(TV Series)

(1993)

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8/10
"Loving the Sinner, but Hating the Sincere
WeatherViolet11 November 2009
Cabot Cove County Sheriff Mort Metzger (Ron Masak) and Deputy Andy Broom (Louis Herthum) have their hands full yet once again, dealing with one problem after another after an illegal gambling operation takes root in the community, causing young Deputy Ethan Loomis (Matthew Flint) temptation with corruption.

Lou Keramides (Richard Beymer) operates a new restaurant in Cabot Cove, which houses the illegal casino in its upstairs dining room. But each time Sheriff Metzger plans a raid, all evidence disappears, leading him to suspect a mole in his operation.

Sam Bennett (Wings Hauser), a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), handles the local account for clients as Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury), who continually attempts to reach him for statements and reports, but to no avail, for he has been gambling away entrusted funds.

Sam's wife, Laura Bennett (Penelope Windust), and their daughter, Candace Bennett (Liz Vassey), neither know how to reach Sam when clients attempt to contact him.

But to her parents' disapproval, Candace Bennett strings along her suitor Chad Macinoy (Adam Trese), and ditches him in favor of Deputy Ethan Loomis, whom Sam and Chad disdain.

Chad's mother, Irene Macinoy (Carrie Snodgress), operates a small Cabot Cove classifieds newspaper bulletin, which employs the loyal Chad, whose income cannot sustain Candace's lifestyle.

Then one evening, when Jessica dines as Keramides' Restaurant with Doctor Seth Hazlitt (William Windom), she notices Sam Bennett's descending its staircase and captures his attention long enough to realize that he's been dabbling in her funds.

But when Sheriff Metzger plans another raid on the establishment, someone shoots a bullet through the station window and injures him albeit not severely.

And the next day, on a rural route outside of Cabot Cove, someone take a shot at the driver of a passing automobile, mortally wounding the victim, and causing additional "Love and Hate in Cabot Cove," resulting from murder.

The cast is rounded out by Trent Dolan as Jason David, James Willett as Croupier, David Stenstrom as Craps Player, Jayson Kane as Waiter and Rick Scarry as Minister.
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8/10
It's all happening in Cabot Cove.
Sleepin_Dragon29 May 2023
Jessica is back in Cabot Cove, primarily to learn why her Accountant Sam Bennett had been mishandling her financial affairs. Cabot Cove is troubled, someone has taken a lot shot at Sheriff Metzger.

Very good, I enjoyed this episode a great deal, it's good to see Jessica finally back in Cabot Cove, a local murder is always good, it means Metzger and Seth are present.

Pacing was a real strength, the story develops and builds well, it's almost half an hour before the murder occurs, that seems to be the new time frame.

It's another of those episodes where we see the tougher side to her character, when you compare her here to any early episode, her general character has become so much broader, she's no longer just the sweet writer.

Lou Keramides was an interesting character, it could have done with exploring his character a little more. Wings Hauser was excellent as Sam, he appeared in one of my favourite episodes, Reflections of The Mine, he played a big part here too, strong actor.

8/10.
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8/10
Impossible to hate this episode
TheLittleSongbird12 November 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.

"Love and Hate in Cabot Cove" to me is easily one of the best Season 10 episodes. Really liked it and almost loved it, would have done if Andy still wasn't so underwritten and that the rest of the characters weren't so easy on Sam so soon considering how serious his mistakes are here (some people would realistically find them almost unforgivable or find themselves eventually coming round). "Love and Hate in Cabot Cove" has a lot going for it though, with an always engaging mystery that keeps us guessing to the end.

The pretty fun gambling subplot actually does not distract and gives dimension to the story. Season 10 has been very hit and miss with its endings, with as far as previous episodes go "The Phantom Killer" and "Bloodlines" really disappointing in this regard. "Love and Hate in Cabot Cove" luckily has a denouement that is one of the cleverest (didn't guess the murderer at all and the how aspect was very clever, the motive was a little too obvious) and best-acted ones of the season.

Angela Lansbury is terrific as always, as are curmudgeonly William Windom and Ron Masak whose Mort is so much more than the typical sheriff cliché. The charm and tension in the rapport between Jessica and Mort always delights, still does.

Richard Beymer, Carrie Snodgrass and Wings Hauser give excellent support, especially Beymer.

Production values are slick, stylish and suitably cosy. Cabot Cove is always a welcome sight. 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.

Writing is thoughtful and amiable.

Overall, very good episode that is impossible to hate and one that came very close to being loved by me. 8/10 Bethany Cox
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10/10
A top 10 favorite -- and one great scene
letterl30 June 2022
It would be hard to rank all of the episodes of "Murder, She Wrote"; except for a few stinkers, all of the episodes are good viewing but there are a few which stand out from the rest. Most of the top-notch episodes occurred in earlier seasons but here in Season 10, "Love and Hate In Cabot Cove" would rank in my top 10.

