7 Favorite TV Sleuths in Mysteries
Old, current, and definitely worth the watch!
Last week I shared with you my favorite sleuths in literature. Today, I thought I’d share who I love to watch on television! I love a great mystery series. It’s filled with so many ideas and opportunities to “steal like an artist” and I thoroughly enjoy the characters in each and every single one. Now, instead of forcing myself to just pick 5 or expand to 10, this is my honest to goodness list of favorites. Also, because it’s impossible to rank them, they are in alphabetical order by Sleuth name:
FATHER BROWN
A budinsky from the point-of-view of the inspector but an asset to the family of the victim or the falsely accused as he manages to unravel the mystery. I’ve seen all ten seasons and have no issue rewatching them. He has a cast of characters either in the first seven seasons who are my favorite but only because I’ve spent more time with Mrs. McCarthy and her award winning strawberry scones than I have his new fellow sleuths.
As for the actual murders themselves? I will say it feels a bit like another sleuth who will come later in my list. How are there any people left in the village of Kembleford with all the murders. And his parish must be HUGE considering how many of the people he knows personally. But, we’re not watching a show like Father Brown for fact, more for the outrageous fiction.
EPISODE WORTH THE WATCH
If you have an BritBox subscription then you have access to all 10 seasons. I will always recommend starting at the very beginning, but if you only have time for one to help you make the decision to stick around for more:
S.3 E.5 | The Last Man
I don’t typically go for the sappy story but in this case I think it highlights Father Brown best, being a man of the cloth and all. I won’t spoil it, except to say, get some tissues ready for this one. It’s got all the elements necessary for a great Father Brown episode. The first chief inspector (who makes several reappearances and full on return to cast in Season 10!) of the series, Lady Felicia (my favorite character next to the main man), and the never ending question of ones faith pitted against the lost soul grasping at atheism till their last breath. It also leaves us all with hope that friendships can be found, made, and sustained in the most unlikeliest of places. All this from one episode of mystery and murder!
COLUMBO
Known by reputation as being a rather insufferable detective who always “gets his man” (or woman…) there’s just nothing not to like about the man! Of all the sleuths I’d seen growing up, Columbo (and another meddlesome sleuth we’ll meet later) was my first introduction into the world of mystery on television. I remember watching the television movie with my mom. There was something about the timber in his voice that stays with me to this day. And like Hercule Poirot, when he gets angry, I mean really angry, you can feel it in every fiber of your being. The anger reverberates from his vocal cords, through the screen and gets you right in the guts. The man is good and as a writer I take away the lesson of pacing when it comes to this show.
We see the murder happen, from point A to Z, from the POV of the killer. The point isn’t to solve the murder but to see how Columbo catches the killer off guard. That is the brilliance of the man. He knows, I would argue, from the moment he first meets the one we know to be the killer who they are and from that point forward he’s all, “oh, just one more thing” fumbling and bumbling around like the absent minded professor when really he is the consummate genius. I could go on and on about Lieutenant Colombo. Instead, let’s take a look at one of his best episodes and probably my all time favorite.
EPISODE WORTH THE WATCH
You can watch episodes on TUBI for free or if you have a Peacock subscription. I happen to own the entire series on DVD because I want to always make sure I can watch it regardless of a streaming platform.
TV SPECIAL | Columbo Cries Wolf
When Dian Hunter, the publisher of the men's magazine "Bachelor's World", wants to sell her stock to a media tycoon, her adulterous partner Sean Brantley objects. Soon afterwards, Miss Hunter apparently disappears on a London-bound flight.
True confession. I love this episode because of Diedre Hall. If you don’t know who that is then you’ve clearly never watched Days of Our Lives. Anyway, this episode is brilliant if only for the very end on how he catches the killer. I can’t say more than that because it would give so much away. There are countless stars in each episode of Columbo that I could draw from because back in the 70’s and 80’s it wasn’t unusual to see all the movie stars on television dramas such as this as their “launch pad” to movies. It’s also where a lot of the stars from the 50’s and 60’s went to flourish (though some might say otherwise). You honestly can’t go wrong with any episode of Columbo you choose to watch. Though I will suggest to start with his much earlier episodes for peak Columbo.
Oh, and one more thing…I would be remiss if I said nothing about his raincoat! It’s his calling card. Without it he quite literally can’t be himself or use his amazing power of deduction and reasoning. The fact that there is an entire episode centered around this after his wife (Mrs. Columbo) buys him a new coat that he hates and tries to be rid of, says it all.
MURDER, SHE WROTE
J.B. Fletcher is who any author wants to be, with a dash of Agatha Christie for good measure. I’d love to wake up every morning in a quaint little town where someone is murdered every day and it’s up to me to help the sheriff catch the killer! Oh, and on the odd occasion where death takes a holiday, I will sit down at my fabulous typewriter to recount my previous adventures. All quite magical and fantastical and unbelievable as my brother likes to point out to me.
How is it possible there is anyone left in Cabot Cove with the number of murders that happen there regularly?
