Have always been quite fond of 'Murder She Wrote'. It is a fun and relaxing watch that makes you think as you try to unwind in the evening. If one wants more complex, twisty mysteries with lots of tension and suspense 'Murder She Wrote' may not be for you, but if you want something light-hearted and entertaining but still provide good mysteries 'Murder She Wrote' fits the bill just fine.
"Another Killing in Cork" is the third of five episodes set in Ireland, the first being "The Wind Around the Tower", followed by "A Killing in Cork" and then succeeded by the two part "Nan's Ghost" (the best of the Ireland-set episodes to me). To me, as well, it is the weakest of the five (or four if one wants to count the two halves of "Nan's Ghost" as one) while being by no means a bad episode.
It is not a flawless episode. The episode drags slightly at times especially in the early parts and the accents once again are distractingly, of all the Ireland-themed episodes this episode is perhaps the worst in this regard. Sadly too, the acting, with the exceptions of an always terrific Angela Lansbury and the ever reliable Martin Jarvis, is rather bland to make up for this (something that "The Wind Around the Tower" and "A Killing in Cork" did manage to do).
On the other hand, the mystery is an engaging and well-crafted one that keeps one guessing to the end without being too simple or too confusing. The ending is one of the season's most surprising, the true identity of the bearded man easily being the biggest shock of Season 11. The dialogue is uneven with some thought-provoking and amiable moments and also some stale moments.
Even if one questions the authenticity of the Cork setting, it hardly looks cheap and the way it's photographed is still slick, stylish and nicely cosy. The music has energy and has presence but also not making the mistake of over-scoring, while it is hard to forget or resist the theme tune.
In conclusion, decent episode if lacking in a few crucial areas. 6/10 Bethany Cox