6.) Marsha is a great character. She rambles on about being outer-directed and says “You see what I mean?” And Columbo, who is exhausted, says “I’m beginning to get the point”. When he says later “I think she knows LESS than she’s telling”, it’s not only hilarious but it also is telling Mayfield that Columbo isn’t fooled. I’m gonna have to rewatch just for that scene where she checks herself in the mirror, lol

14.) Regarding how easy it is to break into apartments, it’s like when a guy gets knocked out just long enough for plot convenience, then wakes up with a mild headache. If Mayfield couldn’t break in it would mess up the plot. So they make it easy.

20.) When Columbo bumps into the door in Hiedeman’s room he even says “excuse me” to the door, lol. At least I remember him saying something apologetic.

22.) The gotcha is strange. How could Mayfield remove and hide sutures undetected with everybody watching him? A better strategy would be to put in real suturesover the old ones and reinforce them. There would have to be another operation or autopsy before that would ever be discovered. Since Heideman would not have died from Mayfield’s treachery, the statute of limitations may set in before Mayfield’s attempted murder could ever be proven. Of course that would make for a terrible episode and this one was fantastic.

Columbo loses his temper with Dr. Mayfield. The only other time he did that was with the doctor in the George Hamilton episode. The lieutenant must be extra upset because doctors are supposed to heal, not kill.

What bothers me about Deadly State of Mind is that he loses his temper with Collier's partner instead of Collier!

It bothers me in a sort of "Columbo and Joan Hudson" way. Except that in this case, she isn't even an accomplice.

True, but she was sort of stonewalling Columbo. He was trying to establish the timeline. Did Dr. Collier have the time to commit the murder and she wouldn't say whether Collier was with her or not.

It's true thought that his real anger should have been focused on Collier. I love it when he says: "I don't think suspect is a strong enough word".

Something else about the gotcha I always wondered about is, by that point, might the suture have been in a state of already being partially dissolved? Instead of being the big ball of string that Columbo pulls out of his pocket, might there just have been little bits and pieces of suture that might not even be recognizable? I had dissolving suture in my teeth after dental surgery, and after a few days, little pieces of suture would sometimes break off and be loose in my mouth. Then if that is the case, couldn't Mayfield have just kind of left the dissolving suture in the body as has already been mentioned? Or crushed or obscured the remnants in some other way while he was operating?

I also agree that Heidemann isn't very likable. And I agree that it is too convenient how Mayfield breaks into Harry's apartment and is also able to tamper with the medication that is just sitting out unattended.

Pete I love the same phrase as well (I don't think suspect is strong enough word)!! I think this is my best moment from the whole episode :D

Something else about the gotcha I always wondered about is, by that point, might the suture have been in a state of already being partially dissolved? Instead of being the big ball of string that Columbo pulls out of his pocket, might there just have been little bits and pieces of suture that might not even be recognizable? I had dissolving suture in my teeth after dental surgery, and after a few days, little pieces of suture would sometimes break off and be loose in my mouth. Then if that is the case, couldn't Mayfield have just kind of left the dissolving suture in the body as has already been mentioned? Or crushed or obscured the remnants in some other way while he was operating?

I also agree that Heidemann isn't very likable. And I agree that it is too convenient how Mayfield breaks into Harry's apartment and is also able to tamper with the medication that is just sitting out unattended.

I believe there are different strengths of dissolving suture. In Dr. Heideman's case it was only a few days and Dr. Mayfield kept saying: "Just a few more days", meaning until they dissolve and he can publish the research. So the suture should not have dissolved yet according to Mayfield's remark.

I agree with you about leaving the dissolving suture in the body. There was no reason to remove it. He should have just reinforced the heart valve with real suture. It's strange that the assistant was watching Mayfield and didn't notice one false move. How did Mayfield get the old suture out and put it in his pocket?

Yes, I also always wondered how Mayfield got the suture out and kept it out of sight while he was being so closely watched by the assistant and also by Columbo from above the operating room.