Murdoch Mysteries

Murdoch Mysteries
Created by	Maureen Jennings
Starring	Yannick Bisson Hélène Joy Thomas Craig Jonny Harris
Composer	Robert Carli
Country of origin	Canada
Original language	English
No. of seasons	2
No. of episodes	26 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers	Scott Garvie Noel Hedges Cal Coons Christina Jennings
Producer	Jan Peter Meyboom
Running time	46 minutes (excluding commercials)
Production company	Shaftesbury Films
Original release
Network	Citytv, UKTV
Release	January 20, 2008 – present

Murdoch Mysteries is a Canadian television drama series. It has its beginnings in a series of three television movies based on mystery novels by Maureen Jennings, broadcast between 2004 and 2005. The films, Except the Dying, Poor Tom is Cold and Under the Dragon's Tail introduced William Murdoch, a police detective working in Toronto, circa 1895; he is both a sober, devout Catholic and a devotee of cutting edge innovations in the forensic sciences and criminology (among them the practice of fingerprinting). Starring Peter Outerbridge in the title role, the films presented a somewhat gritty, moody Toronto, with a brooding, somewhat haunted Murdoch to match.

Though the production company remained the same, the creative team for the subsequent TV series was new, and the tone became lighter, as well as historical Toronto prettier. Allowing a tacit yet slyly conscious nod to anachronism, the series immediately juxtaposed contemporary issues against period mores and technology, rendering Murdoch not only a contradiction within himself (a man of deep religious faith who is also of a vehement scientific bent) but unself-consciously and unwittingly quite prescient as well.

With Outerbridge's then-commitment to the TV series Regenesis making him unable to reprise his role, the part of Murdoch went to Yannick Bisson. As befitting the lighter approach, Bisson's somewhat more youthful Murdoch makes a likewise brighter impression. Though Bisson plays Murdoch seriously, he doesn't play him solemnly, thus he's less brooding than thoughtfully concerned, not merely fascinated but boyishly enthusiastic over each new scientific innovation and its potential. He also accords Murdoch qualities of the classic "straight man" foil for some of the more eccentric and extreme regular characters around him (in the tradition of, say, James Garner in The Rockford Files), quietly registering bemusement, exasperation, tolerance, resignation as he takes in and deals with their idiosyncrasies. And this permits a thread of light comedy to co-exist and periodically recur with the grave business of solving each episode's murder mystery.

The series airs in the UK on Alibi (originally UKTV Drama). The second season began airing on Citytv on March 4, 2009.

American Public Television acquired the first season of Murdoch Mysteries from ITV Global Entertainment for syndication to public television stations throughout the United States beginning June 30, 2009.

In France, the first season premiered on June 14, 2009, on France 3 as Les enquêtes de Murdoch starting with the second episode, in the Sunday night timeslot, usually the timeslot of UK cop shows, as Midsomer Murders or Lewis.

Season 3 was filmed in Toronto from July to November 2009.

Synopsis

The series follows eccentric Detective William Murdoch of Toronto who solves many of his cases using unusual (for the time) methods of detection. These methods including fingerprinting, human blood testing, surveillance and trace evidence.

He works with three main other characters. Inspector Brackenreid, Doctor Julia Ogden, and his inexperienced, but eager partner Constable George Crabtree. His supervisor, Inspector Brackenreid, is usually skeptical until Murdoch starts getting results. Inspector Brackenreid prefers conventional detection methods over Murdoch's eccentric methods, but is usually pleased and proud when Murdoch is successful despite all odds. Constable Crabtree is often unable to grasp the much more advanced methods, but his enthusiasm and loyalty makes him a good partner and assistant. Like Constable Crabtree, Dr. Ogden is a great supporter of Murdoch's methods. Her skill in pathology usually helps by revealing a great deal of useful evidence to aid Murdoch in solving cases. Throughout the series Murdoch's growing infatuation with her, and his inability to express his feelings, provides a light subplot.

The series also make frequent references to current (or for the series, future) events and foreshadows future events. For example, in one episode it is implied that secret British-American government co-operation was producing a highly-advanced aircraft similar to the airship, paralleling the 1896-1897 mystery airship flap. After the characters were forced to give up pursuit of the scheme, Crabtree and Murdoch allude to the building of a secret government facility in Nevada/New Mexico, a possible allusion to the Air Force Base Area 51.