How is it possible that wherever J.B. Fletcher goes a body manages to turn up dead?
I’m more interested in the many men who worship at the feet of this widowed woman of many years! She sure does have her fair share of men who all seem to want to sweep her off her feet. And yet, she may tease from time to time, she never goes much further than that. Forever devoted to the only love of her life, her deceased husband. Also, how does she find the time to solve so many murders and write as many tomes as the kind she has. And all bestsellers, of course.
EPISODE WORTH THE WATCH
Seasons 1 - 6 are “Free with Ads” on Amazon Prime. Or, if you have a Peacock subscription you can watch all 12 seasons ad free (depending on the tier you’re paying for). Like Columbo, this is another series where I own it on DVD as well. I relied on Netflix to watch Murder, She Wrote, then they decided to remove the best library of classic television shows ever in favor of original content. Ever since then I made it my mission to buy the series of all my favorite shows so I never had to deal with streaming services telling me what I can and can’t watch.
Now, there are 264 episodes that span 12 years! To select just ONE would be insanity to do. So, I’m just going to suggest this one but it by no means is the best of the best or the rest. You literally have hundreds to choose from!
S.3 E.12 | The Corpse Flew First Class
As was the norm for these kinds of shows, a whole host of stars either just starting out or well known. Among them is Kate Mulgrew. Yes, she portrayed Mrs. Columbo for a season and yes the production studio of Columbo did their best to separate Peter Falk’s character from it as it was not the success they hoped it would be. But that’s a story for another day. On this episode, Kate does not play Mrs. Columbo, instead she is a wealthy woman traveling with her chauffeur who winds up dead and jewelry missing. Did I mention this is all happening on a plane headed for London. Long flight trapped with a murderer. Sounds like a job for J.B. Fletcher!
SHERLOCK HOLMES
There are many actors who’ve tried to be Sherlock Holmes, but none hold a candle to Jeremy Brett. And I am ashamed to say I did not put two and two together to realize that he also played Freddie Eynsford-Hill in the movie My Fair Lady! That man could sing! Both of his songs being my favorite. Those two roles could not be more different from each other and yet he is magnificent in both. They just don’t make actors like Jeremy Brett anymore.
Not unlike another sleuth I’ll mention shortly, he fully embodies the role of Sherlock Holmes, a man plagued by drugs if he doesn’t have what he truly desires, a case that stretches and bends his deductive mind to the limits. Boredom is not something he can stand and the sooner he is able to flex (and flaunt) what he does best with Watson at his side to tell of his exploits, the better.
EPISODE WORTH THE WATCH
It appears to be free to watch on Sling and Crackle, two streaming services I’ve never used so proceed with caution. I watch it with my BritBox subscription which I recommend because there is so much more to watch besides the best Sherlock Holmes in existence. I will admit that Benedict Cumberbatch wasn’t half bad, same for Jonny Lee Miller (from Elementary), but in different and more youthful ways.
S.1 E.1. | A Scandal in Bohemia (The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes)
Of course I love the machinations of the Red-Headed League and I almost chose that one, if not for The Woman, Irene Adler. What is it with these broody men who choose to live a life alone, save for the companionship of a gentleman only slightly less intelligent than themselves? I’m sure you know who else I speak of, but for Sherlock, he often will speak fondly of Irene. She stole his heart when she managed to outwit him at his own game. That is the kind of woman for him. Alas, she is far too good for him and also the reason for this case to begin with. I love every episode and you would not go wrong to watch any of them because Jeremy Brett is brilliant. But start with the one that is as infamous as The Hounds of the Baskerville and far superior.
THE CLOSER
A good southern girl who moves to Los Angeles to work in the major crimes division. It’s one of the more police procedural shows I love, apart from Criminal Minds (which is not on my list). I almost didn’t include Brenda Lee but I felt she was important to my love of sleuthing. She’ll stop at nothing to single-handedly find the killer. It’s one of the things that’s great and insufferable about her and a change of pace when the spin-off from the show, Major Crimes, was created. In that series the main character takes a vastly different approach. More by the book and team involvement than Brenda Lee.
EPISODE WORTH THE WATCH
To understand better just how great Brenda Lee Johnson is at her job we must look no further than the Shootin’ Newton Murders. A notorious crime of the past that must be brought forward when an army soldier is killed at a nightclub. See, he is mistaken for his brother who is a current gang member. I’m not spoiling much by telling you all of this except to say it’s quite an episode and the reason why I will watch the entire series once a year just so I can get to this pivotal moment in her career.
S.6 E.8 | War Zone
This story crops up beyond just this episode as it culminates in the reason why The Closer ends and makes way for Major Crimes two seasons later. All-in-all it makes for some tremendous television. You will permit me to bring up one more episode that I think is worth the watch as well and doesn’t require watching an entire series to understand.
