Jessica's delivery to a motorcycle racer in Japan speeds up a series of events that result in the death of another racer.Jessica's delivery to a motorcycle racer in Japan speeds up a series of events that result in the death of another racer.Jessica's delivery to a motorcycle racer in Japan speeds up a series of events that result in the death of another racer.
George Cheung
- Ikuma Nakata
- (as George Kee Cheung)
Steven Lambert
- Tommy Crane
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- GoofsAlthough the action takes place in Osaka, Japan, the cars used all left-hand drive.
- Quotes
[first lines]
TV Announcer: They're about to begin the sixth annual Golden Grand Prix. The green flag is dropped, and we're off to a nice clean start.
- SoundtracksMurder She Wrote Theme
Written by John Addison
Featured review
Motorcycle racing and murder in Japan
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.
"Kendo Killing" was something of a disappointment after the excellent "Unwilling Witness". It is far from awful and it is interesting to see a 'Murder She Wrote' episode set in Japan revolving around motorcycle racing and one of not many episodes to feature actors from the said country. It just could have been much better, because the execution didn't work on the whole.
No 'Murder She Wrote' is irredeemably unwatchable and "Kendo Killing" is no exception.
Production values are slick and stylish. 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.
Tom Wopat. Maggie Han, Bruce Locke, Byron Mann and especially ever dignified Pat Morita give decent performances.
Angela Lansbury seems to be incapable of doing anything wrong as Jessica.
Several things bring down "Kendo Killing" however. The rest of the acting is not great (though there has been far worse acting before and since this episode), with Vivian Wu particularly having some very awkward line delivery and she doesn't look comfortable. The dialogue is similarly stilted, which is not usually the case with 'Murder She Wrote'.
Contrived, overripe and stale are adjectives that have been used when the writing isn't great (mostly in the lesser episodes) but stilted is a rare adjective for this show. Not much thought-provoking or amiable here.
Weak too is the story. It does lack energy, leaning towards the dull especially in the over-heated and very predictable melodrama that passes for subplotting, and too much of it is obvious (was not surprised that much at the identity of the killer) and bumps along more than a motorcycle would on speed bumps.
One can't shake off the feeling of strangeness, some of the episode veers on the wrong side of bizarre. Despite having one of the show's most sympathetic victims, there are few characters to care for or get behind.
In summary, strange, lacklustre but mildly interesting episode. 4/10 Bethany Cox
"Kendo Killing" was something of a disappointment after the excellent "Unwilling Witness". It is far from awful and it is interesting to see a 'Murder She Wrote' episode set in Japan revolving around motorcycle racing and one of not many episodes to feature actors from the said country. It just could have been much better, because the execution didn't work on the whole.
No 'Murder She Wrote' is irredeemably unwatchable and "Kendo Killing" is no exception.
Production values are slick and stylish. 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.
Tom Wopat. Maggie Han, Bruce Locke, Byron Mann and especially ever dignified Pat Morita give decent performances.
Angela Lansbury seems to be incapable of doing anything wrong as Jessica.
Several things bring down "Kendo Killing" however. The rest of the acting is not great (though there has been far worse acting before and since this episode), with Vivian Wu particularly having some very awkward line delivery and she doesn't look comfortable. The dialogue is similarly stilted, which is not usually the case with 'Murder She Wrote'.
Contrived, overripe and stale are adjectives that have been used when the writing isn't great (mostly in the lesser episodes) but stilted is a rare adjective for this show. Not much thought-provoking or amiable here.
Weak too is the story. It does lack energy, leaning towards the dull especially in the over-heated and very predictable melodrama that passes for subplotting, and too much of it is obvious (was not surprised that much at the identity of the killer) and bumps along more than a motorcycle would on speed bumps.
One can't shake off the feeling of strangeness, some of the episode veers on the wrong side of bizarre. Despite having one of the show's most sympathetic victims, there are few characters to care for or get behind.
In summary, strange, lacklustre but mildly interesting episode. 4/10 Bethany Cox
helpful•37
- TheLittleSongbird
- Dec 30, 2017
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