#my Origin Story hc is that someone he knew was murdered by someone rich and powerful who got away with it

[columboscreens]

I do love how Columbo basically treats his murder hunts as a game. But not just any game.

There was a book i read back in middle school of a man who took a hitchhiker to a barren desert, set him loose without any equipment, all so that he could hunt the most dangerous game of all: man. It is my belief that Columbo treats his murder cases as such. It's the thrill of the hunt that earned him his job, and he stops at nothing to take down his prey.

Of course, he's not in it just for the thrill, i mean someone just lost their life. But it definitely helps with his efficiency.

the thing about columbo is that our little guy is a gamer.

hear me out. there is nothing a creative and analytical mind like columbo's loves more than a game. it's why he's lasted so long and been so successful in such an inherently traumatic occupation.

if you give him any game of skill (notice how he avoids games of chance at casinos), he's drawn to it like moth to a flame. he's the type who just has to become good at or beat the game he's playing, and he has the drive, know-how, and talents to help him become top-notch at any which one he touches. it might be cards, puzzles, wordplay, pinball, bowling, billiards, darts, golf. probably video games if he were younger! the list goes on.

his father taught him how to play pool, or his father taught him how to manipulate people flawlessly? maybe both. you decide......

but when it comes to going toe-to-toe with a murderer, those skills transfer very effectively. he learns their game and gets on their level. he tailors his approach and tactics to the environment in which he finds himself, all just part of learning a new game.

and the man doesn't only play his part, he has fun. he has panache, he has showmanship, he does a little tap dance routine with a warrant for arrest in his hand. and i think that's part of why his job provides him with so much fulfillment.

you just lost the game, sir. nyoooom

obviously catching murderers is ultimately about invoking justice on behalf of the law and sanctity of human life, yadda yadda. columbo has more than enough empathy to know that and handle situations accordingly.

but there is no doubt a dark pleasure he derives, savors from chasing and nailing most of his perps that goes beyond a mere penchant for justice. from seeing suspects squirm, from seeing them get whittled down, from seeing them explode in frustration. from winning. call it sadism, call it schadenfreude, call it whatever. i've mentioned that people bit steven moffat's head off for daring to suggest that columbo was a sadist but he was right!

columbo's obviously not evil, he doesn't torture people for the hell of it. he serves his own form of justice and retribution to those who deserve it; having to go through him and his investigative tactics is its own punishment. lots of murderers end the episode relieved to be going to prison because they're finally out from under his thumb.

if he were a normal detective with normal tendencies, columbo would be a much less entertaining show--he'd accost the suspect, quietly gather evidence over time, and make an arrest. indeed, it's that very hard-on for seeing murderers suffer that makes the show fun. plus it's such a laudable thing to be sadistic about that who can even blame him lol. oh you get off seeing uhh Murderers Eat Shit And Go To Jail? that sucks i hate that

frankly, i believe that if he didn't have that gas to feed the flame in him, he'd burn out very quickly. the show gives us rare glimpses of the toll columbo's job takes on him. it's grueling and unforgiving, so i dont think it's merely the merit of catching the murderer that keeps him going--it's the thrill and reward of the game.

gg no re