Show168
Ned was a graduate student so had to be at least 21. The killer said they did it in part to protect Ned because he could have been expelled for getting another student pregnant. I realize it was 1963, but considering this was a college, why should the possibility of students "dating" have any bearing on their ability to attend school? Back in the 1920s & 30s, young women used to talk about pursuing an MRS degree (finding a husband). Plenty of fraternization going on at colleges especially in the 1960s. DellaMason 11/25/23
Given that Ned barely graduated from the college as an undergraduate student, it seems unlikely that he would be accepted for postgraduate work. And even if he were, it's even more unlikely that he would repeat a class he had taken two years before. Ed Zoerner, 1/24/24
The Curious Coffee Set appears at the Metcalfes’ house. I hope they remember to return it to Della when they are finished with it.
In Perry's office when Laura is arrested, Della's shirtwaist dress is, IMHO, the worst-looking outfit she ever wore in the series. jfh 05Jan2021
The final confrontation and confession from the spectator gallery (as a bonus, we got TWO witnesses jumping up to testify from their seats ! ) was extremely long, with no 5th amendment admonishments from the judge (in fact, no comments at all). Usually, PM ignores the fact that many of its deaths were caused by self-defense. cgraul 1.8.13
In this case the killer claims that in addition to self defense, the victim was a sexual blackmailer, a sadist and a plagiarist. rackstrawe 3.5.17
One of the strongest contrasts between repulsive victim and sympathetic perpetrator. Has anyone kept count of the number of times Perry takes on the defense of the person he has just helped convict? DOD 01/06/21
+ Minor point: a confession isn't a conviction. jfh 05Jan2021
It seemed odd to me that Sgt. Brice invited Drake to go with him to investigate Sally Sheldon's room at the hotel and when he asked Drake if he knew her Drake replied no, he had never met the lady. Brice just heard him inquire about her to the desk clerk. Funny he didn't follow up. Submitted WJones 3/16/16.
This struck us as odd as well. Also, I do believe this is the most I’ve heard from Brice in any episode. DODay 11/23/17
+ I don't know about that. Paul is a private detective, he probably makes many inquiries and visits to people he has never met. He is visiting at Mason's request. -yelocab 27FEB18
++Brice's Big Break? In this episode, Sgt. Brice did get more than his usual few words. Maybe the producers were trying him out for a bigger role in the series. But then, they already had one wooden detective character, with Wesley Lau as Lt. Anderson. JohnK, 20 January 2022
"In Thomas Paine's COMMON SENSE, the same incident is related by a group of observers...Paine uses the obvious disparities...to make an Anti-Religious argument," Professor Hewes said in his lecture: Anti-Religious/Anti-Monarchist/Anti-Slavery Rebel TOM PAINE is an overlooked Patriot, but "Common Sense" was a major contribution to the Revolution [text available at www.let.rug.nl/usa/documents]. Mike Bedard 5.27.16.
Question (Self Defense): Esther said Ronald kept hitting her, but she was home with her husband, Perry and Laura right after the murder and seemed to show no signs of a fight - either physically or emotionally. Submitted by H. Mason 1/14/15
+ Yes, and at the end Mason rushes off to see about Esther's self-defense case, leaving her husband just awkwardly standing in his office with Della, Paul, and the newly-made lovebirds who are profiting from plagiarism! Submitted by catyron, May 5, 2018
Question (Plagiarism): Did Sally continue to pursue plagiarism charges. What she said on the witness stand seemed to show she could prove she wrote the book. Submitted by H. Mason 1/14/15
+ I would imagine she did. She would have gotten part of the royalties (since the book was based on a story by her sister, and expanded upon by the professor). I would assume they could have settled out of court.-yelocab 27FEB18
+ This is maddeningly left unexplained. Estridge, the literary agent all of a sudden wants to marry the plagiarist's widow and nobody speaks up for Sally, the actual author. I hope she gets a good lawyer, pronto because no out-of-court settlement should be accepted, since the plagiarism was based on outright physical theft of Sally's sister's term paper. Submitted by catyron, May 5, 2018
Question (Live Ammo and Blackmail): What happened to Ned for putting live ammo in the gun and blackmailing Dr. Metcalfe? Submitted by H. Mason 1/14/15
+ Another maddening loose end. Submitted by catyron, May 5, 2018
Testimony: Mrs. Williamson said she heard Professor Hewes say "Get out!" Why would that be the first thing he said to Esther if he was trying to extort money from her? Submitted by H. Mason 1/14/15
Incompetent and lacking foundation is what the story turned out to be. I was very much enjoying this until the sudden confession and conclusion, with a lot of unanswered questions such as those right above. Rick P 11/3/21