Although I didn't think much of Grand Deceptions or Last Salute to the Commodore and was underwhelmed by Dead Weight, even they had their few interest points. Which is more than I can say for No Time to Die. And I say this as a huge fan of Columbo. I give it points for its striking filming, Joanna Going's hotness and while Columbo is nowhere near as interesting as he has been before and since Peter Falk still does his best, though he has been much better. However there are too many things wrong with this episode to list, starting with the title. Very misleading, I agree that something like The Vanishing Bride(slightly generic perhaps) would've been far better. As for the pace, I wouldn't say it is one of the dullest entries of the series, I'd go as far to say it was the dullest, even beating the overlong and sluggish Last Salute to the Commodore, it starts not easy to get into and ends just as unsatisfyingly. At least Commodore had the sailing jokes, No Time to Die has nothing remotely interesting, intelligent, clever or funny in its writing, it all feels very humourless and aimless. The story is another attempt at a change of formula, and fails utterly, with the story getting increasingly implausible and stupid and no delightful scenes between Columbo and the villain. The characters are some of the blandest of any Columbo episode, the victim is completely lacking in personality and the villain is a right wimp it is difficult to feel anything for him. The music feels obtrusive and doesn't add much to the atmosphere, and of the acting the only one who acquits himself close to adequately is Falk. In conclusion, a failure and perhaps the worst of the series. 3/10 Bethany Cox
Review of No Time to Die
