While there are plenty of iconic murder mystery shows dotted throughout TV history, the best line from Columbo shaped more of them than readers might imagine. The humble murder mystery is one of the most versatile genres in Hollywood history. From dark psychological thrillers like Netflix’s Mindhunter or The Silence of the Lambs to comedic murder mysteries like the Knives Out movies or Poker Face, there is something for everyone in this genre.
In recent years, light-hearted cozy murder mysteries have seen some spectacular success on streaming platforms, from Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building to Apple TV’s The Afterparty, to Netflix’s The Residence and Peacock’s aforementioned Poker Face. However, the other extreme of the genre is also making a comeback, as Netflix’s upcoming star-studded release The Whisper Man looks like the darkest psychological thriller since 8MM or Se7en plunged the murder mystery genre into new depths of depravity in the ‘90s.
With so many movies and shows that represent such a diverse array of tones and styles, it might seem impossible to choose the best quote from any murder mystery ever. However, there is one network TV staple with a recurring line that has done more to shape the genre than any other. That show is Columbo, the Peter Falk vehicle that ran from 1971 until 1978 before being revived from 1989 until 2003 on ABC.
Columbo’s “Just One More Thing” Remains The Greatest Murder Mystery Quote Ever
The legendary line in question was the title character’s unassuming ad-lib, “Oh, just one more thing.” While this quote might sound innocuous out of context, it was a line that always preceded the question or observation that would catch the villain in a lie, allowing Columbo to expose the killer. With this simple catchphrase, Columbo quietly revolutionized the entire whodunit genre.
While Agatha Christie’s murder mysteries set the standard for the genre in literary terms, her sleuths weren’t subtle about their deductions. Columbo’s most iconic line highlights just how much the show’s hero was a shambling, ever-underestimated, seemingly harmless everyman. Not only did this make for a stark contrast from Christie’s theatrical Poirot and the even more grandiose figure of Sherlock Holmes, but it also meant that, crucially, the show’s snooty villains almost always underestimated him, which then spelled their downfall.
Where Christie’s Poirot, like Daniel Craig’s Benoit Blanc in the Knives Out movies, assembled the suspects so he could delight in untangling the entire plot as they sat and patiently listened, Falk’s antihero took the opposite approach. His disheveled appearance, his seemingly inane chatter, and his easygoing attitude tricked villains into underestimating him, leading them to accidentally uncover their own crimes.
Columbo’s Best Line Shaped Murder Mystery Shows For Decades
While he might not seem as slick as Sherlock Holmes or Poirot, it was Columbo’s very unassuming nature that ended up influencing countless later murder mystery shows. Murder She Wrote, Monk, Psych, and Diagnosis Murder all built their stories around variations on this “Underestimated ordinary amateur detective” archetype, but Columbo’s unforgettable quote invented it.
Obviously, Elsbeth and Poker Face have recently revived the show’s entire premise, starting with a murder and then working backwards to reveal the suspect. However, even outside of these shows that are explicitly influenced by Columbo, shows as diverse as Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Luther, Veronica Mars, and The Rockford Files, all took elements of their inspiration from the classic murder mystery’s setup.
As wild as it might sound, even the far darker, more grim and serious True Detective season 1 features a scene where the antiheroes trick a killer into divulging their secrets by acting like harmless confidantes. This unlikely nod goes to show just how much Columbo influenced almost every murder mystery made since the show’s debut.
