It's never the butler

I love a good whodunit.

Always have, since I was a kid. I used to love watching Scooby Doo, reading Encyclopedia Brown, and even Agatha Christie movies (when I understood what those stuffy old British people were saying). I even -- occasionally, and with mild disdain -- could tolerate an episode or two of Murder, She Wrote. (I was tricked into it thinking Angela Lansbury would be channeling her Miss Marple in the role, but no such luck). Clue was my first favorite boardgame, and Clue: The Movie made its way into my personal Top Ten. It's probably also why I loved the puzzles within every episode of House and the mystery surrounding Lost.

So, it's no surprise that I quickly bought into this whole Harper's Island show on CBS. It's like a mini-series, I guess, and it already has a definite end date. On July 2, the show will end, done. No more stretching out the mystery for five seasons, introducing new stories, flashing forward, silly tribute episodes, dream sequence episodes, just a straight up story with a beginning, middle, and an end. And a fun little interactive website that enhances viewing (but isn't required reading). And the payoff? We find out just exactly whodunit. It reminds me of Twin Peaks, but better: less weird, and none of this ridiculous paranormal nonsense. The moment they explained just exactly who/what killed Laura Palmer, they should've really just rolled the credits and called it a day.

So therefore, I am on board. 100%. If there is definitely an end, then I am in. Really easy to get into, plus a lot of familiar faces like this skinny dude from Ugly Betty, or Susan's ex hubby Carl from Desperate Housewives, and even Harry Hamlin of LA Law/DWTS/Clash of the Titans fame. It was on Thursday nights, but now it's on Saturday nights, but honestly I really don't care when it's on. It just pops up in my TiVo, and I can also find all the episodes On Demand. I watch when I feel like it, and can be drawn into the mystery for 40 minutes at a clip, without feeling like I am making a huge personal sacrifice. Perfect show for those of us with commitment issues. And a nice diversion for those of us with our TV plate already overfloweth.



I'm not sure yet who I think it is, but it definitely isn't the meddling ex-boyfriend, or the weird goth girl. (Sorry if I ruined the surprise of who some of the victims will be.) But it'll be nice for a change not obsessing about whether it's the Smoke Monster. Or Orson Hodge. And then never getting a clear answer.


Maybe a new wave of no-nonsense terminal TV shows is on the horizon? I'd love that. But even better than a show with an end-date? A show with an obvious goal.


Case in point: How I Met Your Mother. Yeah, I know. The second he meets her, that show is history.