Mystery 101 (TV Series) Dead Talk (2019) User Reviews

Entertaining

[bensonmum2 · 8/10 · 6 August 2021]

Dead Talk makes the fifth Hallmark mystery movie I've watched recently. In Dead Talk Professor Amy Winslow (Jill Wagner) is invited to speak at a TED Talk like event. But when one of the other participants, a software developer, falls from the roof of the event building, Winslow's focus switches to solving a murder.

Thus far, Dead Talk is easily my favorite movie in the Mystery 101 series. The writing here is the star. Dead Talk features a wonderfully convoluted story. What starts out as a fairly straightforward mystery with a few obvious suspects transforms into something completely different. There are plenty of twists and turns to keep things interesting. I was guessing (wrong) until the very end. Watching the plot unfold to a nice conclusion was incredibly entertaining. I was also impressed that the plot was fairly straightforward in presenting clues to the viewer. It's a fun one to play along with.

Jill Wagner and Kristoffer Polaha continue to shine. And I really like the continuing storyline involving Winslow and Burke's evolving relationship. It's a small moment, but I really enjoyed the scene where Burke is doing everything he can to be invited to go to Seattle with Winslow's father. Polaha does a particularly nice job of acting.

Overall, no real complaints from me. A nice story, some good acting, and a satisfactory conclusion to the mystery. Dead Talk is solid entertainment.

8/10.

Guys, Am I going to have to take you down to interrogation?

[cgvsluis · 7/10 · 4 January 2021]

Amy gets invited to give a TedTalk style talk in Seattle on "Why people are so obsessed with mysteries" by a former boyfriend (Tim Bishop), which sparks both curiosity and a little jealousy in Travis. Travis ends up in attendance with Amy's father...as his road trip driver since Graham hadn't a lot of sleep and "it might not be safe for him to drive", to both support Amy and check out this old boyfriend. A tech genius who is also there to give a TedTalk ends up plummeting to his death. Amy suspects foul play, but the local law officers refuse to speak to her...into the fray is Travis, who calls upon a former colleague of his who happens to be working the case in Seattle.

Thanks to their usual great teamwork and good instincts, once again Travis and Amy are integral in solving the case.

This is the second time the song "who can it be now?" gets used in a Mystery 101 movie.

Travis and Amy continue to build their connection and their on screen chemistry keeps on sizzling. How can Travis not be jealous of this "genius" former boyfriend with a British accent, Tim Bishop, who does seem to still be in to Amy and can still quote Raymond Chandler..."There is no trap so deadly as the trap you set for yourself"?

I appreciated that Bishop thought the gift of Raymond Chandler's Long Goodbye, was Amy's way of giving him the kiss-off. Note to self, another book to add to my tbr list. Thanks Mystery 101!

I love the relationship that Amy has with her father. They are in a lovely and healthy relationship, in which they challenge each other and want the best for one another.

This time, coffee shop Holly was a font of information. I appreciated Amy's dad's take on Bishop...he was charming and "I should stop worrying...shouldn't I?"

It was nice to see Travis, Graham and Amy all dressed up and as a Seattleite it was nice to see a little stock footage of the actual Seattle. As Amy exclaims when she sees her dad and Travis in tuxes...Dap-per!

Crime solving software that will put Travis out of a job? Yeah, right!

Hallmark mystery

[SnoopyStyle · 6/10 · 3 May 2020]

Professor Amy Winslow (Jill Wagner) heads to Seattle to present at Teachable Talks which is founded by her ex-flame Tim Bishop. A jealous detective Travis Burke (Kristoffer Polaha) joins Amy's dad Graham on his drive to attend the Talk. A murder happens and Travis' old acquaintance Rachel Knox leads the police investigation. Amy and Travis decide to investigate it themselves.

As Hallmark franchises go, this is one of their better ones. Wagner and Polaha have good easy chemistry. This one has their past relationships pop up for added spice. The mysteries are functional although they are never that intense. This one has a compelling reveal. It's fine.

Consulting Detectives

[bkoganbing · 6/10 · 23 September 2019]

Professor Jill Wagner and Garrison, PD detective Kristopher Polaha travel to Seattle for a seminar on how computers will eventually take the place of police detectives.

The host of this clambake is Michael Kryszko a Bill Gates type millionaire who says he has such a program. This guy has Gates's money, but Donald Trump's charm and integrity. He gets thrown off a building.

Turns out Kryszko's lawyer had been murdered before our protagonists got to town. And the Seattle police just can't get the job done. Good thing Wagner and Polaha were around.

Wagner also meets up with an old flame who is in the dot.com business also. Matthew James Dowden is as full of himself as he was back in the day. Wagner breathes a sigh of relief.

Fans of the series will like this one.

Is it possible to love each movie even more than the previous one?

[MIssM19 · 10/10 · 1 October 2019]

Seriously, this was amazing. I believe #2 and this one are the best so far out of the four. The cast is great, the chemistry between Kristoffer and Jill is unbelievable: I love the relationship Travis and Amy have right now, there are feelings obviously and the desire to have each others back and support each other no matter what. Ugh, I love a relationship with good development.

I love the fact that Amy is the Sherlock and Travis is the Watson of this relationship (I've been binge watching BBC's Sherlock this past few weeks and I'm obsessed!)

I realized there are always three or more suspects, and they keep it a secret until the very last 5 minutes, which is great. Amy's dad, Graham, is getting more screen time, good for him. I just have to point out the obvious, is there a cellphone in this world that can have THAT good of a zoom? And Travis didn't have jurisdiction but somehow he was the lead of this case? Funny.

I may be biased because this is the only Hallmark M&M I watch but these series of movies are clever, fun, there is good chemistry between the cast (important!) and I just wish I have one to watch every month. Keep them coming please!

