Last Scene Alive: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery

Binge watching a series sure make continuity errors/irregularities more noticeable! "Last Scene Alive" had so many that I literally paused on separate occasions thrice and triple checked that I was watching the series in correct order.

This entry in the Aurora Teagarden Mystery series was a little off in many ways. Here are three examples without spoilers (any details I use are mentioned within the first few minutes after the intro):

1) Aurora very casually moved out of the house she fought so hard to stay in. Where she lived had no bearing on this movie and mentioning this was confusing and pointless. Aurora's tone didn't match her previous feelings toward her living arrangements.

2) John was gone abruptly (along with Doig) and both Aurora and her Mom's feelings about this were way too casual. That's another gripe about this film: many scenes were either a little overacted, or a little underacted.

3) Either Lynn was pregnant again (the other baby was never mentioned) or she had a reverse immaculate conception and the baby shrunk and morphed back inside her. A subtle shoutout to vore enthusiasts perhaps?

The intro of the movie was good enough. The panning was excessive, but the intro captured my interest. Also, the last 25 minutes were much better, aside from one scene that was plain ridiculous while at the same time having a "Chekov's Gun" so pointless, it was shooting nerf balls.

The middle portion was quite boring and predictable and if this was my first entry into this series, I would have given up on the show and series entirely. The guilty party was spotted immediately. I'm pretty sure this was not intended, and those responsible for this film were being sloppy. The acting was a little too big, the character makeup a bit too shiny, the camera zoomed in a little too much...just a combination of "not quite right" of many involved ended up spoiling a good chunk of the mystery.

The writing felt rushed, it seemed like each scene was only a few takes and the producers said "good enough", and the capable editing team must have been paid for the assignment, not by the hour.

Still, there were enjoyable scenes such as in the police hallway with Arthur and Robin who both acted quite well throughout. Also, something I did not realize until coming to this IMDB page would cause me to stick around if this movie popped up on TV so I could rewatch a few scenes. Providing more info than that -might- be considered a spoiler. Maybe just one more phrase: clever meta usage! An extra star tacked on for that.

I certainly hope the rest of these Mysteries are more enjoyable and the script, character developments, and dynamic between characters are treated with better care.

Aurora is back living with her mother, Aida, after taking a really good offer on her house which was starting to feel cursed to her. Aida is split up with John because she refused to marry him and therefore he decided to move closer to his grandkids. Aida is helping Aurora "Ro" find a new home.

The Real Murders club is still alive and well, with all of it's usual members...except John, who as mentioned has moved away. A former member of the Real Murders Club and famous author Robin Daniels is in town where they are turning one of his books into a movie (Whimsical murder). Great twist, Ro was Robin's inspiration for the main character in Whimsical Murder...a crime solving librarian. Martin and Ro are still hot and heavy although Martin seems to be a bit distracted helping a former CIA colleague...Rex ends up going missing, much to Martin's chagrin.

Side note: I love that Aurora recommends Agatha Christie for a classic mystery and then Charlaine Harris for a contemporary.

The actress playing Ro consults with the real Aurora...and it turns out there is a best friend reporter based on Sally as well! Aurora decides she better read the script and is invited to come see the set. While on the set...the lead actress is found murdered in her trailer! Cue the murder board and the Real Murders Club.

Martin steps in very aggressively to protect Ro, when he thinks Robin is the murderer and asks Ro to stay away from him.

Another great mystery from the Aurora Teagarden Mystery Series loosely based on the Cosy mystery Series written by Charlaine Harris and still one of my three favorite mystery series on Hallmark along with Hannah Swensen's Murder She Baked and Mystery 101.

This series is a must see if you like cosy mysteries. The mysteries are well done, the core cast is really tight and the acting well done. They have really built a wonderful series.

Candace Cameron Bure is back with her Aurora Teagarden mysteries and someone is making a movie based on her. Her old friend from previous Aurora Teagarden films Robin Dunne has written a book draft and a screenplay and Hollywood has come to her home town to film it on the authentic locations.

All this is making her CIA agent boyfriend Yannick Bisson concerned and a bit jealous as both Bisson and Dunne circle each other warily throughout the film. But there are bigger problems at hand. On the day that shooting was supposed to start, the actress playing the Teagarden type character is murdered in her trailer.

What makes this all so confusing for authorities is that there are two criminals out there with differing motives. One is a bit deranged and the other falls into the rational category. You'll have to watch the film to get that and find out who is who.

Most of the recurring characters are back and Candace still has her murder book club meeting at the library where she works. She's as perky as ever and I'm sure will be back.

Most of the Hallmark Mystery films are pretty entertaining and well constructed. This one no exception.

7/10 - cool movie set setting made this mystery one of the most entertaining in the Hallmark Movies and Mysteries series

First a pet peeve. The reviewer, "westsidechi" keeps copying and posting the same vague negative review on each of the Aurora Teagarden movies. IMDB should delete his entries, since he clearly has no interest in the individual episodes that he is supposed to be reviewing.

For me, this was the least interesting episode thus far of the Aurora Teagarden mysteries.

The main problem was too much change in personnel. Lexa Doig's absence is probably the most serious MIA. The loss of Bruce Dawson, though, is also a serious loss of continuity. Yannick Bisson is in the episode, but this is his last appearance. Bisson's character is distracted by a kidnapped CIA partner, and he is uncharacteristically jealous. In a sense, Yannick Bisson's character is also MIA, in this episode.

Finally, for most of the past episodes, the town of Lawrenceton has been something of a "character" in the shows. With this episode, most of the action takes place on a movie set.

The actual murderer is not that much of a surprise. But the mysteries have never been the strong suit of the show. It has been the interaction and camaraderie between the regulars on the show. That has been disrupted with this new season opener. Hopefully the producers can get the show back on track.