10 Reasons To Un-ironically Love "Murder, She Wrote"

Murder, She Wrote was an hour long weekly crime show that ran for 12 seasons on CBS; from 1984-1996. Angela Lansbury starred as Jessica Fletcher, a former English teacher who is widowed, and then becomes a bestselling mystery writer. Those who know of its glory can attest to its cheesy yet positive nature and surprisingly entertaining mysteries. Those who have not seen the show generally find my ardent admiration to be overblown, and to them I say you don’t know what you’re missing out on. Seriously, this is actually a great show. If you don’t believe me, read below, and learn about the wondrous charm of Cabot Cove, Maine and its unlucky residents.

1. The Theme Song is Catchy

It just is. Take a listen.

2. Jessica Fletcher is a Great Role Model

Jessica Fletcher is an awesome role model: she is a self-sufficient, independent woman who created her own fame and fortune in her later years. As an older woman she is very active, travels constantly, makes lots of friends, and loves literature and writing. On top of all that she is an amateur detective. Honestly, if I had a vision board, her face would be plastered all over it.

3. Angela Lansbury is an Astounding Actress

If you only know Angela Lansbury as the voice of Mrs. Potts, you might want to look into her extensive credits: she is an Old Hollywood star with three Academy Award nominations, she has five competitive Tony Awards for her work in musical theater, which is only surpassed by the legendary Audra McDonald, she also starred in the Disney vehicle Bedknobs and Broomsticks, and for this show she holds the record for most Golden Globe wins, and Emmy nominations, for Lead Actress in a Dramatic Series. Pretty darn impressive.

4. The Puzzle is Always Satisfying

Jessica Fletcher has been described as the American Miss. Marple. This is because the show, while featuring the unpleasant topic of murder, is actually quite tame and not very violent. Instead, the show focuses on being a whodunit, a genre of crime writing that focuses on the mystery rather than delving into deep character development or hyper-violence. Every episode the puzzle is genuinely interesting and sometimes hard to solve.

5. Literature is a Focal Point

Any show where they talk about books, publishing, and/or writing is going to be interesting to me. There are many references to literature like The Brothers Karamazov, the books of Agatha Christie, and 80s thrillers. It wasn’t until TV Land premiered Younger a couple years ago that we finally got another show about literature.

6. Cabot Cove is Delightful

This fictional town in Maine is actually based on a bay in Kennebunkport, and scenes for the show were actually filmed in the former Amity Island of Jaws fame. The townsfolk are hardworking, the sea is welcoming and bright, and Jessica’s friends are always happy to see her. William Windom plays Dr. Seth Hazlitt, a no-nonsense intellectual, and Tom Bosley starred as Sherriff Amos Tupper for four seasons. Both are adorable companions for Jessica. She also has many friends outside of her hometown.

7. The Eighties Cheese is Weirdly Satisfying

The big hair, bulky cars, and ridiculous fashion choices color, but don’t overwhelm, the series. Angela Lansbury had a lot of creative control over the series, and she made sure Jessica never wandered into the wasteland of eighties’ pomp and circumstance. Still, occasionally it’s nice when the supporting cast indulges in soapy antics.

8. There Are Many Notable Guest Stars

Future heavyweights included George Clooney, Joaquin Phoenix, Bryan Cranston, and Courtney Cox. Already famous guest actors included Roddy McDowell, Tippi Hedren, Cesar Romero, Mickey Rooney, and Florence Henderson.

9. There’s a Spin-Off Book Series

As the show mirrors the works of Agatha Christie, of course it would make sense to tie in a book series. Writer Donald Bain (and Jessica Fletcher, duh) wrote a mystery series from 1989 to 2018 based on the show. Sadly Donald Bain recently passed and the most recent title will be his last. Some of the titles mentioned in the show became a reality, which added authenticity to the fun literary tone of the show, and they’re relatively easy to find at any library branch.

10. This Particular Fan Theory is Hilarious

Many people are under the impression that all of the murders on the show take place in Cabot Cove, but in actuality Jessica Fletcher travels almost every episode. Still, there have been a lot of deaths attributed to the town, so much so that there’s actually a term for it: Cabot Cove Syndrome. It’s linked to the appearance of many dead bodies in one small, rural area, and I’ve read that Cabot Cove has a higher capita of murders than actual murder capitals in the United States. Fan theories speculate that Jessica is actually a serial killer who is framing people for her crimes. Honestly, wouldn’t be surprised.

In conclusion, Murder, She Wrote is un-ironically awesome, Angela Lansbury is a god-send from up above, and Jessica Fletcher is a good idea for next year’s Halloween costume. There are four TV movies, if you want something to watch after breezing through all 264 episodes, which of course should take no time at all.

If you want to read more about female badasses solving mysteries, read 20 Greatest Female Detectives and Sleuths