Crimson Harvest: Probably One of the Weirdest Ever Episodes of Murder, She Wrote
To me, Crimson Harvest is notable for two reasons.
Firstly, it highlights that Falcon Crest, which premiered thirteen years before Crimson Harvest aired, was, without doubt, a no-brainer for a hit TV show. The sun-kissed Californian wine country, the Victorian mansions, the families that have lived there for generations - all of it was guaranteed TV gold if done properly. However, it also demonstrates how frigging silly Murder, She Wrote could be when done carelessly, perhaps at a time when the people behind its production were beginning to become more than a little jaded.
The episode opens with Paul Grimaldi, a member of a prominent Sonoma wine family, being shot dead on the streets of San Francisco. A week later, Jessica, newly arrived in Sonoma to attend Paul's funeral, is being shown around the Grimaldi's vineyard by Paul's mother Anna, a good friend of her's (of course). What really grabs me is how upbeat Anna is - a week after her son's murder. Not only has her son just been killed and not only is his killer still at large, but she still has to get through his funeral, but no, she's just thrilled to see her old-friend Jessica and show her around the family business during harvest.
I know Murder, She Wrote was never intended to be taken too seriously, but Crimson Harvest seemed to take it too far. I sure other people view other episodes similarly, but does anybody else feel the same about Crimson Harvest?