Trials and Tribulations

Series 7 opens up with a pretty decent episode, it sees Jessica faced with a case from her past, the evidence she gave the Police two years ago to convict a killer, is questioned.

Imaginative script, I enjoyed it, she coasts through life, solving murders all over the land, she's hardly ever bitten by her past, her she is. I liked the legal aspects of the episode, and despite it being slightly drawn out in the middle.

I took a bit of a break after the previous episode, that wasn't a high point, this has given me some encouragement for Series Seven.

There are of course some touches of humour, a disguised, dressed up JB Fletcher is amusing.

A good watch, 7/10.

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.

"Trials and Tribulations" is a very disappointing start to Season 7. The seventh season actually does have some good to great episodes, but also a few average or less ones. While not quite among the worst 'Murder She Wrote' episodes, "Trials and Tribulations" is to me down there with the lesser episodes of Season 7, some things work, most others don't.

Its best asset is some of the acting. Angela Lansbury (a great actress whose material was variable throughout 'Murder She Wrote', but she always delivered. good material or not) can't be faulted, regardless of how people feel about the way Jessica's written here. George Maharis is effectively sleazy, but the star here is Kim Hunter. The consummate brilliance of her performance is in a completely different league to everybody else and can be particularly noted in her climactic scenes (one of the show's best ever acted endings and an ending in general that deserved a far better episode).

Production values are slick and stylish. The music is neither over-bearing while still having presence, and the theme tune is irresistible. Occasionally the writing is amiable and thoughtful.

Unfortunately, the story in "Trials and Tribulations" is a disappointment. It never comes to life or has any urgency, there is no sense of anything being at stake with the outcome of Jessica's situation being predictable from the outset (the whole suing angle is just far too flimsy). A lot of it doesn't make sense, while the mystery doesn't engage and other 'Murder She Wrote' episodes hold together far better and are easier to follow. Jessica's attitude here is a turn off as well, instead of the usual sympathetic, nurturing, standing-for-what's-right and charming Jessica here she comes over as being at her most arrogant and stubborn and it is a very unpleasant side to her.

Mostly, or more like a vast majority of the time, the light-heartedness and cosiness is lost, with a lot of the writing taking itself too seriously and being very dull. Few of the supporting characters are interesting, apart from Hunter's, and the acting on the most part is not much to write home about.

Overall, something of a disappointing trial. To be seen for particularly Hunter and the ending, but for a good mystery, a story that actually engages and makes sense and Jessica being in character it's best to look elsewhere. 4/10 Bethany Cox

During nearly half of season six, Angela Lansbury only appeared in episodes to introduce them...allowing others to play the leads and solve various murders. Many of them rank among the series' weakest shows and it was really nice to see her back at the start of season seven.

Out of the blue, Jessica is served with court papers. It seems that someone is suing her, as she was instrumental in convicting a killer...and now the other witness in the old case claims he lied...and was paid to lie by Jessica! Of course, our heroine didn't do it and despite attorneys pushing her to settle, she's determined to investigate the case and clear herself.

This is a good episode because it is very different...and that's hard to do after so many episodes. Additionally, it keeps you guessing and is well written and well worth seeing.

Season Seven opens with this episode written by series Co-creator Peter S. Fischer, who now begins his seventh and final year as "MSW" Executive Producer.

These season openers often contain bankable guest stars, action-packed conflict and a web of intrigue, for networks of the day to promote its new season line-up rather heavily, and so "Trials and Tribulations" certainly fits the bill in every respect.

When convicts attempt a well-orchestrated escape from a New York State prison, guards and law enforcement officers follow by land and air in hot pursuit of the truck designed to smuggle them from the compound in secret. The attempt to apprehend the prisoners climaxes with an altercation leaving fatal casualties.

One of the convicts, Eddie Stone (Gerry Okuneff), had been sent up the river by evidence collected from mystery author-sleuth Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury), who has drawn her conclusions to suspect him of murder based upon the testimony of Cab Driver Vitello, who has since retired and remains in ailing health in his New York City apartment.

