Ransom for a Dead Man

very funny last scene but the episode overall drags on a little.

The second Columbo pilot hits much closer to what we will come to know in the Columbo series. Unlike Perscription: Murder, Ransom for a Dead Man has our lovably schlubby detective annoying the social elite into submission instead of the more honour bound hound Columbo in the first pilot. Ransom for a Dead Man has witty banter between Falk and Grant making every time they are on screen together a thrill. The only negative is Mattick's portrayal of Margaret Williams.

Not the best or most sophisticated episode, but after all it's only the second one made, and anyway Columbo is Columbo, it has a good flow, and the ladies are pleasant to look at, so I do recommend it.

Not as good as 'Prescription Murder', but still a decent watch. Very similar in pattern and mannerisms to its predecessor and hence predictable to a certain degree.

This episode does a good job showing the lengths Columbo will go to unnerve the suspected killer. It goes a bit overboard at times, but considering all of the killers in this series are arrogant rich people, it's a bit cathartic. The loose end that catches the killer was well executed. It would be higher, but the daughters performance was a bit grating.