The 5 Greatest Things about Columbo

The Columbo statue in Budapest, Hungary (CC BY 3.0)

He looks like a bumbling and easy-to-fool man, but Lieutenant Columbo provides a great lesson in why looks can be deceiving. That’s especially true when it comes to solving mysteries—and something we see often at our Vancouver escape games. That is, it’s not always the most confident-seeming person who’s got the solve in the bag. Sometimes, it’s the unsuspecting person hiding in plain sight.

Columbo knows the value of being underestimated by the people you’re trying to win one over on. Those criminals just never seem to see it coming, do they?

It’s hard for us at Krakit Escape Game to choose just five of our favourite things about Columbo, but here we go.

5. The Columbo statue in Hungary

There he is, looking as confused as ever, staring at his beloved basset hound, Dog. He may be looking confused because there’s no rhyme or reason for there to be a life-sized bronze statue of Columbo on Budapest’s Falk Miksa Street. But there it is, and that’s what makes it so great.

4. Columbo’s cat-and-mouse games

The episode “Try and Catch Me” (season 7, episode 1) sees Columbo engaged in a game of cat and mouse with a successful author named Ruth Gordon. He actually forces the murderous writer to deliver her own gotcha moment, by making her read out all the clues left behind by her victim during a speech for her adoring fans. Zing. This is just one example of how Columbo swiftly gains the upper hand.

3. Peter Falk’s gravelly voice

OK, sure, we know this doesn’t actually add to his ability to outsmart all the criminal masterminds, crooked politicians, and arrogant art types he takes down. But for some reason it is so much more satisfying to hear Columbo’s epic “gotcha” speeches in his rough-and-tumble New York accent instead of a crisp British clip.

2. The memorable nemeses of Columbo

Columbo ran for 13 seasons, partially in the ‘70s and partially in the ‘90s. This has made for some varied and memorable recurring characters to pit Columbo against. But the age-old question remains: Who IS the ultimate Columbo nemesis—Jack Cassidy, Robert Culp, or Patrick McGoohan?

1. Columbo’s infuriating catchphrase

Columbo’s most famous move, in which he lets the criminal think they’ve gotten away with it all and then reels them back in with a final zinger, is basically what we’re waiting for at the end of every episode. “Oh, just one more thing …”



Do your best Peter Falk impression in one of Krakit’s four themed escape games. Book a room for you and up to 6 other people here.

Escape from Vancouver: 5 Best Detective Series Filmed in Hollywood North

There are plenty of reasons why Vancouver and the Lower Mainland are a great place to live for escape game fans. Along with some truly great and challenging escape rooms, Vancouver plays to host to many, many film sets—including the type of detective series we puzzle fans can really sink our teeth into.

Here are the top 5 biggest and best detective television series filmed in Vancouver. Happy hunting for all of the filming locations!

5. MacGyver (1985–92)
A classic to be sure, but MacGyver is the lowest on our list because the scientific knowledge this secret agent uses to get out of jams is a little too far-fetched for our logical puzzle-loving brains. Filming locations include the Steam Clock in Gastown and Coal Harbour.

4. Arrow (2012–)
Arrow is also fantastical, but it’s set in the DC Comics superhero universe, so we’ll allow it. This crime series is based on the character Green Arrow, who also appeared in the series Smallville, also filmed in Vancouver. Filming locations include the Vancouver Art Gallery and Gastown.

3. 21 Jump Street (1987–91)
While Johnny Depp played an undercover cop at an American high school, it was actually often New Westminster Secondary School that he and his gun-toting colleagues were hanging around. Other filming locations include, you guessed it: Gastown.

2. Psych (2006–14)
Now here’s a show right up Krakit Vancouver Escape Game’s alley: Psych follows a young sleuth
who uses his amazing powers of logic to solve crimes, while letting the precinct he works with think he has psychic powers. Nearly all eight seasons were filmed in Hollywood North, including locations at the White Rock Museum and Archives and Jericho Beach.

1. Da Vinci’s Inquest (1998–2006)
For once, Vancouver got to play the rarest of all things: itself. This well-loved Canadian detective series follows Dominic Da Vinci, a mountie turned coroner who still has a finger in the justice system. Filming locations include: anywhere, since the producers didn’t have to hide any noticeable landmarks.

Put on your detective hat (a deerstalker, no doubt) in one of our four themed escape games. Book here.