Peter Falk didn't just play Lieutenant Columbo. He owned him. By the time we got to 1993, the rumpled raincoat and the "one more thing" were more than just TV tropes; they were a global religion. But something weird happened when Columbo All in the Game aired. We saw the Lieutenant do something he almost never does. He got played. Or did he?
It's a strange episode. Honestly, it’s one of the most polarizing entries in the entire "ABC era" of the show. You’ve got Faye Dunaway playing Lauren Staton, a sophisticated, icy woman who commits a murder to protect her daughter. That’s the setup. But the meat of the story isn't the crime. It's the flirtation.
For the first time in decades, Columbo meets a match who doesn't just try to outsmart him—she tries to out-charm him. And he lets her.
The Script That Stayed in a Drawer
Here’s a bit of trivia most casual fans miss: Peter Falk wrote this one himself. He didn't just star in it. He sat down and penned the teleplay. He had been sitting on the idea for years, reportedly since the 1970s. You can tell. The vibe is different. It’s more noir, more atmospheric, and significantly more focused on the psychological tug-of-war than the physical evidence.
Usually, Columbo is the cat and the killer is the mouse. In Columbo All in the Game, the roles blur. Lauren Staton (Dunaway) and her daughter Lisa (played by Claudia Christian) kill a two-timing lover. It’s a classic revenge setup. But when Columbo arrives, the dynamic shifts from "police procedural" to "seduction."
Dunaway was huge for this. She won an Emmy for her performance, and it’s easy to see why. She brings a level of gravitas that few "villains of the week" could manage. She isn't just a murderer; she’s a woman who recognizes the lonely soul beneath the Lieutenant’s beat-up car and cheap cigars.
Why the Flirtation Matters
People always ask about Mrs. Columbo. Does she exist? Is she a figment of his imagination used to trap suspects? In this episode, the mystery of his personal life takes a back seat to the immediate chemistry on screen.
👉 See also: Album Hopes and Fears: Why We Obsess Over Music That Doesn't Exist Yet
Lauren gives Columbo a tie bar. He wears it. She kisses him. He doesn't pull away.
It’s jarring. If you grew up watching the 1970s NBC episodes, seeing Columbo actually vulnerable to a woman’s touch feels almost like sacrilege. But that’s the genius of the script. Falk knew that after twenty years, the character needed a jolt. He needed to prove that he was human, not just an investigative machine in a beige coat.
The mystery itself is actually somewhat secondary. The "gotcha" moment involves a light switch and a very specific piece of timing regarding a phone call, which is standard Columbo fare. But the ending? The ending is what sticks. Columbo lets the daughter go. He focuses all the legal weight on the mother because he knows she’ll take the fall to save her child. It’s a rare moment of "detective mercy" that complicates his moral compass.
Breaking Down the "Gotcha"
Let's talk about the murder of Nick Franco. It’s a cold-blooded execution. They use a remote-controlled device to simulate a person being home. It’s high-tech for 1993.
Columbo figures it out because of a "silent" piece of evidence. He notices the electric bill and the timing of the lights. It’s classic. But notice how he interacts with Lauren during the interrogation. He’s not his usual bumbling self. He’s sharper. He’s almost... performative in a different way. He knows she’s watching him, and he plays into her expectations of what a "lonely" man wants to see.
Was he actually falling for her?
✨ Don't miss: The Name of This Band Is Talking Heads: Why This Live Album Still Beats the Studio Records
Probably not. Or maybe a little. That’s the beauty of Falk’s acting. He keeps you guessing. You see a flicker of genuine sadness in his eyes when he finally has to put the handcuffs on. It wasn't just a game for her; it might not have been just a game for him either.
Production Details You Might Have Missed
- The Director: Vincent McEveety handled the directing duties. He was a veteran of the show, having directed several of the best late-period episodes.
- The Cameos: Look closely at some of the background characters. The show often used the same character actors, but this one felt "bigger" because of Dunaway’s presence.
- The Music: The score is a bit more sultry than the usual whimsical Columbo theme. It reflects the romantic tension.
Most critics at the time were confused. They didn't know what to make of a "sexy" Columbo. But looking back from 2026, the episode stands out as a masterclass in character evolution. It’s the one time the Lieutenant let a suspect get close enough to smell the cigar smoke.
Why This Episode Is Essential Viewing
If you're doing a marathon, you can't skip this one. It’s the bridge between the old-school Columbo and the more experimental stuff they tried toward the end of the series' run. It proves that the formula wasn't just about clues; it was about the person holding them.
Faye Dunaway and Peter Falk together is like watching two heavyweight boxers who decide to dance instead of fight. They respect each other's craft. You can see the mutual admiration in every scene. When she tells him he’s a "very sensitive man," you actually believe she means it.
Common Misconceptions
Some fans think this episode is "non-canon" because of the flirting. That’s nonsense. Falk wrote it. If the creator/star says Columbo can be charmed, then Columbo can be charmed. Others think the "trick" with the light switches is too simple. In reality, it’s one of the more realistic pieces of forensic logic the show used in the 90s.
How to Watch It Today
You can find Columbo All in the Game on most streaming platforms that carry the full series (it's officially Season 10, Episode 1 of the "Late" series, or sometimes categorized under the "Mystery Movie" specials).
🔗 Read more: Wrong Address: Why This Nigerian Drama Is Still Sparking Conversations
If you want to truly appreciate it, watch an early episode like "Murder by the Book" first. Then jump to this. The contrast in Falk’s performance is staggering. He went from a sharp-eyed young man pretending to be slow to an older, wiser man who knows exactly how the world works and chooses to be kind anyway.
Next Steps for the Columbo Superfan:
To get the most out of this episode, pay attention to the lighting in the final scene at the bar. It's shot like a classic 1940s film noir. Notice how the shadows fall across Falk's face.
If you're analyzing the series, track the use of "the wife" mentions in this episode versus others. You'll find he mentions her significantly less here, which adds to the tension with Lauren. Finally, compare the "mercy" shown here to the ending of "Any Old Port in a Storm." It reveals a lot about how Columbo’s ethics evolved over thirty years of catching killers.
Watch the scene where they discuss the "game" of the title. It’s the only time the show explicitly meta-references its own structure. Once you see it, you'll never look at his interrogations the same way again.