By-TorX-1 Review of Diagnosis Murder

Diagnosis Murder (1993–2001)

Hugely Enjoyable, But Dr Mark Sloan Is Murdered By Nepotism In The End

[8/10 · 11 October 2017]

Diagnosis Murder is very enjoyable 1990s hokum with a great initial cast that has a palpable sense of chemistry, even when Charlie Schlatter joins Dr Mark Sloan's merry medical sleuthing band to replace Scott Baio. The plots are fast-paced and Dick Van Dyke and Barry Van Dyke make an appealing team, with the marvellous Victoria Rowell shining in the role of the pathologist, Amanda. Also, there are even some nice TV crossovers with Mannix and Matlock getting in on the action. And one cannot forget the appearance of a vampire and a ghost! However, for all of the show's oodles of charm, things did start to go a bit awry when more and more of the Van Dyke clan progressively showed up. I was never a fan of Shane Van Dyke, and from there brothers, daughters, and granddaughters increasingly manifest on the glowing screen, with the ultimate tipping point being an episode that seems to contain the entire Van Dyke extended family, which was a bit much. However, there is much pleasure to be had from Dr Sloan's crime fighting ways, and the show is still on TV, which is perfectly splendid.