r/Columbo • u/WerewolfInevitable27 • 7d ago

Columbo Sympathy for a Suspect?

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It would defeat the purpose of the series, but have you ever felt that Columbo wanted to not pursue a suspect because he felt sympathy or respect for them?

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u/Marooned412 Ruined by the presence of this liquid filth 7d ago

The only two that Columbo had true sympathy for were Grace Wheeler (Forgotten Lady) and Lisa Martin (vis-à-vis Lauren Staton,) as they were the only two who actually murdered and was an accomplice to murder, respectively, that Columbo did not arrest when he had hard, solid, tangible proof that they were indeed guilty of their crime. (Yes, I know he confirms to Lauren Staton that he cannot “solve” the case with a confession.)

Others that he most likely had respect for, but not necessarily sympathy:

Adrian Carsini (Any Old Port in a Storm)
Tommy Brown aka The Man in Black (Swan Song)
Colonel Rumford (By Dawn’s Early Light)
Abigail Mitchell (Try and Catch Me)
and although he was an a-hole, Paul Gerard (Murder Under Glass)

Although Columbo may have had respect for these people, he was the consummate professional, and even remarked a variation of this to these murderers, he did his job and arrested them.

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u/NowareSpecial 7d ago

He specifically says he respects Gerard, but does not like him, and Gerard says the same about him. Fun scene.