Could it be true? Will Columbo finally be outsmarted? By a smug playboy / gold-digger type, no less? Nah. But it was a fun twist on the old formula. Ian Buchanan plays the slick killer with style. The location of the 'Bunny Ranch', with all its fine female specimen and a wide variety of exotic animals, was great fun. There were some fine supporting roles (David 'The big Lebowski' Huddleston and Mark 'Pi' Margolis). The finale resembled an old Edgar Allen Poe story, if I'm not mistaken, but the kill and the uncovering of the body were more-than-usual harsh for a Columbo episode - something I can appreciate.
Maybe it makes no sense that this highly intelligent killer forgot to take off the bracelet gadget from his dead wife's wrist, or even that he let Columbo back on the property just like that, but alas... most Columbo episodes have a flaw or two or more, and if not, they're rather far-fetched. That's just how it is. Love it or leave it.
I'd almost forget: there's some fine '80s music here, such as the Fine Young Cannibals.
7 out of 10.
Maybe it makes no sense that this highly intelligent killer forgot to take off the bracelet gadget from his dead wife's wrist, or even that he let Columbo back on the property just like that, but alas... most Columbo episodes have a flaw or two or more, and if not, they're rather far-fetched. That's just how it is. Love it or leave it.
I'd almost forget: there's some fine '80s music here, such as the Fine Young Cannibals.
7 out of 10.