Capitol Offense

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.

"Capitol Offense" is not one of the best episodes of Season 1, with there being better before and since, or of the whole show. It is however a good episode and continues the season's up-to-this-point-in-the-season's all solid to wonderful and no stinker episode run. It is not a perfect episode by all means.

Much has been said about the inaccuracy of the procedural aspects of being a congressman, which does take away from the enjoyment somewhat with a mistake as glaring as that. Occasionally the pace could have tightened up, and will admit to guessing who the murderer was and correctly after the second murder with the clue that made Jessica piece everything together on the obvious episode (if not as blatant as those for "Deadly Lady" and "It's a Dog's Life").

However, "Capitol Offense" is very slickly filmed with typically attractive locations and fashions. The music has presence but also not making the mistake of over-scoring, while it is hard to forget or resist the theme tune.

The writing is charmingly light-hearted, gently amiable and down to earth but provokes thought too. The story is compelling and never too simplistic or confusing. The final solution is fun if lacking the ingenuity of a few of the previous episodes and many other future ones.

Angela Lansbury is terrific in one of her best remembered roles (one of the roles that is most closely associated with me at any rate). All the supporting roles are well-filled from the likes of Edie Adams.

In conclusion, good episode even though there has been better before and since. 7/10 Bethany Cox

Apart from the obvious joy I got from watching this episode,("Columbo" and "Murder she Wrote" the top two police procedural shows (In my opinion)) the insights on how Washington works were indeed insightful.

Being a Brit I never realised how devious and underhand politicians actually were. But it seems general knowledge that throwing money at people gets things done the way you want them done. and clearly its acceptable to do so. Fascinating episode.

I am still a fan of this show and happy there are 264 episodes 10 of which I have enjoyed in the last week or so through streaming via Netflix. I have a plan to watch every one of them as "Columbo" with Peter Falk has been exhausted. I can hardly wait to get started.

Congressman Dan Keppner (Stephen Macht) is a recovering alcoholic. He is arrested for the murder of Martha Craig, who witnessed him tampering with the body of Congressman Wendell Joyner who had died of a heart attack.

Martha attempted to blackmail Keppner for implying that he murdered Joyner. Keppner was extremely drunk and had no idea what he was doing.

Meanwhile Jessica Fletcher is temporary in Congress. A special appointment to replace Congressman Wendell Joyner until an election is held.

It is not long before Mrs Fletcher is dealing with lobbyists, special interest groups and solve the murder of Martha. She is convinced that Congressman Keppner is innocent.

Detective Lieutenant Avery Mendelsohn (Herschel Bernardi) has no idea what hit him and it is not his stomach ulcers.

Angela Lansbury came from a political family. Her grandfather was the leader of the British Labour Party in the 1930s.

This episode allows her to take political potshots at lobbyists paying politicians. As well as special advisers who are there for career advancement and not to improve people's lives.

This episode marks the final appearance of Jade McCall, who acted on television for a brief period, beginning in 1978. Edie Adams, acting since 1952, Frank Aletter, since 1955, Herschel Bernardi, since 1937, and David Hooks, acting since 1956, have unfortunately also since passed.

Occasionally, well-versed IMDb Message Board participants comment upon the plausibility of a particular "MSW" episode premise, such as the legitimacy of a relationship in a family unit type of setting, or the standard legal protocol of a courtroom sage, or the "science" in a "science fiction" plot because these may not exactly correspond with the knowledgeable individual's understanding of the way in which some of these things really work. Here, several have questioned the standard methods of procedure in "political fiction" reflecting the U.S. state and federal level, in which a governor would instantly appoint a mystery writer to hold the Congressional seat of a deceased U.S. Representative for an interim period until a special district election may be scheduled.

