This one's fun thanks to the unusual murder weapon(s), the movie buff trappings, and above all Nicol Williamson as the murderous self-help guru. But it's a bid odd, too: Columbo's a little out-of-character here; he waltzes through it radiating enough smugness to make you choke. He even acts like he knows the doctor is the killer before they've even met!
Fortunately Columbo is able to show up at just the right moment to prevent the doctor from killing his own dogs (death by chocolate!) and from doing away with Kim Cattrall--here, centuries away from the jaded and worldly Samantha of "Sex and the City."
Another unusual aspect of the episode is that the murderer even makes a last-ditch attempt to kill Columbo! I don't recall that happening in any other entry in the series.
Overall a good episode, but kind of a weird, off-putting performance by Falk. It's worth watching, though, just for the clever word association game the Lt. and his quarry play; the highlight of the show.
Fortunately Columbo is able to show up at just the right moment to prevent the doctor from killing his own dogs (death by chocolate!) and from doing away with Kim Cattrall--here, centuries away from the jaded and worldly Samantha of "Sex and the City."
Another unusual aspect of the episode is that the murderer even makes a last-ditch attempt to kill Columbo! I don't recall that happening in any other entry in the series.
Overall a good episode, but kind of a weird, off-putting performance by Falk. It's worth watching, though, just for the clever word association game the Lt. and his quarry play; the highlight of the show.