(Note: the Eddie Stone case does not reflect the narrative of any previous "MSW" episode, so this one would not be considered a "sequel.")

Geraldine Stone (Carrie Hamilton), daughter of Eddie, vows justice against the wrongful conviction of her father, by filing a lawsuit against the NYC District Attorney's office, and naming Jessica Fletcher as a corespondent, asking from her $500,000 in punitive damages.

Defense Attorney Ray Dandridge (Ben Masters) defends Jessica and advises her not to contact Geraldine Stone, but Jessica decides not to heed Ray's counsel, but to take the proverbial high road of befriending her accuser, or, perhaps, to inform Geraldine as to what she's in for by playing with the justice system, because, after all, Jessica maintains that she has been right all along.

Justin Fields (Michael Beck) has been seeing Geraldine romantically, and he has urged Geraldine to press this lawsuit against the courts and Jessica, in order to use the $500,000 to open a bakery shoppe. He has been serving as pastry chef at a restaurant owned by Elliott Von Stuben (George Hearn). Although Elliott has been relatively satisfied with Justin's ability to draw in the customers, Elliott has more than once faced heated arguments with the temperamental Justin.

Charlie Cosmo, Esq. (George Maharis) quickly accepts Geraldine as a client because, as an unscrupulous attorney, he knows that if she hasn't a case against city hall, then Charlie can always fabricate one, by bribing a witness to change his testimony, and that's exactly what he does when he visits Vitello to offer him $50,000 to testify against Jessica that she had coerced him to nail Eddie Stone during his day in court.

Beatrice Vitello (Kim Hunter), the devoted wife of and caregiver for the former cab driver, informs Jessica and Ray that her husband is in no condition to endure a repeat of the rigorous courtroom drama while his accurate testimony is needed to defend Jessica but his inaccurate account is needed to prosecute her.

Anne Stevenson (Molly Cheek), a lawyer of the district attorney's office, who plans a run of her own for the office of district attorney, and NYPD Sergeant Paulsen (Stephen Furst) join in the investigation of this case, which soon involves murder, when a victim is injected with a toxic substance.

When neighbor Mrs. Torgeson (Darlene Kardon) informs Sergeant Paulsen that she has seen a blonde in trench-coat, hat and sunglasses running from the scene of a crime on the evening of the murder, Jessica is brought into police headquarters to stand in a line-up. Mrs. Torgeson initially singles out Jessica as a likely suspect, but Jessica later confronts Anne Stevenson to participate in the next line-up, as Jessica suspects that Anne has something to hide.

Altercations continue to erupt among the various parties involved, as tempers flair, while Jessica tries to get to the bottom of things to sort through everyone's "Trials and Tribulations."

The cast is rounded out by Molly McClure as Lady, Mary Angela Shea as Secretary, Ron Tron as Driver, Lance E. Nichols as Policeman, Joe Nesnow as Cab Driver, Vincent J. McEveety as Guard #1, Richard G. Camphuis as Guard, Richard Hoyt-Miller as Waiter #1, Jerry Tullos as Waiter #2, and Thom Keane as Waiter #3.

This episode represents the first acting credit by Ron Tron, and the most recent television acting performance to date by George Maharis.

This also marks the first of two "MSW" appearances for Vincent J. McEveety, the second of two each for Thom Keane, George Maharis, Richard Hoyt-Miller and Joe Nesnow, the first of three each for George Hearn and Ben Masters, the second of three for Michael Beck, and the third of three for Gerry Okuneff.

Kim Hunter, acting in film and on television since 1943, Jerry Tullos, acting since 1978, Carrie Hamilton, acting since 1985, and Molly McClure, acting since 1987, have unfortunately since passed.

Jessica is blamed for the death of a convicted murderer, and is sued by his daughter. Naturally, Jessica, who played a part in getting the man arrested, is fuming and speaks to the daughter regarding this issue, telling her that lawsuit is wrong, and that the law had him convicted, not her.

This episode starts well, and is interesting, at first - after all, after years of detecting is bound to get some murderers' family up in arms about her involvement- but it falls flat halfway towards the end, and just drags. It's just about a passable one, that's all.