I'm sorry but the episode was somewhat ho-hum for me.

Ricardo was too busy watching for "THE PLANE ! THE PLANE !" to see columbo coming at him.

I like Ricardo M. but I think he was not right for this role. Too suave. Not convincing to me in the cat and mouse mind games of the Columbo formula.

I think the role needed a more arrogant/unlikable murderer.

Ricardo is VERY arrogant, in my opinion.
Don't forget the scene where he dismisses
Columbo's objection to the very idea of bullfighting...he says "our culture is different, not better or worse, just different". He used the example of boxing being popular in the US...well the boxers are both VOLUNTEERS unlike the bull. Don't forget his threat to call the governor when they start getting on his nerves. He was very good for the role, IMHO. Still, the plot is unbelievable for me.

No my favorite by any means, but the episode was good. The main point I was making was that Montalban's persona has a suave likable image. I thought the culture difference speech was very poignant.

I can't divorce that suave image of him from my idea of a more evil/cunning killer.

I have Ricardo Montalban on tape on 2 other programs.
One was the first season of Mission Impossible where he played Gerard Sefra, the sadistic commander of a Devil's Island-like prison colony. He was VERY arrogant and sadistic in that one. Then, of course, there is his classic role as Khan in Star Trek. Again, very arrogant. That is how I picture him. I never saw more than 1 or 2 episodes of Fantasy Island which I didn't like, so I don't think of him in those turns.

I did not see him in those other shows.

Your opinion is not disputed.

We each had a different refernce point.