It's difficult to praise this episode enough. It (mostly) steps out of the formula, involving Perry in two trials at the same time, while Della might very well go to prison as accessory to murder. More than in most episodes, we see Perry and Della as human beings, and learn just how much Perry respects & trusts her. How many bosses would loan their secretary $25,000, no questions asked? (That's a lot of money now, and it was huge 55 years ago.)
Another rarity is that the murder case actually goes to trial. In almost every other episode, the case doesn't get past the hearing. (This was done to avoid the cost of hiring jurors.) The reason appears to be that the writer wanted to build up suspense by leaving the jury's verdict -- and Della's potential conviction -- hanging.
Yet another item of interest -- which likely goes over just about every viewer's head -- is that Brent, owner of the art gallery, is gay. This is revealed when Franklin snidely/leeringly tells Brent's wife "Other than his stamps -- is he interested in //anything//?". Brent also has a habit of saying "Fabulous!", which one of the characters harshly tells him to stop.
"Weary Watchdog" is conventional in one respect. As in many episodes, the murderer is played by a familiar character actor. (There's only one -- #1, in fact.)
Another rarity is that the murder case actually goes to trial. In almost every other episode, the case doesn't get past the hearing. (This was done to avoid the cost of hiring jurors.) The reason appears to be that the writer wanted to build up suspense by leaving the jury's verdict -- and Della's potential conviction -- hanging.
Yet another item of interest -- which likely goes over just about every viewer's head -- is that Brent, owner of the art gallery, is gay. This is revealed when Franklin snidely/leeringly tells Brent's wife "Other than his stamps -- is he interested in //anything//?". Brent also has a habit of saying "Fabulous!", which one of the characters harshly tells him to stop.
"Weary Watchdog" is conventional in one respect. As in many episodes, the murderer is played by a familiar character actor. (There's only one -- #1, in fact.)