Your preference on Mystery-based crime shows?

[mysterydriver]

I considered a poll, but there are only two options in my question.

Do you prefer for a mystery show to reveal the murderer at the beginning or the end?

Columbo showing the killer do the act and then squirm the closer the detective gets was grand.

Murder She Wrote revealing the killer at the end allows the viewer to watch and make their own guesses (Hint: If they're semi-popular stars from other TV shows, they have a 66% larger chance of being the killer. Exclusion: Mr. C.)

Of course, more recent shows do this as well...but I don't really watch recent shows.

So...which do you prefer? I like Columbo's method, personally.

[King Boo]

I personally like being able to guess along with whoever is doing the investigating. Knowing who did it is, for me, kind of in the same vein as watching the old game show, Password. I'm just sitting there watching other people figure things out. I'd rather play along, so to speak.

[Mozenrath]

Both are very good when done well, but the latter is probably easier to pull off.

If you like the latter, I HIGHLY recommend Case Closed/Detective Conan.

[Alex Shelley]

The end, definitely. Never saw much point in revealing it at the start.

[Mozenrath]

Aug 22, 2011 1:11:51 GMT -5 Alex Shelley said:

The end, definitely. Never saw much point in revealing it at the start.

It works in Columbo, but because A. Peter Falk rocks, and B. You had these people who thought they had it all figured out, and by most rights would get away with murder, and you'd want to know how Columbo was going to catch them in a lie, or pull the thread that makes the whole mess fall apart.