Many of Jessica Fletcher's extended family make periodic appearances in "Murder, She Wrote". Most are only seen once or perhaps twice...but someone thought her nephew, Grady, was a great character and he appeared in many episodes...too many if you ask me. Why? Well, two reasons. First, he's really pathetic...always mooning over some woman and always playing a real loser...and a rather dim one. Second, this loser is always accused of committing some murder...and that becomes tiresome. I only hope this one somehow turns out to be better than I expected.
The story takes place at a fancy hotel in New York City. Cutting to the chase, Grady discovers the dead body of a girl he used to be infatuated with (are ALL women Grady's been infatuated with?!?!) and he then proceeds to be really, really stupid...doing many things to implicate himself as well as NOT implicating the guy he saw leaving the dead woman's room! Can Grady be any stupider....not really. So, despite himself, can Aunt Jessica once again extricate him from trouble he clearly brought on himself?
Once again...not a good Grady episode. Grady's character makes no sense and the only way you can understand him is if you assume he's a total idiot. That's not good writing, that's for sure! The quote above was uttered by Grady twice...and I certainly agree.
So, despite Grady, is the episode any good? Yes, but with Grady being such a large part of it, it isn't enough to save it.
By the way, it's not a super-important detail, but I noticed that the sparkling wine served at the art show was oddly NOT bubbling in any way. Not a single bubble...yet it was served in a champagne glass...something you'd just not see at a fancy-schmancy art exhibit for the elite.