Um, you're an amazing bartender, but I think you'd make a great detective.
- I love my job.
- Yeah, me too.
Powerful cast, interesting script, great soundtrack, but something is missing. It was these feelings that came to me when I watched this series as a child and they also visited me and the days when I watched this series. It's a very strange feeling. Wrong. After all, there should always be a reason why a film, cartoon or series did not cause a positive reaction, well or negative, depending on what guided the creators of the film. The reason is not to like just “because” is not even considered. After all, we are all adults here, and therefore we need to confirm our point of view with arguments. How much they will be, let others decide, but they should be. Well, if we must, then let's go in search of them together with the valiant Lieutenant Colombo.
Actually, the annotation to the picture fits in a couple of sentences and conveys the essence of what is happening: Famous sexologist Joan Allenby, witnesses that her lover David Kincaid (something tells me that the series already had a character with that name and surname, although I may be wrong) cheats on her with another. A woman becomes furious and decides to take revenge on a negligent man. Joan dresses in all black and pretends to be a courtesan, seduces David, and subsequently kills him. Curtain.
No, of course, there is Colombo, who gladly sticks his nose where he does not ask. And it appears quite specific - meets in the elevator with Joan Allenby, does not recognize her, but there will be an awkward scene that can cause a smile on his lips. However, such scenes will be enough. For example, the hero Peter Falk, playing the trumpet in front of a group of children who clap and say encouraging words to support Colombo. This can not but cause a pleasant smile. Or the moment when psychologists approach Colombo and ask for advice on their personal lives. This calls for a smile and in the same way looks quite reasonable - psychologists are also people and it is awkward for them to ask for advice from each other, but from a stranger and disinterested person you can ask for good advice, as well as what will help. All this brings such a necessary human factor, for which we love Colombo. It would seem that this should be enough to recommend the series to everyone, but I can not do it. It's all Joan Allenby's fault.
Again, don’t get me wrong, Lindsay Kraus, who played Dr. Allenby, performed her part with dignity, it’s about her character. In one of the scenes, we are shown how she tries to burn a black dress, and Colombo constantly prevents her from doing this, but when she still manages to get rid of the detective’s docks, she dramatically changes her mind. Then comes the scene when Joan dresses up in all black and starts talking to her reflection like... well, like Gorlum from The Lord of the Rings, so as not to go far for examples. And this conversation should lead to something, but it does not lead. Joan says it's her turn, but she's not doing anything about the lieutenant and his investigation. Well, it would be nice to have a note from a lady in black that doesn't affect anything. In a good way, behind all the interesting scenes I have listed, the main thing is lost - the idea of a mental confrontation between Colombo and the Killer is lost. Joan Allenby becomes a supporting character who is remembered only out of necessity. Because of this, the series turns into a set of short scenes. The scenes are well staged, who argues, and the musical accompaniment is completely pleasing to the ear, but alas, these are just scenes.
Outcome? My colleagues find a certain charm in this series and they can be understood. The series really worked and tried so that it could entertain the viewer. That's what she's doing. Just for me, “Colombo” is primarily a detective story, and here it turned out to be extremely weak and pushed into the background. Of course, fans of “Colombo” can safely recommend this series to familiarize themselves, but all the rest of the viewing is exclusively at will.
6 out of 10
P.S. I was pleasantly surprised by the appearance in this series of Peter Jurasik known to most viewers as Londo Malari from Babylon 5. Yes, he has a rather small role here, but for me, the appearance of Jurasik is always a joy.