One Bad Apple: A Hannah Swensen Mystery

This was rotten to the core. And I don't think it was because Mike hit the road or because they've added a new character. Nope. It's just a bad script. Disjointed. Characters thrown in as filler. A plot line that wasn't cohesive. Bad storytelling. Awkward and rushed dialogue. Twenty minutes of the movie had gone by before any crime happened. That's bad pacing.

I've seen it before with other shows. The star suddenly decides they can write or produce. Said show then goes down the tubes.

A few other issues to ponder: Why oh why did they take an over-the-top character like Delores, the mom, and put it all on steroids? She started out loopy; now she's a loopy detective. Who needs that. Have fedora, will investigate.

Victor Webster's character was under-used. His character needed to be more developed in the script. And as he works as the D. A., I can't imagine how they will use him a lot in the future. He won't be involved in a lot of investigation.

I could go on, but the bottom line was this was all over the place. The sisters had no purpose in the plot. The bakery is under-used and under-decorated. Actors that can't enunciate; the students were the worst.

This had the feel of desperation. They threw in everything and the kitchen sink.

I've enjoyed all of the Murder She Baked iterations. Love Alison Sweeney, Barbara Nivens, her sisters, Norman, etc. Not liking the new Chad character, have always enjoyed whatever Victor Webster acts in, just not this. The relationship between Hannah and Chad is just too formulaic. It's like the writing is already on the wall. When Murder She Baked began, I wasn't sure I liked Norman, but he's truly grown as a character and he's kind of quirky, goofy, funny and also a stand up guy that Hannah can count on and I really wish that they'd expand upon that relationship. Absolutely adored Barbara Nivens as a PI.

I actually enjoyed this film. The mystery was quite alright. The characters were enjoyable.

The setting - not so much. The college was too cheesy and fake even for Hallmark.

I know I'm probably the only one, but I didn't miss Mike. Never were a fan of his, he was OK, but nothing more.

Don't mind the new DA, he's quite something. Not sure if I see him as Hannah's boyfriend though. I'd rather watch Delores flirting with him. Don't understand why he was the one to go looking for Hannah with the cop though. He was doing a lot of things that DAs don't really do... Loved Norman being part of a sleuthing team and a proper hero. Not just a dorky admirer.

What I didn't like: still not a fan of Eden Lake being a big city, because it sure looks like one now. And don't understand why we still need another sister when Andrea comes so often (thank God!!!). Bring her husband too!

Hannah looked weird in first scenes, like she did something to her face. Maybe the lighting. Same about Andrea.

Good film anyway.

Was her interactions with Mike. Those were sorely missing from this movie.

The synopsis suggested she was re-kindling things with Norman, but their interactions seem more brother-sister than romantic partners.

The mystery was perfectly adequate. There's friction with the district attorney, which, of course, means they have a romantic future (even though so far, he does not seem likeable).

The whole thing with the mother becoming a private eye just seemed too ludicrous for words. She is just too ditzy.

The third sister doesn't seem to add anything to the mix. I am kind of surprised they continued with her after the previous movie.

It's amazing how losing a major costar in a movie series can have a huge impact on the next film. With Cameron Mathison's exit, the entire movie fell flat.

I've read Joanne Fluke's all Hannah Swensen mystery novels and watched the Hallmark movies multiple times. But this one is just plain awful. I was tempted to delete it halfway through.

Mike Kingston is a pivotal character. Without him as the lead detective with the Eden Lake sheriff's department, there's no one to play off Hannah's parallel murder investigations. The chemistry between them was what made the movies work.

The DA Chad couldn't replace Mike. He was annoying and added nothing., Lonnie isn't a strong enough character to carry it off. By himself. Having the sheriff involved would have been a better alternative.. DA Chad didn't belong rescuing Hannah from the killer at the end of the movie with Lonnie. That is not a DA's job.

I missed Hannah and Lisa's scenes in the Cooke Jar interacting with the coffee clatch ladies. Very little time was spent in the bakery which was a shame. So many of her best ideas come to her while she's baking.

Delores becoming a private investigator while wearing a black hat and trench coat is silly. She called too much attention to herself in that getup.

It was nice to see Norman Rhodes again, but his appearance wasn't enough.to rescue this terrible movie.