Search - Murder, She Wrote: The Complete Ninth Season on DVD

Bookmark another great year of TV

T.B. Grant | New York | 12/28/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In its ninth season, Murder She Wrote's star, Angela Lansbury, proved to the masses once again that the show was headed in the right direction. Her acting chops were as sharp as her longevity was inevitable for the last eight years as America's favorite mystery writer and amateur sleuth, Jessica Fletcher.

In this season, lively and mysterious episodes abound. As evidence, in THE CHRISTMAS SECRET, set in the fans' favorite fictional town of Cabot Cove, Maine, we learn the meaning of family and why it is so important to love and fight through the squabbles of everyday life to stay together. In DEAD TO RIGHTS, we see a different side of Jessica Fletcher, as an uppity, flummoxed mystery writer. Her research assistant, Dana Ballard, is discovered as not having been the person Jessica thinks she really is--in this case, a pathological liar. THE WIND AROUND THE TOWER finds Jessica abroad in Ireland bouyed with on-location scenery and brouge-thick dialogue. Eccentric characters litter this episode, making it a colorful and intriguing caper. One of the season's highlights depicts Jessica up against a radio jock wannabe, Marcus Rule, in KILLER RADIO. When confronted by Jessica, Rule gets a rude awakening of his own from the "Down East" mystery writer--and quite effectively, too.

Many of the episodes in season nine are set in New York City, hence Jessica's move from Cabot Cove, Maine to the Big Apple during last year's change in season eight. Lansbury wanted the character of Jessica Fletcher to follow less conventional rules, such as she had in the past seven years in Cabot Cove. First, Lansbury had grown tired of quaint life in the seaside village and of Jessica's simple tweeds and shoes. Lansbury wanted to cast the mystery writer as more of a progressive in her lifestyle choices. In season nine, Jessica appears more sophisticated in business suits and is up-to-date with technology (eg., computers, cell phones), and in touch with the youth of America. She gets back to her roots as professor, lecturing to young students on criminology at Manhattan University. But Lansbury was also aware that in order to stay afloat with the other stiff TV competition, she had to raise the bar for the 1992-1993 season if she was going to continue with the show, particularly behind the scenes. That said, after receiving dismal numbers from seasons six and seven, where Jessica was absent from a few storylines, narrating a handful of the episodes, making some changes would prove to be a challenge for Lansbury. To sweeten the deal, however, Lansbury became executive producer of "Murder She Wrote" for the next three years.

The atmposhere in season nine establishes Jessica's new "home turf" in New York City, and Lansbury's high-level enthusiasm by her new position of power. Whether mingling with high-brow people in the business world of publishing, novel writing, detective snooping, teaching at Manhattan University, or enjoying the leisures of her Penfield House apartment building in Manhattan, season nine marked a year of change for Jessica Fletcher and concocted a slew of surprises and conundrums for the viewing audience.

Curl up with your favorite cup of tea and get ready for another chapter of TV's best entertainment!

Murder She Wrote: Season Nine
(1992-1993)

Episode 1: Murder in Milan (Milan, Italy)
Episode 2: Family Secrets (Cabot Cove, Maine)
Episode 3: The Mole (New York City)
Episode 4: The Wind Around the Tower (Aughrum, Ireland)
Episode 5: The Dead File (New York City)
Episode 6: Night of the Coyote (Chaco Springs, New Mexico)
Episode 7: Sugar and Spice, Malice and Vice (Hong Kong)
Episode 8: The Classic Murder (New York City; Westchester, New York)
Episode 9: A Christmas Secret (Cabot Cove, Maine)
Episode10: The Sound of Murder (New York City)
Episode11: Final Curtain (Cabot Cove, Maine)
Episode12: Double Jeopardy (New York City)
Episode13: Dead Eye (Coral City, Florida; Miami, Florida)
Episode14: Killer Radio (Easton, in the Midwest)
Episode15: The Petrified Florist (Los Angeles, California)
Episode16: Threshold of Fear (New York City)
Episode17: The Big Kill (Cabot Cove, Maine; New York City)
Episode18: Dead to Rights (Cabot Cove, Maine; Portland, Maine)
Episode19: Lone Witness (New York City)
Episode20: Ship of Thieves (the Caribbean)
Episode21: The Survivor (New York City)
Episode22: Love's Deadly Desire (Cabot Cove, Maine)"

The Wait is Over!

Fletcherfan | Douglasville, GA United States | 01/17/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Finally, Season 9 is here. I can not wait for the 9th season of Murder, She Wrote. While I enjoyed season 8, Season 9 gets back to JB's fun. I felt that season 8 was trying too hard to take JB out of Cabot Cove and make her more international (or New Yorker). I felt that too many cases in Season 8 were just not fun. Season 9 delivers. In particular, A Christmas Secret which actually someone is almost murdered in Cabot Cove. I also enjoyed The Dead File in which Jessica is used as a characteur of herself in a comic strip. BUT my favorite would have to me The Wind in the Tower. It takes place in Ireland. A man dies but is it natural or murder? If your reading this then you are a fan. Season 9 is much more fun than season 8 (in fact the beginning has JB's typewriter instead of the word processor used in S8). I wish that Universal would release the seasons more quickly. I am anxiously awaiting the made for TV movies. I can't wait for Feb. to get here. Keep it up Ms. Lansbury! EVER THE FLETCHER FAN!"

The Next great chapter for JB Fletcher

Mr. Daniel Black | Canberra Australia | 12/30/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This was the second year where Jesica would go between Cabot Cove and New York and sometimes overseas to places like Ireland. Angela Lansbury is at her best with this series even though the series almost didn't go past season 7 so we are greatful she kept it going for another 3 seasons after this one.

So for people who like murder/mystery and seeing actors from the past and some in the future actors that have since become famous"

Much better than Season 8, but still not as strong as season

E. A Kelsey | LA, CA United States | 02/11/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"As I have said in my previous reviews, Murder She Wrote is my favorite TV show, as the lead character ( Jessica Flethcer, played by the amazing Angela Lansbury) has more depth and dimension than any other female lead on TV. I find her character inspirational and soothing.
With that being said, I must urge people to watch seasons 1-7 before season 9, as the writing is MUCH better, as are the guest stars and plots. Season 8 was bad, and really had a different feel that 1-7.
This season ( 9) returns to the traditional MSW writing, but Angela's character still doesn't have the same feel to her, and seems much more metropolitan than 1-7. The character is frequently in New York ( and where in 1-7 the New York episodes were some of the strongest, they are not as strong in 8 and 9).
YOU CAN WATCH SEASON 10 AND 11 ON NETFLIX!!!!! NO JOKE!!!"