Murder, She Wrote (TV Series) Deadly Misunderstanding (1990) User Reviews

Carrying the Torch to the Lumberyard...Plus the Body

[WeatherViolet · 9/10 · 3 September 2009]

This episode marks the last appearance of film and television star Janet Margolin.

When Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) injures her wrist, she hires temporary typist Melissa Maddox (Lise Cutter) to assist with her writing. The flighty Melissa feels trapped inside a loveless marriage to demanding lumberyard owner Ralph Maddox (Cliff Potts).

Meanwhile, Bennett J. Devlin (Joe Dorsey), publishers of the Cabot Cove Gazette, fills in for the role of Jessica's confidante in the temporary absence of Seth. Bennett hires student employee Jeff Ogden (David Oliver) to assist with responsibilities around the newspaper.

Melissa Maddox and Jeff Ogden share a common interest in writing, as they enroll in an evening course at the local community college, instructed by Drew Garrison (David McCallum), who experiences distance in his marriage to Rita Garrison (Janet Margolin ).

Ralph Maddox has an eye for waitress Trudy Ludwig (Mary Ann Pascal), whose eye isn't exactly safe around Ralph, nor her employer, Hank Crenshaw (Geoffrey Lewis), who fiercely battles Ralph, even in the presence of Sheriff Mort Metzger (Ron Masak). Deputy Floyd (Will Nye) remains on hand at the Cabot Cove Sheriff Station.

What forms as a result of these series of events would be something resembling an unrequited heptagon, with seven discontented characters considering their possibilities if someone new were to love them back.

But does one of them find the courage to burn evidence of a potential murder plot, another the courage to stand up to a brutal attack, another the courage to douse the lumberyard in gasoline and flame, another to hoist a pair of scissors, another to stand up to Sheriff Metzger amid bold accusations, and another to move the body when promised a kiss even if the coaxer surely appears guilty and the alibi doesn't quite hold water? Then who's cheating whom in this unrequited heptagon? Well, keep in mind that this condensed soap opera plot has turned into a "Deadly Misunderstanding."

Deadly misunderstanding

[coltras35 · 7/10 · 30 May 2022]

When Jessica's typist finds her husband stabbed to death, she persuades a lovesick novice reporter to help dispose of the body in the lumberyard. Someone witnesses him dumping the body and that someone had a fight with the dead guy. So when the sheriff heavily questions him, having witnessed their altercation in the diner much earlier, he tells him that he saw the reporter dump him. From here the plot weaves in and out with some neat twists. There's some light humour throughout and it's very watchable. Definitely a better episode from the ones I have seen in season 7 so far.

Misunderstanding at its deadliest

[TheLittleSongbird · 7/10 · 11 October 2017]

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.

Don't agree personally with the high rating here for "Deadly Misunderstanding", while it's still a decent episode and far better than the disappointing Season 7 opener "Trials and Tribulations" there are lower rated episodes that to me are much better. It is far from being one of the worst episodes of Season 7 or the show, but better episodes followed in the season.

There is a good deal to like. The production values are slick and stylish and the setting as ever is wonderful. The music has energy and has presence but also not making the mistake of over-scoring, while it is hard to forget or resist the theme tune. Some of the writing provokes thought and has the right lightness of touch, other parts feel a bit strained.

When it comes to the mystery, it's never too obvious (apart from who is going to get killed) and it's engaging enough. The denouement ties things up neatly. It's my feeling however that some of the events surrounding the mystery veer on the too soap-operatic, more so than any of 'Murder She Wrote's' previous episodes and it takes away from the mystery somewhat. A shame because as said the mystery is quite good.

Acting is a mixed bag. Angela Lansbury is faultless as usual, while Ron Masak has settled in very well and is never one of those bumbling sheriffs who's easily fooled or an idiot. Will Nye plays his dumb character with subtlety, and some of the support acting is not bad. Janet Margolin, Cliff Potts, David McCallum and Geoffrey Lewis give the best performances.

However, David Oliver and particularly Lise Cutter are a bit too pallid. Even more problematic is Joe Dorsey, who is annoying with a capital A and nothing is done to make one invest in his character, a better job is done than his other two appearances in evaluating him but it all feels a bit of a waste.

