Have always been quite fond of 'Murder She Wrote'. It is a fun and relaxing watch that makes you think as you try to unwind in the evening. If one wants more complex, twisty mysteries with lots of tension and suspense 'Murder She Wrote' may not be for you, but if you want something light-hearted and entertaining but still provide good mysteries 'Murder She Wrote' fits the bill just fine.
"Appointment in Athens" is a decent start to Season 6, a worthwhile appointment. To me, there are far better Season 6 episodes to follow let alone 'Murder She Wrote' in general. While the story is intriguing and the murder mystery is engaging and neatly and satisfyingly resolved, some of it is preposterous and convoluted, the abduction plot didn't have as much clarity and neither did the early parts of the episode.
It occasionally lacks lustre pace-wise too, or at least to me it did.
On the other hand, it's the charms of the entire cast and the acting that elevate "Appointment in Athens" to a higher level. Angela Lansbury demonstrates why Jessica Fletcher is one of her best remembered roles, while Len Cariou proves why Michael Hagarty is among the best recurring characters on 'Murder She Wrote', just adore the chemistry between them.
Support acting from particularly Ian Ogilvy, Thom Christopher and June Chadwick couldn't have been more ideal.
Production values as ever are slick and stylish, Greece looks fabulous and the fashions are nostalgia-inducing. The music has energy and has presence but also not making the mistake of over-scoring, while it is hard to forget or resist the theme tune. The writing is mostly thought-provoking, light-hearted and amiable.
Overall, decent Season 6 opener but better was to follow. 7/10 Bethany Cox