I was astonished to watch such a Columbo episode, so different from all the others. And since the beginning of the whole show, which I have seen every episode, I have often seen some elements different from the usual and recurrent schemes: for instance Columbo appears before the crime is committed: a crime committed by two persons; Columbo lets the murderer gets away; even one episode when there is no murder but only a disappearance... But here, there is a real mystery scheme, the audience doesn't see the murder occurring, a mystery scheme as we could see in any other mystery crime scheme. Columbo doesn't look like Columbo, different outfit, he carries a gun and handles it, he receives a hit in the face, he kisses a gal - Tyne Daly - on the mouth...
That's totally different, but after all why not?
That's totally different, but after all why not?