tw: image and animated GIF heavy, discussions of murder, implied ableism, drug, tobacco, and alcohol references, copaganda
this is where i will wax poetic and infodump about one of my all-time favorite television shows and characters!! this will be part image gallery, part personal essay, part love letter to Columbo. enjoy!!
jump to: SUMMARY / MY OPINIONS / COLUMBO'S CHARACTER / IMAGES AND OTHER MEDIA / DISCLOSURE
SUMMARY
WHAT IS COLUMBO?
Columbo is a television series that ran on and off between 1968 (with the original pilot) to 2003. Columbo popularized the inverted detective story, where instead of a "whodunit" storyline, the series followed the "howcatchem" formula.
The titular character of Columbo, Lieutanent Columbo, is a homicide detective with the Los Angeles Police Department played by Peter Falk. He is characterized by his somewhat rumpled appearance, his unusual idiosyncrasies, and his uncanny observation skills. No canonical first name is ever given. He often will figure out who the murderer is close to the beginning of every episode, so the fun for the audience comes from watching him piece the clues together to confirm his suspicions. Most of the murders are committed by high-ranking members of society, including the elite, rich, and politically powerful—most of which believe, based on his appearance and mannerisms, they are smarter than Columbo and can outwit him and commit the perfect crime. Additionally, the murderers are often "guest stars," being played by several notable celebrities contemporary to the time of airing.
Each episode is approximately movie-length and there is no real continuity between episodes, with the exception of a few recurring characters across the series. Otherwise, Columbo has no canonical watching order, though as time went on in the real world the show adapted around it, with later seasons clearly taking place at the turn of the 21st century.
Columbo is one of the most popular and successful detective series of all time, earning the character a place in the popular zeitgeist and inspiring many fictional detectives and mystery media. It has been aired internationally and continues to be popular, with episodes often still airing as re-runs.
WHY DO I LIKE COLUMBO?
...okay now that we are all familiar with the actual show it's time to lift the formal façade and explain why i REALLY love Columbo!!
i first found out that Columbo existed in my junior year of college (2015), when i took a film analysis class, and we watched the 1987 film Wings of Desire directed by Wim Wenders. first of all it's a lovely film that really moved me, so i highly recommend it!! secondly, Peter Falk plays a fairly prominent part in the film, playing himself while starring in a film located in Berlin (so a movie within the movie). i won't spoil his significance in the film because the twist about his character really got me when i first saw it, but i will say that there are a very large number of references to his role as Columbo made by several other characters. i had vaguely heard of the show Columbo before this (because i am a big murder mystery/detective show fan) but seeing how much i liked his performance in Wings of Desire was the final push to sit down and watch the series!
i then proceeded to binge the entire first season while pulling an all-nighter for a project for that very class so clearly i enjoyed it!!! i practically devoured the entire show within just a few weeks and it was literally my saving grace that year, which was fueled by many, many, MANY other all-nighters. it became my biggest comfort show: it was never too stressful, it was very quiet and evenly-paced, and it was just interesting enough that i could work on other things at the same time as having it playing in the background. when i needed something to keep me company in the hell that is one's junior year of art school, i watched Columbo.
A.K.A., COLUMBO IS #RELATABLE
the main reason why i love Columbo so much is because of Columbo himself!! his personality is so earnest and endearing. one of my favorite things about Columbo is that you can tell that while he clearly enjoys solving mysteries and catching the culprit, he cares about the victims and those affected. you never see him angry except for in the cases where the murderers are showing extreme disregard for those around them. he is kind and respectful to everyone, even when they are disrespectful in return.
of course one of the main appeals about Columbo's character is his mannerisms, odd way of speaking, and seemingly simple joys in his life. he loves his wife, his dog, smoking cheap cigars, and eating chili. he cares little about his appearance and how others perceive him, clearly choosing function and comfort over form. his habits of rubbing his head and face when he's deep in thought, his trademark squint, and just general posture all add to his general appeal.
what stands out to me personally about his behavior is that it is particularly familiar to an autistic individual such as myself. it's easy to make connections between the experiences of an unmasked autistic adult and how Columbo acts and presents himself. are his mannerisms and habits just "quirks," or can they be interpreted as stimming? when he speaks with others in ways they find offputting, is he just socially awkward, or does he literally struggle with social cues? is he just extremely observant, or does he hyperfocus so much on finding the answers that he can't think of anything else? does he not really care about his physical appearance, or is he seeking sensory comfort by wearing what is most familiar to him?
most of all, when Columbo presents himself to others authentically and as himself, many immediately dislike him. they, again, find him offputting, unintelligent, and refuse to take him seriously. this in particular is something that hit close to home when first watching the series. growing up knowing that there was something "wrong" with me and having others treat me in that way without understanding why is, legitimately, a tiring existence. it felt like a lightswitch was turned on as i began to understand Columbo's character over the series and find more and more familiar experiences between us. and seeing a character that so many others enjoy have so many similar traits to myself gives me so much joy!
and there is absolutely no other reason why i love Columbo :)
here are some of my favorite #Hot images of Columbo/Peter Falk. gifs will be linked to their sources (when applicable). enjoy
SWEET PICS AND OTHERWISE
some of my favorite screenshots from the series!!
fanart that i've created! most of this is 5+ years old but still some fun stuff to share!!
ADDRESSING THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM
all of this is to say is that while i love murder mystery media, i love detective shows, and obviously i love Columbo, it is still a form of copaganda. unfortunately being a show that is, ultimately, a police procedural, there are inherently a number of things worth criticizing about the show. for one, Columbo is depicted as a nearly infallible detective who is just about always right, and while others may be offbase with their suspicions, Columbo is always there to clear any doubts. while there are a number of occasions where Columbo is up against "corrupt" authority figures, he still ultimately represents the idea of the "good cop."
the timing of the creation of Columbo is something in particular to consider. the LAPD, the police force Columbo belongs to, and police precincts across the US, faced a number of controversies in the 60s through 70s, primarily to do with racial profiling and police brutality. the series is starkly absent of any acknowledgement of these issues, which continued after the original series was completed, subsequent sequel series were created, and to this day.
i don't want this disclosure to discourage anyone from watching and enjoying Columbo, or any other media about the police. i am choosing to include this disclosure as an acknowledgement that even things i'm obviously passionate about and love can be fairly critiqued and analyzed. it is a very well-crafted show that i continue to recommend to anyone who may find it enjoyable, but please be mindful of the effects of media on our society!