Maine, since circa 1963, and unto the present day, elects two Representatives to the U.S. Congress, a figure based upon its population relative to other states and commonwealths, for Representative to serve two-year terms, then facing re-election if they decide to campaign for this. Upon its 1820 statehood, when the U.S. reached its 16th Congressional Session, Maine had received one at-large representative, until congressional districting was implemented, to form seven seats effective for the 17th Congress, in 1821. At its peak, between Congressional Sessions the 23rd through 27th (1833-43), Maine had the honor of sending eight U.S. Representatives to the Washington DC Capitol Building. The numbers began to dwindle, and by the 88th Congress (beginning in 1963), Maine is down to two U.S. Representatives (while each state elects two Senators regardless of its population). Such a plot, therefore, may work the more readily in an unidentified state, or one bearing several Congressional Districts.

Depending upon state laws, interim candidates to fill vacant seats by departing Senators may be appointed by a governor of that state, but vacant seats left behind by Representatives generally remain vacant until filled by special elections of constituents. Screenwriters seem to know exactly how to bypass standard legal procedures here, by focusing upon the need to maintain a canning factor in the vicinity of Cabot Cove, to maintain employment levels for the community. Cabot Cove sectors react differently to industrial development and natural conservation in their vicinity. From one Cabot Cove episode to another, citizens may fight the notion of development, whereupon at other times, they seem to embrace it. The character of Seth Hazlitt (absent here) usually campaigns to preserve historic landmarks and attempts to salvage as many trees as possible, and Jessica must figure a way to assuage everyone's doubts to decide upon a workable solution to benefit the common good.

So, adding this sort of conflict to the mix, the ball is in the court of Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) to travel to Washington, DC, to fill a vacancy when the Governor of Maine (unseen) appoints her to fill the seat vacated by U.S. Representative Wendell Joyner (Frank Aletter) for a temporary yet very crucial point in time when Congress is set to vote upon legislation to retain a cannery in her Maine district. Plus, a nice-looking cast of guest stars never hurts the interest of any episode very much.

Martha Craig (Uncredited Actress) appears in a hotel room with Congressman Joyner, Congressman Dan Keppner (Stephen Macht), Lobbyist Harry Parmel (Nicholas Pryor) and Ray Dixon (Mitch Ryan), someone secretly photographing activity which could prove incriminating, when an official collapses to his death, but before the body is moved, to indicate a cover-up.

Jessica accepts the challenge, after meeting with Joyner's Press Agent Joe Blinn (Gary Sandy), who doubles as chauffeur, and transports Jessica to his office, at which Administrative Assistant Diana Simms (Linda Kelsey) begins to clear her desk, under the assumption that her position has been terminated. But Jessica insists that Diana stay on because of her expertise in operating the office, plus because of Jessica's compassion to retain Diana's employment.

Jessica makes the rounds, meeting with Congressman Dan Keppner, Lobbyist Harry Parmel and Ray Dixon, as well as with Lobbyist Kaye Sheppard (Edie Adams), Thor Danziger (Mark Shera), Harold DeWitt (Colby Chester) and Chairman (David Hooks) when testifying before Congress, a feat she somehow manages to squeeze in during the course of her murder investigation.

But then, Congressman Dan Keppner finds himself in even deeper trouble than before, after another body is discovered in a hotel room, and he cannot explain his drunken stupor, after someone has framed him for two murders.

Detective Lieutenant Avery Mendelsohn (Herschel Bernardi) handles the investigation with Jessica contributing to the sleuthing in the hallways of Congress and its secret chambers for this "Capitol Offense."

Rounding out the cast are Jensen Collier as Clerk and Jade McCall as Driver's Partner.

The premise to this episode is a bit ridiculous, but possible despite one review's comments to the contrary. According to the 17th Amendment, if a Congress person dies, the governor of their state appoints a person to fill the remainder of their term...which is what happens in "Capitol Offense". But the notion of a governor appointing a nobody who has no political affiliations...well, that seems impossible!

The story begins with a congressman dying from a heart attack as he's yelling at some folks. Jessica Fletcher is asked by the governor to fill the remainder of the term and the plot seems VERY reminiscent of Frank Capra's "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington". Of course, unlike "Mr. Smith", Mrs. Fletcher will end up investigating a murder simply because that IS the purpose of the show.

To really enjoy this show, you need to turn off your brain and just enjoy. I do NOT mean this as an insult...it's just that the entire story is a bit farfetched. If you can, then you'll likely enjoy it. And, at least the story was different.