S.5 E.12 | Waivers of Extradition
In the great state of Texas, executing killers is still alive and well! But Brenda Lee isn’t about to let this killer she just apprehended go, or will she, just because of his crimes. This one will have you squirming in your seat, as many of them do, but it sticks with me. Something about death row and execution that I tend to remember with any series. Anyway, a truck driver is caught and although it may not seem like it at first, he’s far more sinister and hard to take after a while. The ending is also rather shocking, though not if you start to see the pattern of behavior exhibited by Brenda Lee Johnson with regard to this and other similarly vile cases.
There is something about patterns with all of these sleuths that cannot be denied.
HERCULE POIROT
No self-respecting list of the best sleuths on television would be complete without Hercule Poirot portrayed by David Suchet. Yes, yes, I understand there are still many present day actors who are lining up to put their own spin on the legendary character but there can be only one Poirot for me and that is David Suchet. And to date, he is the only actor who has played the role for every novel and (I believe) every short story story that features Poirot in it and was written by Agatha Christie. He is splendid in every episode. There are many that are my favorite episodes. Whether they feature Hastings, Chief Inspector Japp, or even his secretary (in the early years) Miss. Lemon, they are all some of his best work and her best storytelling.
EPISODE WORTH THE WATCH
If you wish to watch David Suchet’s Poirot you will need a BritBox subscription, or be like me and just buy the series on DVD. It’s an invaluable collection.
S.12 E.3 | Murder on the Orient Express
Harkening back to shows of the 70’s, this episode (like so many other remakes before and since) features some big name actors in the most memorable of roles. And at the risk of seeming a bit lax in selecting a rather well known and respected episode as one to watch, my reasoning is simple; this is Hercule Poirot at his most angriest. The crime is unbelievable, and not because it’s on a moving train that gets trapped in the snow with a killer on board. The suspects are all equally capable of committing the crime. And then there is Poirot who is put in a position he never thought he’d be put in. This episode, in my estimation, is the one that solidifies for me why he is the only man worthy and capable of portraying Hercule Poirot. Every other actor before and since have acted in Murder on the Orient Express so if you have the time to watch all of the versions I wish you’d tell me I am wrong. That ending still gives me chills just thinking about it.
NERO WOLFE
A character created by Rex Stout and truly one of my favorites. When I think of a great mystery I only wish I have the intelligence and skill to write one that seemingly takes place, most, if not all of the time, in one location. From the hiring of Nero Wolfe in his office to the solving of the murder also in his office, it makes for fun and excitement from beginning to end. Similar to Sherlock Holmes, Nero Wolfe has his own companion who lives with him, Archie Goodwin. Each episode is narrated by him in much the same way. Archie is Nero’s legs, quite literally, as Wolfe doesn’t ever leave his home. He manages to solve the case from the sturdiness of his chair behind his desk. He’s a rather large man who loves his one kind of beer and has impeccable taste in his food (prepared by his live-in chef) and his orchids (which he keeps a greenhouse on the upper floor of his townhouse). I love the music, the bright colors of the costumes, the overacting of the cast! Oh, and speaking of the cast, I love the way this series was designed. It’s the exact same cast for each episode with the exception of Wolfe, Goodwin, the inspector and the chef retaining their roles, everyone else takes on a new role as suspects (or victims) per episode.
EPISODE WORTH THE WATCH
This appears to be the only show, at present, that I cannot find on any streaming platform. I have been able to find certain ones on YouTube but I wouldn’t trust it one day to the next. I made sure to get the entire series on DVD straight away when I realized it would be the only way I could watch episodes at my leisure.
S1. E.9 | Christmas Party
Tis the season to be jolly, except for Wolfe who believes that Goodwin is engaged and likely going to cease working for him. This will not do. What Wolfe is willing to go through to keep Archie right where he is can seem hard to believe but Wolfe can be, in his own right, a man of many talents. No spoilers here but I will say it’s nestled in as one of the best among the rest that I could easily name. I mention this one specifically because it is that time of year and just in case you fancy spending some time watching a Christmas themed mystery, you can’t go wrong with this one.
What TV Sleuths, either from television or the big screen are you a fan of?
As I worked my way through these I realized all (but one that I’ll leave you to guess which) has a “helper” of sorts as they bumble their way through solving the mystery. Perhaps another one similar to this is in order but taking a closer look at the men (and women) behind the great detectives…
Let me know in the comments (or via email) if you’d be interested in learning more about these “B” characters?
The next two Editorial Wednesday emails will be the last. They will mostly center around schedules for a serial read-along of the first Charles Dickens novel and the release of my own serial starting in January.
Sone fun picks there for sure. May I suggest as a Murder, She Wrote fan that you checkout the YT channel of Pushing Up Roses who does a very funny breakdown of episodes from a loving fans perspective.
When I was a teenage boy, Columbo and Murder, She wrote were two of my favourite series and I never missed an episode. Those were different times, when we had to watch when it was on TV, there was no Netflix or other streaming platforms.
But the series I never missed, and my favourite one, was All in the Family. I loved watching Archie's bad temper. A while ago it was on Portuguese TV and I didn't miss the chance to watch all the episodes again