Blueprint for Murder

I have been a big Columbo fan for a while now, and Blueprint for Murder is one of my favourites. The episode is a little slow-moving, my only minor complaint, other than that for me this is quintessential Columbo and hits all the right buttons.

The episode looks striking, what a vast majority of the Columbo episodes have in common is that they are great to look at and Blueprint for Murder is no exception. The photography is very good, while the locations and costumes are very pleasing to the eye. The music is great, fits right into the 70s and doesn't interfere too much with any crucial scenes. Blueprint for Murder is for me one of the more cleverly written episodes, it has a great mix of being funny and suspenseful, and the story is always interesting and crafty.

The acting is very well done. Peter Falk is brilliant in the lead, as he always was, and he directs very well too. Patrick O'Neal is a perfect foil for him, Elliot Markham is one of the most memorable and craftiest culprits in the Columbo line in my view, and O'Neal's performance and how he interacts with Falk is part of the reason why.

All in all, great Columbo mystery. 9/10 Bethany Cox