Murdoch Mysteries

I like this series as it has so much to offer. The scenes & locales are interesting & very real to life. The actors demonstrate their abilities to fit the characters & make the characters real. I've seen both versions of Murdoch Mysteries with the 2 different lead roles & find them both a credit to each of the actors. Yes, obviously, they present different aspects of the character but each brings quality to the part. I really enjoy this series & look forward to each episode. It's great to see a Canadian production of this quality on TV - such a rare gem. I do hope this series is kept on & is appreciated by both the public & especially by the TV providers - cable & satellite.

Murdoch was a superb blend of concept, plot, wardrobe and character. I enjoyed the first thirteen seasons. The cast is strong throughout and the stories interesting and believable in the context of the show. Some of the historical figures inserted into the story have added flavour. The relationship between Murdoch (Yannick Bisson) and Ogden (Helene Joy) works remarkably well with both of them contributing to cases and providing a spine from which to hang various plots.

Last season (14) the writers began to run out of steam and this year many of the episodes are poor and pander too deeply to modern-day sensibilities. Sad to say, it is time to be put out to pasture.

This started off as a guilty pleasure for me, but now it's just a pleasure.

The foreshadowing of modern technology is as subtle as a brick, but deliberately so and that makes it OK in my book.

Yannick Bisson is an impeccable straight man, with just the right hint of humour now and then, and Thomas Craig (a Sheffield lad, like me) is brilliant. I defy anyone to find the term 'buggerlugs' used in tv or film with such panache!

Helene Joy is beautifully poised and credible and I'm surprised she's not been in more tv and film. She's excellent.

I have a couple of gripes, though. The absolutely predatory way that the Lillian Moss character goes after Dr Grace is shameful. A clear example of the modern trope of 'it's ok when they do it'.

Similarly, the subtle as a brick sexuality switch of Detective Watts was clearly the result of some idiot saying 'We need more representation'.

Then there's the distinctly unpleasant black female coroner, who's allowed to stay in post for the same 'it's OK when they do it' reasons representational reasons.

The standout though is Jonny Harris, who's brilliant in every scene. My mum and my girlfiend think so too - both of which disturb me slightly... but never mind that, his comic timing is perfect and the blend of Father Dougal, Bertie Wooster and everything else he brings to the role make Constable Crabtree a truly endearing character. The clay bust and potato room lines are laugh out loud funny.

More Crabtree, less ID politics please.

Having neither read the books nor seen the original television movies, I come to the series with unbiased (if ignorant) eyes. My wife and I, who lived briefly in Toronto, are both charmed by Murdoch and his slightly daft colleagues. "Charmed" is the word, for we find the actors, scripts, clothing, details and the City of Toronto itself charming. The bigotry faced by a Catholic detective in the city of the Family Compact rings very true as does Murdoch's gentle piety, a refreshing change in today's detective shows. It is a bit mystery, a bit soap opera, a bit character study and a lot of fun. We, at least, have been captivated by William Murdoch as portrayed by Yannick Bisson, a character who is a genuinely honest, gentle and quiet man of strength facing ethical, moral, professional and legal challenges in each episode. George Crabtree and the Inspector become more interesting as time goes on. The corruption of Toronto and Ontario politics hides behind several episodes while the turn of the 20th century fascination with science and "the coming thing", as Brisco County Junior would say, gives some lightness to the whole thing. In the final analysis it is the interplay of characters, centred on the troubled but charming Murdoch himself, that elevates the Murdoch Mysteries to the level of Midsomer, Taggert or Poirot. A fine series and not only for Canadians.

There are so few shows that I thoroughly enjoy. Murchoch Mysteries is one of 4 particular shows that I watch regularly - and tape so that I do not miss them.

There are three main reasons that I like MM.

First, it is such a pleasure to watch something that does not have swearing, sex scenes, and gratuitous violence. Even though there are the odd (bordering on) romantic interludes the story line remains true to the theme of the title and they do not over-shadow the stories.

Second, I quite like viewing shows that depict times gone by and it is interesting to see how detectives'/police duties were (supposedly) undertaken in that time.

Third, the acting and story telling - as noted in a previous post - equals that of Midsummer Murders, Poirot (another favourite of mine), Judge John Deed (again, another favourite).

I like each character who has a distinct role and adds to the show as well as the enjoyment of watching the show. I do hope that there are quite a few new series planned.