"Murder, She Wrote" Home Care (TV Episode 1995) Poster

(TV Series)

(1995)

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7/10
Euthanasia Epidemic Escalates Excessive Edginess!
WeatherViolet13 February 2010
This episode marks the last appearance by Robert Rothwell, who has been acting in films and on television since 1958.

Nurse Lila Nolan (Megan Follows) and Doctor Kyle Adderly (Mark Arnott), born and reared in Cabot Cove, Maine, have entered the medical profession in Boston, Massachusetts, working in patient care at a hospital now overrun by a "Euthanasia outbreak" (as described by a character in the screen-story), leading to an altercation with Kyle Adderly, which causes Nurse Lila to return to Cabot Cove because she doesn't believe in mercy killings.

Nurse Lila's mentor, Doctor Seth Hazlitt (William Windom), gladly accepts Nurse Lila under his wings and assigns her to the care of the ailing Horace Gibbs (uncredited actor), whose loyal daughter, Serena Haynes (Elizabeth Wilson), and disloyal grandson, Banker Justin Haynes (William Converse-Roberts), scrutinize Nurse Lila and Horace, as his condition worsens under her watch.

Maggie Saunders (Audra Lindley), meanwhile, recuperates at her residence under the care of Seth, who maintains that hospitals are for the sick and not for the recovering, and "Home Care" surrounded by good friends ought to yield a positive prognostication in his estimation.

Henry Post (Ed Nelson) is one good friend of Maggie's, as they share membership in Cabot Cove Country Club. Henry presents Maggie with a set of golf balls, under the impression that dreaming of golfing one day soon ought to lift her spirits.

Sarah McCoy (Frances Bay) and Lucas McCoy (Robert Rothwell) serve as Maggie's loyal housekeepers, doing her bidding, during this difficult time for Maggie and her relatives, who cannot seem to locate a copy of her will.

Dorie Saunders (Stephanie Niznik) receives an admonition from her Aunt Maggie not to move back into her residence, while Aunt Maggie welcomes the considerate Dorrie's inconsiderate brother, Eddie Saunders (Zeljko Ivanek), because Eddie has married his fiancée, while Dorrie plans to cohabit with her fiancé, Jason Giles (Tom O'Brien), without the blessing of wedlock.

Dorrie also shares a past with Justin Haynes, who also doesn't approve of Jason with Dorrie, but helps Dorrie and Eddie to rummage through Aunt Maggie's security box at the bank, to search further for a copy of Maggie's will, but to no avail.

Maggie's closest dear friend, Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury), returns to Cabot Cove earlier than scheduled because of reports of Maggie's condition and the need to cheer her from mounting depression, which Jessica, along with Henry and Seth, seem to do, or at least until Seth appoints Nurse Lila to Maggie's 24-hour care.

But when bodies begin to turn up as after the "Euthanasia outbreak" spreads into Cabot Cove, Sheriff Mort Metzger (Ron Masak) and Deputy Andy Broom (Louis Herthum) have their hands full, especially after Serena Haynes mounts a crusade to fire Mort for allowing Nurse Lila to roam freely.

Jean O'Neill (Madlyn Rhue) attends one of these protests, she supporting Mort, but a flock of reporters assembles to cover the event and to question Mort and Serena, without caring much what Jean has to say (even though Cabot Cove hasn't a television station, remember?)

Doctor Seth and Nurse Lila remain in hot water around the angry community, as they try to track down Doctor Kyle Adderly, who was once a ninth grade pupil of Jessica's, while angry mobs begin to debate in favor of and opposition to "Home Care" reform.

The cast is rounded out by Kathryn Masak as Reporter #1, John Crown as Reporter #2, and James E. Hurd Jr. as George the Boston Hospital Security Guard.

This also marks the first television role for John Crown, as well as the second of two "MSW" appearances for James E. Hurd Jr., the second of three for Kathryn Masak, the fourth of five for Madlyn Rhue, and the fifth of five "MSW" guest roles for Ed Nelson.

