Columbo
1971
Original language: English
- crime
- drama
- mystery
The story
Columbo is a friendly, verbose, disheveled-looking police detective who is consistently underestimated by his suspects. Despite his unprepossessing appearance and apparent absentmindedness, he shrewdly solves all of his cases and secures all evidence needed for indictment. His formidable eye for detail and meticulously dedicated approach often become clear to the killer only late in the storyline.
What it’s like
Warm, rumpled, sun-faded mystery with a wry, unhurried rhythm. The look is 1970s network television: soft, slightly flat studio light, warm interiors in browns, ochres and cream, wood panelling and velvet drapes in lavish homes, and a grey-brown Los Angeles that feels more lived-in than glamorous. The camera stays mostly steady and conversational, lingering on faces across dinner tables and in doorways, with few flashy cuts. The score is light and jaunty, a bit of piano and strings that hints at mischief rather than menace. Each episode opens with the killer, then follows the rumpled detective as he chats, fumbles, and quietly circles the truth, so the pleasure is watching a clever person be underestimated. The vibe is cozy and wry, with a slyly comic edge and a smug, satisfying payoff. It suits a lazy Sunday, a comfort rewatch, or an easy evening with a drink. Violence is off-screen and sparing: murders happen quickly and are not shown in gory detail, and the tension is verbal rather than physical. It is gentle to moderately tense, with no gore and little real fear. It is for people who enjoy clever puzzles, sly humour, and a relaxed, character-driven pace.
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