. So it was just ignored: "The stupid viewers won't notice."
I don't think any of this was properly thought through by the writers, in their eagerness to make the least likely suspect the murderer. And, apparently, no one involved in the production actually noticed how literally nonsensical the whole thing was, otherwise it would have been rewritten or, even better, scrapped.
We don't even get to see Bosley and Moran together. What a waste of an opportunity to salvage something from this car crash of an episode by at least giving us some happy minutes of nostalgia.
With regards to star rating, I wish I could award Unfinished Business a 0, which is also the exact number of seconds I wish I'd spent watching it.
Excuse me, but I think I need to go and lie down for a while.
These points have been made by others but I'm so irritated that I'll repeat them:
1) Why the hell would you announce to the world that you're reopening an old, forgotten case... when you're the murderer?! Trying to provide logic that the scriptwriters couldn't be bothered with, I could say that maybe the lieutenant had to meet the blackmailer at the scene of the crime. But even then, he still wouldn't need to "reopen" the case.
2) Why would you have to meet the blackmailer at the scene of the crime anyway? He would have met you anywhere to get his money. (And what's the point of the long introductory scene showing the ex-con as an absolute jerk and then the story explaining that his wife had decided she didn't love him anymore? I understand about fleshing out characters, adding colour. But, in this case, adding colour is like twirling your paintbrush in the air; it's completely meaningless and irrelevant since there's no follow-up.)
3) The old cellmate knew something about the first murder that was so damning that someone else he merely told it to could use it as blackmail material 10 years later? What did he know? How did he know it? Since it forms the motive for the second murder, it's information that we really should be made aware of. But we're not, most likely because no one could come up with anything halfway plausible. So it was just ignored: "The stupid viewers won't notice."
I don't think any of this was properly thought through by the writers, in their eagerness to make the least likely suspect the murderer. And, apparently, no one involved in the production actually noticed how literally nonsensical the whole thing was, otherwise it would have been rewritten or, even better, scrapped.
We don't even get to see Bosley and Moran together. What a waste of an opportunity to salvage something from this car crash of an episode by at least giving us some happy minutes of nostalgia.
With regards to star rating, I wish I could award Unfinished Business a 0, which is also the exact number of seconds I wish I'd spent watching it.
Excuse me, but I think I need to go and lie down for a while.
Does ANY of this make sense by the end of the episode? Nope.
planktonrules2 November 2022
Warning: Spoilers
"Unfinished Business" is an amazingly frustrating and illogical installment of "Murder, She Wrote". This is because the fundamental idea of the plot makes no sense at all...none. And, because it makes no sense, it's unsatisfying...much like a kid getting underwear for Christmas instead of toys!
When the story begins, Lt. Barney Kale (Pat Hingle) is retiring from the police force and at his retirement party, he vows to solve the only crime he never could solve...a ten year old murder. Eventually, he and a few others (of course, including Jessica Fletcher) arrive at a lonely lakeside resort. Soon, some young guy who seemed to have no involvement in the old case ends up dead...which isn't all that bad since he's a total jerk. Then, of course, Jessica solves the killings.
So why is this episode so incredibly bad? Well, it turns out that the retired lieutenant is the murderer! Think about it....he investigates a long closed case and ends up being caught as the killer! This ending just didn't make any sense at all. Why not just retire and get away with the first killing? Why???
By the way, in addition to a plot that is completely illogical, Erin Moran and Tom Bosley are both in the show. But folks wanting to see a mini reunion of "Happy Days" might be disappointed, as the pair share no scenes together in the show.
When the story begins, Lt. Barney Kale (Pat Hingle) is retiring from the police force and at his retirement party, he vows to solve the only crime he never could solve...a ten year old murder. Eventually, he and a few others (of course, including Jessica Fletcher) arrive at a lonely lakeside resort. Soon, some young guy who seemed to have no involvement in the old case ends up dead...which isn't all that bad since he's a total jerk. Then, of course, Jessica solves the killings.
So why is this episode so incredibly bad? Well, it turns out that the retired lieutenant is the murderer! Think about it....he investigates a long closed case and ends up being caught as the killer! This ending just didn't make any sense at all. Why not just retire and get away with the first killing? Why???
By the way, in addition to a plot that is completely illogical, Erin Moran and Tom Bosley are both in the show. But folks wanting to see a mini reunion of "Happy Days" might be disappointed, as the pair share no scenes together in the show.
Unfinished businse
coltras3517 August 2023
Unfin Police lieutenant, Barney Kale, finally announces that he will soon retire, after one final case. He soon travels to Juniper Lake, near Cabot Cove, to solve the one murder that has yet to be resolved - that of a close friend who was drowned ten years ago. Upon visiting the cabins where the murder took place, Kale invites several people who were connected to the investigation, including Jessica's friend Seth, to meet with him at the lakes. Concerned, Jessica accompanies her friend, and no sooner do the pair arrive when a guest at the cabins is found dead, having been killed with a shotgun. Jessica finds herself investigating alongside Amos to find out whether the current murder is linked to the one Kale is seeking to resolve.
Not a lot of mystery here, though Hingle's tussling with Amos Tupper is fun. It's just ok, nothing standout: I found it just average, yet watchable due to characters. There are few things that don't make sense.
Not a lot of mystery here, though Hingle's tussling with Amos Tupper is fun. It's just ok, nothing standout: I found it just average, yet watchable due to characters. There are few things that don't make sense.
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