One of the most successful television series of all time, Murder, She Wrote lasted for a very successful twelve seasons on network television. Audiences were captivated with the seemingly simple life of Jessica Fletcher, as they watched her go from mystery writer to one of the world's greatest detectives.
While the show is very fun, audiences are forced to take on quite a suspension of disbelief. While the story of a writer living in the small town of Cabot Cove, Maine may seem quite easy to digest, at times Murder, She Wrote takes things to quite an extreme. Here are the top ten things that make no sense about Murder, She Wrote.
Becomes a Famous Writer
When the series starts, Jessica Fletcher is a retired teacher who has just started writing novels. In the very first episode, she had just gotten her very first mystery book published. This would not be the end of her success.
As the series went on, Jessica would continue to write and produce best-selling novels, eventually becoming one of the most famous mystery writers in the business. What is a little hard to believe is that the retired Jessica Fletcher turned her hobby of writing on a royal typewriter into one of the most successful writing careers of all time.
Cozy Murders
Cozy murders are how the English liked to describe their murder mystery television shows. The reason for this is that TV shows that have murder mysteries tend to be quite family-friendly, despite being about one of the most violent acts imaginable.
In Murder, She Wrote, this proves to be one of the most unrealistic parts of the show. Although many of the dead bodies and murders are shown, the show never gets graphic at all. In reality, the killing of innocent people tends to be much more violent and bloody. That wouldn't make for very goo primetime television, however. Especially not in the '80s and '90s.
Every Cop is an Idiot
As she travels all over the country and even the world, Jessica is forced to work with many police officers from around the globe. Although these many men and women come from various cultures and have many different worldviews, they all share one thing in common: they are incredibly stupid.
It's very hard to believe that any of police detectives in Murder, She Wrote would ever be capable of solving any crime. Despite that being their job, they are helpless when it comes to solving murder cases. Unless, of course, Jessica Fletcher is available.
Jessica Fletcher is a Master Sleuth
A retired teacher and professional mystery writer, Jessica doesn't have many qualifications when it comes to fighting crime. That being said, for some reason, she is one of the most effective murder detectives on the planet.
Over the course of the twelve seasons of Murder, She Wrote, Jessica solved more murder cases than probably any other person. Such historic levels of crimefighting success are utterly ridiculous. Especially when the person solving the crimes has no background in actually doing so. All she's done beforehand is writing fictional stories about murder.
Jessica Survives
Given that she's been in contact with so many murders, most of them knowing that she's trying to catch them, it's a wonder that Jessica Fletcher is still alive by the series finale. There are many times where the murderers even try to kill Jessica, although all of these attempts are unsuccessful.
In a more realistic story, Jessica would have likely been offed very early on in show's history. Her nosy nature as an amateur sleuth puts a target on the mystery writer's back. There's no way she could have survived for so long.
Globe-Hopping
While many of the murders happen in Jessica's hometown of Cabot Cove, Maine, she often also finds herself caught up in many real-life murder mysteries during her trips abroad.
It's unlikely enough that so many murders happen in Jessica's hometown and at the many places she visits in the states. What makes the show seem a bit ridiculous at times is the fact that even when Jessica visits countries halfway across that world she still manages to come across tough murder cases.
Jessica Always Solves The Case
Even the best detectives need some help from various other people. Often times, murder investigations are solved by several detectives working together, pooling their knowledge and resources to find the most likely solutions for how events actually transpired.
While Jessica does get some "help" from various characters throughout the show, she basically solves all the cases by her self. Each episode, over the course of twelve seasons, Fletcher catches another clever murderer. No matter who you are, no detective is that good.
Jessica Always Gets Access
In a typical murder investigation, only the police detectives themselves would get access to the information of any murder investigation. Perhaps special consultants may get access from time to time, but they would be other talented individuals with plenty of law enforcement experience.
In Murder, She Wrote, Jessica Fletcher always manages to get access to the case despite the fact that her only qualification is being a writer. Although she sometimes butts heads with the officers on the many cases she ends up solving, Jessica still manages to somehow get access.
Murders in Cabot Cove
The number of murders that happen in Jessica's hometown of Cabot Cove, Maine is staggering. While the characters of the show often make light of this fact, in reality this would be no laughing matter.
If Murder, She Wrote were real, Cabot Cove would be the murder capital of the world. Given that it's mostly made up of middle-class nobodies quietly living their lives in peace, this seems really crazy to imagine.
All the Murders
Everywhere Jessica Fletcher goes, murder happens. This has lead to many hilarious fan theories that Jessica Fletcher is actually a serial killer. While we all know that is not the case, it is quite disturbing that no matter where Jessica travels in the world, murder seems to always follow.
Whether it's in her hometown or halfway across the world, a murder always happens with only Jessica able to solve it. One thing from this series remains clear: if you want to stay alive, stay clear of Jessica Fletcher.