Murder, She Wrote: Death Takes a Curtain Call   Rewatch 
September 14, 2014 9:35 AM - Season 1, Episode 10 - Subscribe

Jessica is shocked when the stars of a visiting Russian ballet defect with the help of her friend and fellow Cabot Cove resident Leo Peterson. In the confusion following the performance and defection, Russian security officer Serge Berensky is stabbed to death in the defectors' dressing room.

Berensky had been seen arguing with stage manager Skip Fleming for spending too much time with dancer Irina Katsa. The man in charge of Soviet security is Major Anatole Karzof, who happens to be a great admirer of Jessica's books. Karzof travels to Cabot Cove to search for the missing dancers and Jessica lays a trap for the killer.
posted by filthy light thief (5 comments total)
 
This is one of my favourite episodes for some reason - the accidental espionage, the love triangle, the verbal trap Jessica uses to uncover the Russian spy, all of it just paces along nicely. Skip Fleming was creepy as the sexual harasser, and I liked how plausible it seemed for him to be the killer too. I'm not sure if Anatole Karzof reappears but Jessica's comment on Soviet copyright payments does crop up again in another Moscow episode.
posted by viggorlijah at 2:28 AM on September 15, 2014


I love how Leo Peterson totally made Jess into an accessory in the defection without even bothering to warn her in advance -- you know, just another afternoon ballet! -- and Jess isn't even mad.
posted by mochapickle at 6:10 AM on September 15, 2014 [1 favorite]


Loved this one, too -- William Conrad being reason #1...
posted by Alexandra Kitty at 2:34 PM on September 15, 2014 [1 favorite]


Skip Fleming was creepy as the sexual harasser

Over the top creepy - I am repeatedly surprised about how overt the sexual harassment is in older shows, but how it's played off as guys being too bold or overly assertive.

I'm not sure if Anatole Karzof reappears but Jessica's comment on Soviet copyright payments does crop up again in another Moscow episode

Nope, he's only in this episode, but it's funny to know this is a repeated bit. Here's a Wikipedia page on Copyright law of the Soviet Union, but it doesn't address how the laws were applied, only what was on the books (heh).
posted by filthy light thief at 3:14 PM on September 17, 2014


Yeah, the sexual harassment is accepted in a way that's really startling, and not played for comedy or outrage, just how it is. Jessica gives the stinkeye but it's not seen as anything past boorish, because it's not seen as a structural problem reflecting the limited power of women. Interestingly, domestic violence is treated more seriously (Jessica is all "leave or get professional help") but now I think about it, no suggestion of getting the police involved for criminal charges.
posted by viggorlijah at 6:47 PM on September 17, 2014


« Older Z Nation: Puppies and Kittens...   |  Cowboy Bebop: Waltz for Venus... Newer »

You are not logged in, either login or create an account to post comments

poster