I've watched this recently. I remembered it as being bad, but this was even worse, than I remembered. Really, what exactly was this? An episode that derailed from the formula so badly, an episode with terrible acting even from Falk, and no humor, and an episode that had the weakest conclusion I've ever seen in a Columbo episode. I mean, McGoohan was great as an actor, and he had some fine directorial moments like Agenda for Murder. But Commodore is easily the worst episode I've witnessed, even beat No Time to Die or Murder in Malibu by a mile, and that's a feat.

Rant mode off.

I posted on this about one month ago. I had exact same thoughts. What is interesting is that the episodes that entire season were relatively weak and off-formula. I think they might have been running out of ideas or wanted to experiment that season.