Political lessons from Murder, She Wrote

By Nellie Curtiss …

Remember that book by Robert Fulghum, All I really need to know, I learned in kindergarten?  I think, all I really need to know about Politics, I learned from Murder, She Wrote.

Murder, She Wrote ran in the 80-90’s and stars Dame Angela Lansbury as author J. B. Fletcher. All episodes are available on Peacock, the NBC streaming service. A few episodes are available on Amazon Prime. The Hallmark Movies and Mysteries channel also runs this show late at night. Still others are available on YouTube and ME tv. Episodes deal with outwardly regular days that morph into whodunnit murders to solve.  In those 48-minute episodes, we see the operations of fairness, inclusiveness, and human caring. “Mystery is something that appeals to most everybody,” she has said about her long running show.

In Season 2, episode 15 entitled Powder Keg, Ms. Fletcher helps the sheriff solve a murder and diffuse a lynch mob pulsating on rumor and innuendo.  Her comments reflect reasoning and analysis and help to disperse the seething tensions. She exclaims to one of the town’s councilmen when the chanting has taken on action, “If you don’t stop this, I will!” 

Ms. Fletcher models the actions of a law-abiding citizen by expressing this sentiment and moving the script to resolution and not another murder.  She is for the rule of law as well as compassion and not vigilantism. Her words to a father, whose son has been wrongfully accused, steer him to have faith in the system that by episode end absolves him and finds the actual murderer. Of course, the viewers also understand that J.B.’s specific analysis and ability to find clues, guides law enforcement as well.  The message that comes through: We need more analyzers and fewer rabble rousers.

I remember one episode when Mrs. Fletcher helps a child whose bike had a flat tire and another time when she gave an elementary age child a job planting some flowers in her yard.

Mrs. Fletcher and Dame Lansbury, herself, both care about children and their futures. Dame Lansbury’s filmography would suggest that truth as she has been a well-known voice in animation like Mrs. Potts on Disney’s animated movie Beauty and the Beast (1991).

“Bringing humor and bringing happiness and joy to an audience is a wonderful opportunity in life, believe me,” Dame Lansbury once said. Her character in Murder She Wrote brings these comforts to the audience between the whodunit puzzles.

So, JB Fletcher’s straightforwardness, thoughtful inquisitiveness, and sense of fairness, gives us all a model to emulate in our search for our humanity and the morals that have traditionally led our country.  Murder, She Wrote is a comfortable option and is my late-night show of choice during these high crimes and misdemeanor times.

Nelda Curtiss is a retired college educator and long-time local columnist. Reach her at http://www.columnsbynellie.com or email her at columnsbynellie@gmail.com