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"Lovely but Lethal" poison ivy

posted 2 years ago by CarolTheDabbler (575)
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This plot of "Lovely but Lethal" is based on a couple of non-facts:

1. Columbo notices that someone has a rash on their hand, and somehow knows that it's specifically a poison-ivy rash -- when in fact, other types of contact dermatitis could have exactly the same appearance.

2. Columbo deduces that the itchy suspect has been traveling, because "poison ivy doesn't grow in California." Well, yes and no. It's true that the exact species that grows all-too-widely over eastern North America does not occur west of the Rockies. BUT it has a very close cousin called western poison oak that definitely *does* grow in California, including the Los Angeles area. Both species have precisely the same "active ingredient," and therefore both species can cause precisely the same symptoms.

Been a while since I saw this episode (I find it hard to watch!), so please correct me if I'm misremembering any details.

[–] bobbydallas (8556) 5 months ago

that's true.
however, Viveca Scott is the only one who:
- was in Lessing's home
- touched the ivy (connected to the microscope)
- banged Lessing and/or had a relationship with the victim
- had access to the octagonal container
- motive for murder (whether blackmail or competition)

and also she confessed at the end.

[–] CarolTheDabbler (575) 5 months ago

Oh, for sure! Not saying that things didn't turn out properly. I'm merely amazed that such a collection of misinterpretations could fortuitously lead Columbo to an accurate conclusion!

OK, maybe he (or the writers) realized that an accurate description of the situation (such as you gave) might not have a sufficient impact on the guilty party to elicit a confession -- so he (or they) concocted that bunch of hooey, and once the confession was on record, it didn't matter what prompted it. (And I don't think "you fooled me!" is an adequate defense.)