Ep 1. Fade in to Murder

Fade in to Murder from the sixth season of the iconic detective series Columbo stars Peter Falk as the unassuming yet incisive Lt. Columbo, a rumpled detective with a keen eye for detail and a penchant for catching killers off-guard with his seemingly naive demeanor. In this particular episode, the worlds of television and homicide investigation collide in an intriguing game of cat-and-mouse.

The episode opens within the glamorous yet mercurial world of television production. The central figure of this world, in this case, is an actor known for portraying a popular television detective, similar in some respects to Columbo himself. This actor is beloved by audiences nationwide and has become synonymous with his on-screen persona as a quick-witted investigator who always catches the bad guy. However, when the spotlight fades and the cameras stop rolling, the actor's real life begins to echo the television dramas in which he stars.

As the narrative unfolds, a murder is committed whose circumstances are as dramatic as any scripted television whodunit. The catch, however, is that the perpetrator of this crime is not some two-bit screen villain, but the celebrated actor himself. With cunning and deliberation, the actor tries to use his understanding of crime-solving, gleaned from years of playing a detective, to craft the perfect alibi and evade justice.

Enter Lt. Columbo, the police detective assigned to the case who, unlike the flamboyant TV detective, deals with the gritty reality of crime and its consequences. With his trademark cigar in hand, his lightly disheveled raincoat, and a demeanor that strikes many as bumbling and unconcerned, Columbo begins to piece together the evidence with the persistence and attention to detail that is his hallmark. The audience knows from the outset who perpetrated the crime, but the joy of the episode lies in watching the seemingly unassuming detective meticulously work to uncover the truth.

As Columbo scrutinizes the evidence, he engages the murderer in a sort of cerebral ballet. The killer, confident in his own intelligence and acting skill, attempts to mislead and misdirect Columbo, underestimating the detective’s ability at every turn. Columbo, for his part, plays into the killer's perceptions, appearing distracted and off the mark while quietly trapping him in a web of his own inconsistencies.

Throughout this episode, the concept of identity is explored on multiple levels. There is a mirroring of roles as the actor, so adept at playing someone else, tries to separate his real self from his public persona, while Columbo, often considered by criminals to be a harmless irritant, demonstrates the depth of his investigative abilities. The themes of performance and reality, presentation and truth are interwoven as the plot progresses, providing a meta-commentary on the nature of acting and investigation.

The episode also offers a satirical examination of television and celebrity culture. It playfully toys with the notion of the public's fascination with celebrity criminals and the irony of a television detective becoming involved in a real crime. This episode not only follows the usual engaging twists and turns of a murder case but also delves into the psyche of an individual whose public and private selves clash with fatal consequences.

Fade in to Murder represents a standout installment in the Columbo series, showcasing Peter Falk's talent for portraying a seemingly inconsequential detective whose thoughtfulness and dogged determination nonetheless lead him to solve even the most difficult of cases. It blends humor with suspense, challenges viewers with its exploration of reality versus appearance, and provides an entertaining yet insightful commentary on the world of television and celebrity.

As is customary with Columbo episodes, the joy does not stem from discovering the identity of the killer—that is given away in the program's formulaic reveal at the start—but in witnessing the cerebral game that unfolds as Columbo uses his wits to unravel the villain's scheme. It is a tribute to the skills and the ever-engaging process of a detective who is far more than he appears; it’s an elaborate dance between two master performers, one in front of the camera, the other in the field of criminology, both at the height of their respective games.