It moves swiftly, there's a fair amount of tension. Jessica's financial situation provides an interesting sub-plot...and the secret casino makes for a great atmosphere.

The scene in Mr. Karamides' office between he and Jessica Fletcher is one of the great all-time scenes in the history of "Murder, She Wrote".

"Love and Hate in Cabot Cove" is a definite 10!
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8/10
Unexpectedly good
xbatgirl-3002922 September 2022
Warning: Spoilers
I've been slowly doing a rewatch of the series in order and this was one of the best episodes I've seen in a long time thanks to a great script. So many of the characters are criminal or unhinged, you have no idea which one will end up dead or how. And then once that happens, it's not easy to guess who the murderer is and what their motive was. There's so much going on with each subplot. Carrie Snodgress especially did a talented job playing a controlling, delusional, mother. The scene where Jessica confronts the casino owner showed she can be a hard core badass at the drop of a hat. She's definitely the one pulling all the strings in Cabot Cove.

And Andy actually plays a part in the case! Who knew what a good cop he is until now. All we usually hear from him is basically "yes, sheriff." Maybe he should be chief of police and Mort can be his deputy, seeing how Mort usually gets every case wrong. Andy's probably has been in the background noticing everything. I like to imagine now he's the one pushing Mort to the right solutions whenever Jessica isn't around to do it.

The only weakness is that we get the tv version of addiction. Wings Hauser's character says "I'm sorry. I'll get help." And that's supposed to mean happily ever after for everyone. First, I can't imagine he only stole from Jessica and Seth (and probably ruined their credit). Would all the others be so rich they can just write off that money like Jessica? Yet he gets *no* consequences for a serious crime. Second, most of us know it usually takes several attempts be successful at recovery. Relapses are also part of the condition. At minimum he would lose his business, if not end up in jail. Thinking about it, let's say Jessica, Seth, and Mort just let him walk after apologizing, it would be likely he would the go on to prey on others the same way.

The ending was just too hokey. I also wish we got the slightest hint more of what Candace's reaction was besides just seeing her crying at the funeral. Her boyfriend was killed by her ex's crazy mom. That's going to be traumatic. But these are mostly minor quibbles compared to the overall story, which was excellent.
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7/10
Engaging episode
coltras353 June 2022
When a crooked cop is murdered there are three possible suspects - his daughter's jilted lover, an illegal casino owner and an accountant. Gambling addiction, shotgun killer and a crooked deputy feature in this engaging mystery which has strong touches of drama. The plot is entwined with a gambling subplot. There's a good performance by Richard beymer as a horrid casino owner.
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7/10
Is someone trying to kill Sheriff Metzger?
planktonrules28 July 2023
When the episode begins, someone nearly blows Sheriff Metzger's head off with a shotgun blast through the window of this office. During the same episode, Metzger is trying to catch a guy who is operating a high-class illegal gambling parlor....and he starts to wonder if the two things are related. Soon, a deputy driving Metzger's car* is killed...and Metzger believes the killer thought the deputy was him. What's really going on here?

This is an interesting story and an interesting twist at the end. My only problems were a few tiny elements in the story. First, in a town of only 3000 people, it's hard to believe that an illegal gambling den would be in tiny Cabot Cover, Maine. Second, the sheriff kept talking about the murder weapon being an over-under shotgun...but a shotgun is a shotgun when it comes to the ballistics. Shotgun blasts cannot be attributed to a specific shotgun or style of shotgun...there is no 'bullet' per se and there are no grooves (the barrel is not rifled like other guns). A minor detail...but one the writers should have noticed. Still, despite these quibbles, and they are only quibbles, an interesting episode and one well worth your time.
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5/10
I'm shocked to hear there's gambling in Cabot Cove
bkoganbing14 June 2017
In this Murder She Wrote story we have Jessica Fletcher going back to Cabot Cove to get her accounts in order. It seems that Wings Houser who was the family accountant has really been messing up. Dr. Hazlitt's accounts as well.

At the same time Sheriff Metzger who is trying to bust a gambling operation he knows is being carried on at a refurbished upscale joint now owned by Richard Beymer. Ron Masak is the target of a hit that is a near miss.

A meeting in the restaurant portion of Beymer's place with William Windom, Angela Lansbury, Wings Hauser, Ron Masak and Richard Beymer kind of sets the whole plot in motion.

I was a bit disappointed here, seems that folks were bending way over backwards too much to be easy on Hauser.
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