I've been a Perry Mason fan since the original B&W TV series in the '60s. That being said, I enjoyed the re-introduction of the Burr character with the series of made for TV Mason movies of which, sadly, this was among the last.
As has already been mentioned by others, the formula was getting a little old. In this show, as in several others, there were so many characters introduced in the opening several minutes to whom the victim was so rude and mean that killing them was an obvious solution, that it reached ridiculous levels. What was even more ridiculous was Lt Brock immediately seizing upon the fact that the good doctor was the only viable suspect. Yeah, I know that other evidence was presented which supported the theory that the doc did the killing but even dedicated cops are supposed to fully investigate all aspects of active cases. Sorry, but he was too quick to jump on the obvious evidence and too aggressive at ignoring and discounting alternative theories. This was evident not only in this episode but several others around the same time, as well. This made Brock not only annoying but irresponsible as well. In the Perry Mason universe - He likely would never actually investigate a case which ever got successfully prosecuted due to his incompetence!
As has already been mentioned by others, the formula was getting a little old. In this show, as in several others, there were so many characters introduced in the opening several minutes to whom the victim was so rude and mean that killing them was an obvious solution, that it reached ridiculous levels. What was even more ridiculous was Lt Brock immediately seizing upon the fact that the good doctor was the only viable suspect. Yeah, I know that other evidence was presented which supported the theory that the doc did the killing but even dedicated cops are supposed to fully investigate all aspects of active cases. Sorry, but he was too quick to jump on the obvious evidence and too aggressive at ignoring and discounting alternative theories. This was evident not only in this episode but several others around the same time, as well. This made Brock not only annoying but irresponsible as well. In the Perry Mason universe - He likely would never actually investigate a case which ever got successfully prosecuted due to his incompetence!