Overall, decent but there are far better episodes before and since (as well as worse). 7/10 Bethany Cox

Wrong Title

[billbert_uk · 6/10 · 28 March 2020]

Not sure the title is right for this episode.

The plot twists are a plenty and the pace will keep you guessing.

There were a few things in the episode that are no explained, but i am looking far too much into an " easy to watch" whodunnit.

Set in Cabot Cove, we get to meet some more townsfolk we dont know again.

What I have missed in the season so far,is the flashbacks. We dont see the murder, only the victim and even when it is explained we cant envisage it due to all the twists.

6/10 - for the ending.

Not bad...but one of the characters and her motivations just seemed confusing.

[planktonrules · 6/10 · 13 January 2023]

When the story begins, Jessica is laid up with a broken arm and because of this she's hired a flaky young lady to type up her latest manuscript. When I say 'flaky', it's because the woman seems to have little in the way of personal boundaries...asking Jessica to read and critique her own stories. She also is VERY confusing and when a murder occurs, her actions really left me confused. It was if the story was changed midway through the episode and the typist suddenly changes from perpetrator to innocent. Truly confusing and inconsistent.

Now apart from that problem, the show is decent and enjoyable...though the killer astoundingly admits to the crime without a lot of evidence. Not one of the better written episodes...but not terrible.

Married to a lout

[bkoganbing · 5/10 · 26 April 2018]

This episode of Murder She Wrote finds Jessica Fletcher with a broken left arm and unable to type out her latest story. So she has to employ Lisa Cutter for the job. Among other things Cutter is a would be writer and has a short story to have Angela Lansbury read. All throughout the series run Angela had to deal with that.

Cutter is in a creative writing class along with a Jimmy Olsen like cub reporter David Oliver who works for the local Cabot Cove weekly and its new editor Joe Dorsey formerly of the Washington Post. Cutter likes the attention as she is married to a womanizing lout played by Cliff Potts. But one night she calls poor Oliver. The class is taught by David McCallum who is married to Janet Margolin who made her farewell performance in this role.

One night Oliver gets a frantic call from Cutter who says when she came home from class there was Potts dead with a scissors sticking in the middle of his chest. Like a dope Oliver lets her talk him into moving the body.

Of course Oliver didn't fo anything and is only guilty of thinking with his male member. But there's a nice cast full of suspects waiting for Ron Masak and Angela Lansbury to sort through.

Here's a hint, in that story that Cutter wanted Jessica Fletcher there is a clue that indirectly points the way to the killer.

Right in front of her all the time.

A below par episode.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 5/10 · 9 October 2021]

Jessica has her left arm in plaster, her temporary secretary gets caught up in a murder, naturally she's on the case.

I have really come to enjoy the Cabot Cove set episodes, if I'm honest I didn't really think that this was one of the best of them however. The story is pretty dull, there's nothing really different or imaginative here, it's all a little bland. The identity of the killer is totally out of left field, it is so random.

I'm sorry to say it, but I think the acting is pretty poor here, I didn't think this was great for Lise Cutter, I think Melissa's hysterics are hard to believe, and a little too over the top. Lansbury is so far ahead of the rest of the cast. David McCallum is totally wasted here.

Nicely made of course, I always enjoy the tasteful decor.

It falls flat, 5/10.

Hit me baby one more time

[feindlicheubernahme · 5/10 · 17 October 2023]

A rant. Even for Murder, She Wrote, the amount of real, imagined and desired extramarital shenanigans going on in this episode is just too much.

I've noticed that the writers seem to love showing married female characters as being desperate to jump into bed with any nasty, violent, cheating louts that they come across. It seems to imply that women are all so turned on by detestable "alpha males" that they're absolutely ready to cheat on their "beta" husbands with them at the drop of a hat.

Of course, I know it quite often happens in real life, but when it's constantly being served up in a light entertainment show, it begins to look more like some kind of disdain towards women rather than a valid plot device. It certainly doesn't portray women's judgement, self-control or fidelity in a very positive light.