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Etude in a Trench Coat First, I do like the new package design. The 2 hard-shell cases fit nicely into the sleeve (complete with episode synopsis), better than the awkward foldout from season one if less colorful. What I don't like is the artwork. Why are there pictures adorning this set from the mid-nineties (just a guess)? Are there NO still pictures available in the Universal archive from Season 2? Seems unlikely. I would like each set to represent the exact place in time they inhabited, instead it seems like an 11th hour dig through publicity photo's. Sad. The disc artwork is decent but seems a bit generic, and doesn't seem to capture the true "spirit" of the show. Each disc should portray a memorable locale from an episode on the disc; like Robert Culps private box overlooking the stadium, the fountain in Requiem, etc. Having said this, you know you want this and you know there is no way I cannot endorse the brilliance of Peter Falk. The picture is near perfect and the sound, while only Dolby Digital 2.0, is strong and clear... still the shortcomings linger, like the price which seems a bit steep for only 8 episodes. It does make me wonder how they will package some of the future seasons, some of which only had 3-5 episodes. 1)Etude in Black (4 Stars) - (96 min.) Since this is a 96 minute episode my local network has never ran this one so this is welcome new ground for me! Not sure why the lengths tend to vary, but I'm pleased. This really is a great one. John Cassavetes is definitely an animated foe and Blythe Danner's throaty haughtiness still gets to me. The story is interesting, the pacing is generally quite good, I only lopped a star off because judging from the first two acts I thought Cassavetes was truly going to be a juggernaut of denial to the bitter end and yet in the final act he went out more with a whimper than a bang. Columbo Moment: Columbo's near constant subject changes (rents, cars, room sizes) each time he would mention he had something important to say about "the case." 2)The "Solarium" Jungle (2.5 Stars) - (74 min.) Despite this being a supposed "fan favorite" and in spite of my love for all things Sharon Smith, I seem to like this one less and less with each viewing. Several performances are just lacking; the kidnappee, the "boyfriend", etc. I tend to rate my Columbo's based on the demeanor of the rival and Ray Milland just doesn't capture the essence of the great Columbo villains. He is certainly far from the worst but falls somewhere in the middle. Columbo Moment: Columbo's many exchanges with protégé Sgt. Wilson on the newest techniques for solving crimes, along with his tumble down the steep hill. 3)The Most Crucial Game (5 Stars) - (74 min.) If there is one thing Peter Falk must know, it's that the measure of his success depends largely on "the chase". My personal favorite in this regard is none other than Robert Culp. Shrewdly cautious, paranoid and yet generally optimistic no one quite captured the feeling of the chase like Mr. Culp. Though I preferred his season one performance this one is still head and shoulders above his rival rivals. If Ray Milland is middle of the road at rush hour, Robert Culp is the express lane at midnight. I love the rather ambiguous ending that left something to the imagination and yet wrapped up everything all at the same time. Columbo Moment: His preoccupation with shoes is classic. 4)Dagger of the Mind (3 Stars) - (96 min.) Because of the length it's more new ground! Sadly, the ground is a bit uneven. I love the leads; their chemistry is quite good. The change-of-pace locale adds to the sort of "holiday" feel from the normal LA areas still the story here is a bit uneven. Since the murder wasn't out of anger and the villains have nothing to gain it seems to sap the overall suspense of the episode and the bit with the umbrella switch seems padded and drawn out. Columbo as usual is his normal absent minded self but the best episodes always have a bit more than that going for them. Columbo Moment: Columbo's observation that Big Ben is "only" a minute slow. 5)Requiem of a Falling Star (3.5 Stars) - (74 min.) Good performances, solid story, and sincere intrigue mark a memorable episode. I have viewed this episode a few times and it is still great fun and has several scenes on the Universal back lot that have plenty of double meanings. "Lieutenant I would never type-cast you as a detective." -the Studio Head Columbo Moment: He gets a new tie. And it is recommended he also get a new over coat, shoes, shirt... 6)A Stitch in Crime (4.5 Stars) - (74 min.) Despite the silly name this is a great episode. As a Trekker you'd think I would be biased towards this because of Nimoy. In fact, I'm hyper critical of it because of that and I must say Leonard Nimoy is another in a series of great finds for Columbo to... find. Not quite the 5 star Shatner performance in Season 6's Fade in to Murder, but close enough. The episode seems to derail a bit in the third act regarding Harry Alexander's drugging but all in all this one has a certain charm. I especially like the Nimoy dinner party sequence. Columbo Moment: Not sure how much of this is adlib, but the part when Columbo asks to see the murder weapon only to crack his egg on it is... priceless. 7)The Most Dangerous Match (4 stars) - (74 min.) Having viewed this once before I still say this is one of the best. The heavy in this, Laurence Harvey (as Emmett Clayton) has the intensity needed to convey the best of Columbo. The "Tomlin Dudek" role is a bit thin but he isn't in this very much. Columbo Moment: The questioning at the simultaneous chess match is masterful. 8)Double Shock (4 stars) - (74 min.) Excellent, simply excellent! How do you get better than Martin Landau? You have two of them!! From start to finish this ep is amazing fun and well written. Columbo takes a hand at cooking and I for one definitely believe the roles of Landau, it truly seems like there are two of them, it's called acting, folks. Columbo Moment: The many exchanges with Mrs. Peck, the live in house keeper, are amazing fun! Conclusion: Sometimes things are worth more than the sum of their parts, that's why this is a 5 star set. Season II is so worth your money and is so solid, the only truly negative thing I can say is (beyond the art work and rather steep price), you'll have to wait months for Season III, and you can burn through Season II in less than a week.