Awesome story!

[soonasblog · 10/10 · 25 September 2019]

This is the best of all Myster 101 series. Great story, characters and I found the typical mystery twist awesome in this movie!

Love These!!!

[soteriagal · 10/10 · 27 September 2019]

I love this series! The leads are well suited, witty, personable and have loads of chemistry! All the actors are wonderful and believable. The stories are interesting and clever! My only beef with all the Hallmark movies is those empty 'to-go' cups that everyone can tell have nothing in them!! If they're concerned about spilling coffee, fill them with water! We aren't fooled! But thank you Hallmark for clean, heartwarming, family friendly movies!!

Best Mystery Series

[Jazzie-too · 10/10 · 19 April 2020]

The actors in this series are the best collection I've seen in any Hallmark production. Not just the main actors, but the supporting cast as well. I missed Dead Talk when it aired--but was SO happy I was able to wath on the Ha;;mark app via my internet provider. I never watch movies on my phone--but watched this one straight through. Just great story, well written, and superb casting!

Mystery 101: Dead Talk

[JoBloTheMovieCritic · 5/10 · 25 September 2019]

5/10 - simply not as good as the rest of the series, but how can you not enjoy a light HMM mystery?

OMG!!!!

[agambre · 10/10 · 23 September 2019]

I am speechless!! This episode has so much twists and turns that you'll kept on guessing. Once again it was extremely hard to guess even towards the end. A KILLER COP???? WOW!!!

Congratulations to the writers and the entire casts. Jill and Kris are the most talented actors who make the movie so much fun to watch. The chemistry between them is unbelievable. Kind of disappointed that their relationship was not taken to the next level. But hoping it'll be on the next episode, please.

Personally, of all the HMMM mysteries (past, present, and upcoming), Mystery 101 series topped them all.

Dead Talk

[coltras35 · 8/10 · 5 June 2023]

Amy heads to Seattle to give a TEDTalk-style lecture. When a tech genius dies, Amy suspects foul play. When local cops shut her out, Travis joins forces with Amy to figure out who-did it.

Very enjoyable series, mainly due to the characters of Travis and Amy, their chemistry is great - the way their work together is smooth as the pace of this above average Hallmark series. It's got a light touch, but the mystery is intricate enough and engaging. There are a few suspects - the victim's cheating wife, his best friend who is having an affair with his wife and Amy's former beau. The fact that Amy and Travis have their former partners featuring is interesting. Starts with the death of a lawyer, which is linked to the mystery.

I love this series- keep them coming!

[kittybissell · 9/10 · 19 September 2020]

Of the various Hallmark mystery series on now, this one is my favorite, and it's entirely because of the leads. Their chemistry is amazing. And it doesn't hurt that Kristoffer Polaha is the handsomest man on Hallmark (or at least a strong contender). This particular installment is solid, and I recommend it for fans of both this series and of Hallmark mysteries in general. I've seen it a couple times and wouldn't mind seeing it again.

Though as a former denizen of Seattle (and as a lover of pie), I was *so* mad early on in the movie when Amy's former boyfriend invites her to go with him to get the best pie in Seattle- and she refuses! Seriously, I had a hard time getting into the movie after that. I wanted to know what the best pie place was! But on another note, also as a former Seattle resident, it is often painfully obvious to me that Hallmark's Seattle-set movies were not filmed there. Somehow, in this one, they were able to disguise that fact a lot better than usual. Good going, crew!

As for whodunnit- there is no such thing as a random detail in a mystery (or at least in a Hallmark mystery) so I did guess fairly early on who it was. But it wasn't someone that I liked, which is always a happy bonus.

Fooled me

[Jackbv123 · 5/10 · 23 March 2021]

I picked the wrong person, but I didn't trust the one that did it either. The reveal was a bit drawn out.

There's very little going on romantically except maybe jealousy in this episode.

There is a point in the first half where I almost gave up. It's everything that's wrong with these amateur detective shows. Those who are amateurs, or in this case, those who aren't authorized to pursue the investigation, mess things up legally for the real authorities. If nothing else, these take away the real authorities' chance to question witnesses before they turn hostile. This series is usually better than most of the other ones with police procedures.

Same disregard as previous chapter

[Tiny T · 4/10 · 18 March 2022]

I hoped the level would pick-up after the previous episode hoping that was as bad due to the personal aspect of the story. But no, the writers are to blame. Now there at a different scene in the big city of Seattle, home of the Kraken. And there business is literary based, not some kind of crime oriented congress. So Travor is in this chapter also out if his jurisdiction, not just the broad. So now you aspect her flagrant disregard for police procedure to be punished by law as obstructing of justice and interfering in police business. Punishable by law up to 6 month. But no, the inspector in charge is a college of Travor dating back to the academy time where she beated him to the detective rank. Allthough she talks the talk of protecting the course of investigation, she also never walk the walk. And then the supporting role in this case, or second mean character is a application programmer who wrote an app which totally obsoleted the human factor in crime solving processing. Yeah, write! So I start the app and apparently all crime data is uploaded according to application syntax, and then the computer solves it, with all the crime indigenous decisions ready to be applied in steps off we go left or we go right, the way computers apply logic. And this app, which is basically very limited by nature will bring him millions and millions. And completely replace human contribution in this. The only normal thing is that all the personal issues between the mean characters of the story is quite normal. The wife of the developer is a high executive in the company and his best friend is COO for the company, and surprisingly they have an affair which cost her the marriage and legal heritage to the company and products. And offcourse there is a dirty cop somewhere who helps a maffia lawyer with secret information to win cases. So that part is still entertaining as it is aspected. Al in al less annoying to watch then the previous chapter. So a 4 instead of a 3.