Murder, She Wrote: Witness for the Defense Rewatch

May 9, 2015 7:45 AM - Season 4, Episode 3

Jessica is asked to come to Quebec to testify at the trial of a friend and fellow write, Jim Harlan, who is accused of killing his wife Patricia, and then burning their country house to cover the crime. Jim's mother, Judith, hired the best defense lawyer, "the very best man in Canada," Attorney Oliver Quayle, who tests JB's patience with his tactics and style.
posted by filthy light thief (5 comments total)

As a Canadian, this has to be worst and most jarring episode of all. It was an unreasonable facsimile of Canada, and it made paying attention to the actual plot a challenge.
posted by Alexandra Kitty at 6:36 AM on May 11, 2015 [2 favorites]

On the bright side, we get to see Pete Campbell's dad charged with murder and Edward Longshanks defending him...
posted by mochapickle at 8:58 PM on May 13, 2015

Also: Clever writers put Jess on the witness stand and grill her about the bizarre likelihood of two nieces and a nephew being charged with multiple murders, to which Jessica can only stammer a defense. Lansbury played that scene just beautifully.
posted by mochapickle at 10:41 PM on May 13, 2015 [2 favorites]

Also: Clever writers put Jess on the witness stand and grill her about the bizarre likelihood of two nieces and a nephew being charged with multiple murders, to which Jessica can only stammer a defense.

If M, SW was in the Batman Universe, you know the whole lot of Fletchers would be in Arkham Asylum...
posted by Alexandra Kitty at 5:27 PM on May 14, 2015 [1 favorite]

The writers had some fun with this one.
posted by Monochrome at 7:10 PM on June 15, 2020