Despite several incomplete ideas, this is an episode not without its merits or charm. First, it's nice to see Shelley Hack front and center carrying the bulk of the load, even if she's not the world's most accomplished actress. She gains more confidence and competence as a performer as the fourth season of 'Charlie's Angels' goes along.
The killer is fairly obvious from the start, so I wouldn't say Miss Hack and her costars have been given a very original script. But most of the eerie goings-on are suspenseful though contrived. One of the things that annoyed me is we never really had the Tiffany Welles character mention having psychic abilities before, and this trait seems to have been quickly dropped in subsequent stories. It's all a little too convenient so that she can solve the mystery here, with help from her angel friends Kelly and Kris.
Another aspect of the tale that didn't quite work for me was the fact that many scenes involve the ghostly presence of Madeline, the husband's earlier wife whom he also killed. It's interesting how this female spirit has come back to get justice and prevent more women from becoming victims. So on that level it's a combination of the supernatural mixed with 70s feminism. But we are told at the end that the guy had even killed another wife. So where was the spirit of the other dead wife? Why wouldn't she also have wanted her death avenged?
Kudos to the guest stars for helping elevate the material. The costumes seen in the episode are first-rate. There is plenty of spooky atmosphere, and there are no slow or dull moments. But some of it is a bit cringeworthy and some of the ideas are not fully fleshed out, pun intended.
The killer is fairly obvious from the start, so I wouldn't say Miss Hack and her costars have been given a very original script. But most of the eerie goings-on are suspenseful though contrived. One of the things that annoyed me is we never really had the Tiffany Welles character mention having psychic abilities before, and this trait seems to have been quickly dropped in subsequent stories. It's all a little too convenient so that she can solve the mystery here, with help from her angel friends Kelly and Kris.
Another aspect of the tale that didn't quite work for me was the fact that many scenes involve the ghostly presence of Madeline, the husband's earlier wife whom he also killed. It's interesting how this female spirit has come back to get justice and prevent more women from becoming victims. So on that level it's a combination of the supernatural mixed with 70s feminism. But we are told at the end that the guy had even killed another wife. So where was the spirit of the other dead wife? Why wouldn't she also have wanted her death avenged?
Kudos to the guest stars for helping elevate the material. The costumes seen in the episode are first-rate. There is plenty of spooky atmosphere, and there are no slow or dull moments. But some of it is a bit cringeworthy and some of the ideas are not fully fleshed out, pun intended.