One Bad Apple: A Hannah Swensen Mystery

I like the Hannah Swenson series starring Allison Sweeney. The films are both fun and energetic.

Cameron Matthison is no longer playing Hannah's boyfriend. There is a new man, though he's yet to be on Hannah's dance card - the new DA, played by Victor Webster. Norman is still around, but as a friend.

Hannah's again working to solve a mystery. She's teaching a baking class, but then the kitchen explodes. Accident?

Then there's a murder, and Hannah starts investigating.

No t enough time in the bakery, those are always fun scenes.

Hannah's mother has decided to become. P. I. The part, played by Barbara Nevins, is completely over the top but a hoot.

This is Hallmark, not Masterpiece Mystery, so take it for what it is.

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.

Yes I miss Cameron Matheson but Hallmark has lost many of the actors tied to key roles. So what do they do? Just drop the whole plot concept? They have to try something else. Maybe they will see what works, what doesn't.

I would at least like to see one more movie and see if they let DA do more. It's so funny because they were so good in several of the movies they did together, husband and wife in Wedding Veil movies. I DO LIKE Norman but he will probably just remain a supportive friend.

I have no problem with her mother or sisters in minor roles. I think her Mom is a riot.

I like appearances by secondary characters, even if they don't have a "meaningful" contribution to each story.

Cameron is not coming back. You no longer want to see any Hannah Swenson mysteries? I do.

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.

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.