For 12 years, Angela Lansbury was constantly on television sets as Jessica Fletcher. Airing on CBS, Murder, She Wrote became a sensation as it doled out interesting murder mysteries over its 264-episode run. Now, all of these episodes, plus four television movies, are available in high definition via the Murder, She Wrote: The Complete Series Blu-ray set. This massive 62-disc set features 215 hours of one of the most beloved TV shows ever made.
“Angela Lansbury stars as Jessica Fletcher in one of the longest-running and most beloved TV series of all-time, Murder, She Wrote. Set in Cabot Cove, Maine, Jessica is a mystery writer and amateur detective who is quick to outwit both criminals and the police when it comes to solving a murder. Winner of 4 Golden Globes and nominated for 12 consecutive Primetime Emmy Awards for Best Actress in a Drama, the series showcases unforgettable guest stars including Tom Bosley, George Clooney, Shirley Jones, Courteney Cox, Leslie Nielsen, Mickey Rooney, Tom Selleck, John Amos, Dorothy Lamour, Cyd Charrise and many more. In Murder, She Wrote: The Complete Series, help Jessica get to the bottom of every crime she encounters in this completely remastered collection featuring all 264 episodes, 4 TV movies, and bonus features,” says the official description.
Lansbury is phenomenal in Murder, She Wrote, as the acclaimed actress won four Golden Globes for the role and also received nominations for a staggering 12 Emmy Awards. While the quality of each case differed, as there are some true standouts and a few duds, most of the episodes wind up being worth a watch. It’s also interesting seeing the series evolve over time, as Lansbury spent several seasons in the middle of its run in a reduced role.
One great thing about the Murder, She Wrote: The Complete Series Blu-ray set is that it also includes all four of the television movies that aired after the show had ended. These are all strong performances from Lansbury, who was still giving it her all even in 2003’s The Celtic Riddle. These films are also the best-looking discs in the set, as the image is clean and looks great. As for the episodes, some early seasons look merely good, but the show continues to look better as the seasons go on.
Major props have to go out to the packaging of the Murder, She Wrote: The Complete Series Blu-ray set . It comes with a really nice box that holds 13 individual Blu-ray cases (one for each season and then one for the movies). A lot of sets have crammed all the discs into one set, so this is a much better alternative. There’s not a ton of special features (there’s about an hour and a half of content across the many discs), although a crossover episode of Magnum, P.I. is included in the Season 3 volume.
Murder, She Wrote: The Complete Series Blu-ray Review: Final Verdict
The Murder, She Wrote: The Complete Series Blu-ray set is a wonderful way to honor Angela Lansbury’s stellar mystery series. The episodes look great, and it’s an impressive value when you realize just how much you’re getting. This is a wildly entertaining show that has stood the test of time, and this set is a must-buy for fans.
Disclosure: The distributor provided product for ComingSoon’s Murder, She Wrote: The Complete Series Blu-ray review.
