It is a darker eisode, even spooky sometimes, but I always liked it. It has some special atmosphere. The main thing which I don't like about it is that I treat it as a last one from original series (I don't count Conspirators, I try to avoid watching this episode for many reasons, but I think I will do it just to write my usual opinions)
- dr Mason is a cruel man. The way he killed Charlie is one of the most cruel in the whole series, plus he probably murdered his wife and try to murder Joanne, his dogs and Columbo!
- as somebody mentioned here once, I didn't notice before, when dr Mason see Columbo for the first time, he says "Lieutenant". How come she knew he was lieutenant?
- I realised now that the police officer who takes care of the dogs at police station, is the same guy who played some role in Undercover (I don't remember what it was about, this is one of two I never watch). And to be honest he seems not to be very smart, he says he needs to ask Lt. Columbo if Mason can visit his dogs, and at the same time he leaves him with those dogs..
- Mason wants to give the dogs some kind of poison (I suppose) in the chocolate, and then eats them by himself. Wouldn't it be poisonous for him too?
- and this time Columbo finally used his raincoat while it was raining! :D
- I thought I will have more notes about this episode but that is all what I found. Strange :)
Another one of my favorite episodes. I agree, Matti, the opening scene, with the music setting the mood, is creepy. This befits the nature of Dr. Mason. I especially like the way the camera slowly pans the Mason house, revealing little clues which will come in handy later. The fact that there is no dialogue, other than the two utterances of "Rosebud", reminds me of the opening scene of "By Dawn's Early Light". The music in this episode (and most of the last two seasons) is outstanding. You get the feeling right away that this is not just a TV show, but a real movie.
One thing I never noticed until a few years ago, was that you can see the tape recorder in Columbo's raincoat while he sits by the fire with Dr. Mason. It's in the foreground, but it's not in focus, which makes it tricky. A nice touch. This reminds me of the scene where you can see Vincent Pauley's medical ID bracelet, giving away a key clue in "The Conspirators".
Dr. Mason probably takes the cake for most attempted/completed murders: (1) He murders Charlie with the dogs, (2) We can assume he probably murdered his wife, (3) He's got his hands around Joanne when Columbo walks in, and (4) He puts the dogs on Columbo, assuming they would kill him as they did Charlie. Throw in the fact that he tried to kill the dogs, as well, and you've got quite the maniacal murderer.