In addition to Robert Rothwell, Madlyn Rhue, also acting since 1958, and Audra Lindley, acting in film and on television since 1941, have unfortunately since passed.
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8/10
Euthanasia outbreak or murder?
TheLittleSongbird19 December 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.

Season 12, along with Seasons 9 and 11, is one of the weaker and more variable ones of 'Murder She Wrote'. It is though a season that got off to a good start. "Home Care", along with "Big Easy Murder", is another one of the season's best episodes, a season that became very hit and miss after "Home Care" with the worst episodes of Season 12 also being among the worst for 'Murder She Wrote' overall.

The character of Andy, despite Louis Herthum's valiantly subtle efforts, is still rather bland and underwritten, being little more than Mort Metzger's deputy. Jessica having a very old friend that she's known for years yet one that's only introduced here does require some suspension of disbelief.

Angela Lansbury is terrific as always, as is charmingly curmudgeon William Windom and ever easy to like Ron Masak. Have always loved the charm and tension between the leads/regulars. Megan Follows and Audra Lindley are particularly good of the solid enough, if perhaps not exceptional, overall supporting cast.

"Home Care's" mystery is compelling, twisty and sometimes with an eeriness. Jessica's genuine care for Maggie is very believable and touching, one does root for the chief suspect despite the outcome being obvious from miles away and the identity of the killer is a surprise.

Production values are slick and stylish with great use of the setting. 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 amiable and thought-provoking.

All in all, very well done. 8/10 Bethany Cox
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7/10
Home care
coltras3514 August 2022
Suspicion falls on a nurse when two of her patients die at home in this very good MSW episode. The plot is quite enticing with enough twists and turns. Season 12 is a vast improvement on season 11, and this episode is a prime example of that.
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8/10
Home Care Can Been Hazardous To Your Health.
buckikris8 July 2019
Warning: Spoilers
A young nurse arrives back in her home town of Cabot Cove, anxious to start her new job as a home health nurse. She received a high recommendation from Seth Hazlett( William Windom) and is ready to make a change since she arrived from Boston, MA.. Her first patient is a elderly man who is bedridden. The family wants what best for him, and she knows he will be taken care of. The next morning he passes, everybody believe it was natural. When her next patient Jessica's friend, Audra Lindley is found dead; suspensions arise? She was found by the body with a needle in her hand. The people of Calbot Cove gang up and automatically believe she is the killer. When Jessica starts to investigate, she stumbles upon a Jason Kyle.A stundent in her class when she was a teacher. That student when on into the medical profession. He also worked at Boston General, and Jessica's investigation dives deeper. Jessica must find the truth on who is commiting these murder's before a mob rule breaks out.
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8/10
Anne of Green Gables...a serial killer! Say it isn't so!!
planktonrules3 September 2023
In the itty bitty town of Cabot Cove, at least a hundred killings occur during the course of "Murder, She Wrote"...making it the most dangerous town on Earth! Here they have an unusual case, as a local home health nurse, Lila (Meagan Follows) is accused of euthanizing several disabled and elderly residents! And, before the case can adequately be investigated, the community is up in arms and threatening to take action...so, of course, Jessica figures out what REALLY is happening.

The plot to this one is very interesting...and even more interesting because the young nurse is played by the same lady who starred as Ann of Green Gables in the PBS miniseries. Good acting, a very good story and a few nice red herrings...this one is a bit better than average.
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6/10
Euthanasia in Cabot Cove
bkoganbing21 August 2017
When a young woman who Jessica Fletcher taught in high school is accused of being a mass murderer she can't believe it. But she certainly trusts the instincts of Dr. Hazlett who got young Megan Fellows started as a nurse. Both of them work overtime to catch the real murderer of Audra Lindley.

The problem was that there were a string of mercy killings in Boston where Fellows was working before she came back to work in her home town.

The town is all worked up especially since another elderly patient of Fellows' passed away also. Despite William Windom saying it was just plain old age, the rumor persists.

Lindley had a few people not liking her either. Just find the right one.

An interesting episode about lynch mob psychology.
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