Murder, She Wrote (TV Series) Reflections of the Mind (1985) User Reviews

Gaslighted

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 12 October 2018]

Unless she decides to come back this MSW episode will mark the farewell performance of Ann Blyth. She's an old friend of Jessica Fletcher and Angela Lansbury has come to her aid because she's being quite gaslighted out of her mind and people around her are afraid.

But it's her much younger husband,Ben Murphy who winds up the murder victim and Ann the chief suspect.

If this is her last acting job, Blyth will go out on a good performance as the the now two time widow being frightened with images of the first husband and suspected in the death of the second.

Others to note here are Esther Rolle as the maid and Martin Milner as the sheriff.

Nicely done by the whole ensemble.

Great episode

[user-35583 · 9/10 · 22 March 2020]

I'm watching the entire series bin order. This is probably the best episode so far in a season and a half. This one has plot twists, hidden passages, murder and achieves an atmosphere missing from most episodes. A definite high point in the early run.

"It's a Bird. It's a Cage. It's Duping Time"

[WeatherViolet · 7/10 · 27 August 2009]

Lovely Classic film actress Ann Blyth shines in her thus far swan song role as a lady on edge of breakdown in "Reflections of the Mind."

Here, Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) travels to Cincinnati, Ohio, to visit dear friend Francesca Lodge (Miss Blyth) upon learning of her troubles, seeing things, and hearing things relating to her late husband, Phillip Devon.

Things just don't add up, as Francesa hears a tune from a music box and telephone conversations from her deceased first husband, while no one else does, and sees a deceased canary, which others see as very much alive.

But who perpetrates these illusions, which torture Francesa? Doctor Victor March (Steven Keats), her Pyschiatrist? Cheryl Lodge (Stacey Nelkin), her daughter? Carl (Wings Hauser), her gardener? Margaret (Esther Rolle), her maid? Scott Lodge (Ben Murphy), her young husband? Brooke Devon (Janet DeMay), his admiring secretary? Or could it be a conspiracy?

Jessica teams with Sheriff Bodine (Martin Milner) to attempt to uncover the truth before it's too late although during the course of their investigation.

Jessica comes to the rescue of a friend on the edge.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 10/10 · 15 November 2017]

Jessica answers the call for help from old friend Francesca Lodge, a woman close to a complete nervous breakdown, haunted by her dead husband Ross. Francesca is constantly disturbed by noises, and signs of his presence, she's close to breaking point.

I would place Reflections of the Mind in my best of list of Murder she Wrote episodes. You would definitely call this a psychological thriller, no lighter moments here, this is very serious, and at times quite chilling. That moment where Francesca wakes from slumber to see her dead ex husband stood in the doorway gave me nightmares (I was very young at the time!) and holds up well today. The music is fabulous, who would have thought that Beautiful Dreamer could add so much terror.

I'll tackle the acting, Lansbury as always is fantastic, Jessica is particularly strong here, not just an opportune appearance, she is there to help out. Ann Blyth is terrific as victim Francesca, her character is sweet and fragile. I really liked Wings Hauser, Carl was suitably menacing, Hauser would pop up later in the show's future. Steven Keats, the only real issue here, he was not good here, too wooden, he was much better in his last outing (Paint me a murder.)

As a crime it's one of the nastiest Jessica has to solve. This one's a cracker.

10/10.

Playing with minds

[TheLittleSongbird · 8/10 · 20 July 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.

"Reflections of the Mind" is an interesting and atmospheric episode, without being a season or show high-point. It does do a lot right, but could have been better with better acting from most of the cast. Apart from Angela Lansbury, whose portrayal of Jessica is terrific as always, and a movingly vulnerable Ann Blyth, the rest of the acting is not particularly note-worthy. The worst of it actually verges on the woeful, and Esther Rolle is pretty wasted.

However, "Reflections of the Mind" looks good. The setting is beautiful but also atmospheric, while the whole episode is very nicely shot. There are as ever some attractive and nostalgia-inducing fashions. 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.

The writing is tight, thought-provoking and typically amiable, and the story is creepy and poignant. Melodramatic yes, but with its 'Gaslight' influence and the story the episode called for a melodramatic nature and it does it in a way that unnerves and doesn't feel too overwrought.

In conclusion, although the acting in general could have been better "Reflections of the Mind" is very good otherwise. 8/10 Bethany Cox

If you're familiar with the Crawford film, you'll likely guess the solution to this one.

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 26 October 2022]

There are no hills like that anywhere near cincinnati gaslighting. Like strait-jacket.

The plot to "Reflections of the Mind" is one that is relatively easy to figure IF you've seen the old Joan Crawford film "Strait-Jacket". Now I am not criticizing the show for this reason...it's just that if you've seen one, the other will seem similar.

An old friend of Jessica's seems to be losing her mind. Francesca (Ann Blythe) is on her second marriage, after losing her husband in an accident. However, she keeps hearing the dead man and seeing him!! Obviously, someone is trying to drive the woman mad...but who?

The plot is familiar...but enjoyable. Not much more to add about this one....and it's a HUGE improvement over the previous episode.

Overacted!

[michellecy-84478 · 4/10 · 7 September 2018]

Love Angela Lansbury and this show, but the other actors in this episode, particularly Ann Blyth were not good. Ann Blyth's overacting is terrible and so unbelievable!

Reflections of the Mind

[Prismark10 · 5/10 · 12 May 2024]

Madness could be all in the mind, maybe according to Dr Victor March. He has been treating Francesca Lodge (Ann Blyth) an old friend of Jessica Fletcher.

She was a widow who later married a much younger man Scott Lodge (Ben Murphy) who is now cheating on her.

Only Francesca believes that her first husband's spirit is haunting her. Has he come back to life somehow?

Jessica investigates while Dr March decides whether Francesca needs to be hospitalised. Especially after Scott dies in an accident.

Any show that has Wings Hauser has a guest star does not need to look too far who the culprit could be.

There was more than a touch of Agatha Christie about the solution. My wife was very pleased to work out the likely suspect.