Have always been quite fond of 'Murder She Wrote'. It is a fun and relaxing watch that makes you think as you try to unwind in the evening. If one wants more complex, twisty mysteries with lots of tension and suspense 'Murder She Wrote' may not be for you, but if you want something light-hearted and entertaining but still provide good mysteries 'Murder She Wrote' fits the bill just fine.
"Corned Beef and Carnage" is a fun enough episode and does give an interesting (if not exactly innovative or telling us different to what we know) look at advertising and conflicts behind the scenes. But is a long way from being one of the best episodes of Season 3 let alone a 'Murder She Wrote' high-point. It is wrapped up a tad too tidily and it is agreed too that the title is terribly pure corn (not sure what the writers were thinking coming up with that).
Its weakest asset is that the acting, outside of Genie Francis and the ever dependable prolific voice actors Marcia Wallace and David Ogden Stiers (though this episode was before either of them took on the roles they're most famous for, 'The Simpsons' for Wallace and numerous Disney characters for Stiers), is not great from a mostly B-list cast. In the case of Jeff Conaway, it is catastrophically bad actually, some of the most amateurish acting from any of the earlier seasons and there is a reason why a character that is very nearly as bland and annoying as Michael Horton's Grady Fletcher struggles to get into acting. He and Francis have little chemistry either.
Production values are high in quality as to be expected, with slick photography and a great use of setting. The music has energy and has presence but also not making the mistake of over-scoring, while it is hard to forget or resist the theme tune.
Writing is tight, thought-provoking and typically amiable and the characters and chemistry are good fun. The story engages and has entertainment value.
Can't say enough good about Angela Lansbury, she is always dependable and there is a reason as to why Jessica Fletcher is one of her best-remembered roles. She was deserving of a better supporting cast however.
To conclude, a decent episode let down by a cast that just don't cut it. 7/10 Bethany Cox