Characters

• William Murdoch (Yannick Bisson) - An intelligent, observant detective who uses unusual (for the time) techniques such as blood testing and fingerprinting. Throughout the series it is revealed he comes from Nova Scotia, and he is a devout Roman Catholic. In one episode it is revealed that he believes that his father beat his mother and may have indirectly caused her death, though this was proved incorrect. Following that incident, he was taken to live in an orphanage. Though very logical, sceptical, observant, scientific and clear headed with a photographic memory, these become an issue when he needs to connect with people on an emotional level, something he finds difficult. Often his unusual techniques and unbiased opinions of people lead him to clash with Inspector Brackenreid (though they work together well.) He often consults on cases with pathologist Julia Ogden, with whom he is infatuated, though he did not attempt a relationship with her until the first half of the second season. As the season progressed an argument over beliefs and past decisions made by Julia split the couple up for a time, as Murdoch pursued a relationship with Ms. Enid Jones but they rekindled their relationship during the season 2 finale on the advice of his half-brother. His assistant, George Crabtree, though inexperienced, often provides useful insights into cases and does much of the forensic work. In the season 2 finale it is revealed his father had another son, Jasper, before marrying Murdoch's mother, who he knew nothing about. Jasper's mannerisms, interests and investigative techniques are similar to those of Murdoch's own and the two prove successful in working together to solve the case.

• Inspector Brackenried (Thomas Craig) - A married man of about 40, fond of the theatre and a good drink. He is the head of the stationhouse and does most of the interrogating, often forming opinions on a suspect due to personal impressions or their social standing. Quick to anger and tenacious with a sarcastic sense of humour, he is better at traditional "coppering" and is very proud of his job, and what he feels is his duty to protect the city. Though he often disagrees with Murdoch's methods, he uses them when he feels they have merit, though he has little time for George Crabtree. He is shown to care for Murdoch and know his mannerisms well enough to know when he is pining, and advises him to do something about it. Throughout the second season he is forced to hide his drinking habits from his wife who joined the temperance movement.

• Dr. Julia Ogden (Hélène Joy) - A skilled pathologist and mortician, the second of two sisters (apparently she was a tomboy in her youth). It is also revealed she got pregnant accidentally when in university and terminated it, causing her relationship with Murdoch to end. She enjoys tennis, reading, cycling and attending the theatre, though has few significant relationships. It has been revealed her mother is dead and she has a strained relationship with her father and has a criminal record for being caught skinny-dipping with some university colleagues. Though it is clear she reciprocates Murdoch's feelings for her, her fears of complicating their working relationship or of being rejected have prevented her acting on them until jealously towards his dining with her sister drive her to accept a dinner invitation. An argument between them in the second season led to a postponement of the relationship and caused a number of awkward tense moments until she agrees to discuss restarting the relationship in the season finale. She is often consulted on cases by Murdoch and is able to provide valuable insights on many cases.

• Constable George Crabtree (Jonny Harris) - Murdoch's assistant, he does much of the legwork collecting evidence, and though eager, has yet to master Murdoch's more advanced scientific skills. He is very loyal to Murdoch, willing to threaten one of Doctor Ogden's suitors when Murdoch asked him to investigate him, and also knows Murdoch's mannerisms rather well. Though Brackenreid regards him as an idiot, he often provides unexpected insight into cases. He revealed in one episode (Murder On Campus) that he did not know who his biological mother was and was left on the doorstep of a church and taken in by the family there. He was later re-united with his mother at the end of the episode after taking part in a plan to uncover the murderers of a professor.

Filming

Seasons one and two were filmed at Toronto Film Studios facility on Eastern Avenue in Toronto — however, the facility was closed at the end of 2008, forcing the third season to be filmed elsewhere in Toronto. For both seasons one and two, there was filming in the Galt district of Cambridge, Ontario. Sidewalks and driveways were covered in earth and in season one the Dobbie mansion was used for about a week of indoor filming.

Murdoch Mysteries is produced and developed by Shaftesbury Films in association with Citytv, Granada International, UKTV and with the assistance of the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit, the Ontario Film and Television Tax Credit and the Canadian Television Fund.

An upcoming episode is currently being filmed in Bristol, England. Locations include Clifton Village and the Christmas Steps. In one of the scenes Murdoch is seen riding down the Christmas Steps on a bicycle with a woman riding pillion while being chased.

Episodes

Main article: List of Murdoch Mysteries episodes

DVD releases

Title	Region 1	Region 2	Extras	Discs
Murdoch Mysteries Season One	June 16, 2009	February 9, 2009	Interviews with the Author and Cast Photo Gallery Cast Filmographies Character Bios Episode Commentary	4
Murdoch Mysteries Season Two	TBA	February 15, 2010	TBD

External links

• Official site
• Citytv site
• Alibi TV listings (UK)
• Preview of "Snakes and Ladders" on Alibi (retrieved 2-14-09)
• Murdoch Mysteries at IMDb
• Template:Tv.com