331 replies to this topic

[caia1970]

This started a few weeks ago on CityTV here in Canada. It airs Thursdays at 10 pm. From the website:

Set in 1895 Toronto, Murdoch Mysteries explores the intriguing world of William Murdoch (Yannick Bisson, Sue Thomas F.B. Eye), a handsome young detective using radical forensic techniques, like fingerprinting and trace evidence, to solve some of the city's most gruesome murders. Though his unconventional approach elicits ridicule from fellow officers and skepticism from his boss, Inspector Brackenreid (Thomas Craig, Coronation Street), Murdoch is often the only one who can crack the case.

Murdoch's small circle of confidantes includes pathologist Dr. Julia Ogden (Hélène Joy, Durham County), a staunch ally who shares the detective's fascination with forensic science and Constable George Crabtree (Jonny Harris, Hatching, Matching and Dispatching), Murdoch's eager but inexperienced right-hand man. Both are valuable allies who help Murdoch solve his varied cases and traverse the many stratums of Victorian society.

I got sick of the CSIs and L&Os and NCISes but throw in some Victorian era history and I'm finding I quite like it. It's sort of 'Sherlock Holmes' meets 'CSI' meets 'Road to Avonlea'.

The second episode had an interesting subplot where Murdoch is encouraged to apply for an inspector's position at another station but ultimately gets turned down because - horrors! - he's a Roman Catholic, and the chief will be damed if he'll have any 'papists' in the upper echelons of Toronto's constabulary.

It can get a little too 'on the nose' though. One scene has Murdoch learning a murder victim took a phone call and he tells the constable helping him to find out where it came from. The constable does so and says later, "I think I'll call it tracing!" GROAN!

Altogether though a decent Canadian detective show. People who get CityTV should check it out.

[thankyourstars]

I didn't realize this had started yet! I saw the telefilms they made a couple of years ago that starred Peter Outerbridge and Keeley Hawes. They were okay, but nothing special; they felt kind of insubstantial, really, but atmospherically were very well done. I do like some Victorian history with my crime drama, though, so I'll have to give the new version a chance to see if it's any better.

[JeanPoole]

I saw the telefilms too and liked them. They were true to the spirit of the books which are nice reads if you like a bit of death with your atmospheric history. The characters rang true and subtle. There were no bells and whistles. You definitely felt the Victorian constraints and while not "exciting" television, the telefilms didn't dumb it down and for that I was thankful. As for the new ones? I don't think Maureen Jennings had much to do with the plotting, they just use her characters.

Edited by JeanPoole, Feb 7, 2008 @ 12:39 PM.

[Richard Burns]

I wonder if Murdoch and Dr Ogden will succomb to their urges and finally hold hands.

I like the show but the episodes sort of look like those Canadian Heritage vignettes. Everything is too clean and look too good. None of the clothes have signs of wear and tear, the rooms are spotless and the furniture is in perfect shape. I would prefer a grittier look and that someone would remove the stick that seems wedged in Murdoch's ass.

[mysticowl]

I loved tonight's episode! The opening was so creepy, it was fantastic. I think it would've been ever better if this was shown as a Halloween episode.

Plus, I got to see Geraint Wyn Davies and wax nostalgic Forever Knight all the while satisfying the mystery geek in me. Couldn't ask for more.

[athousandwinds]

I would prefer a grittier look and that someone would remove the stick that seems wedged in Murdoch's ass.

I agree on the grittier look, pretty though the current style is. But I can live with the stick up Murdoch's arse, because so far it seems like the writers are very clear on the fact that there is one.

[mysticowl]

But I can live with the stick up Murdoch's arse, because so far it seems like the writers are very clear on the fact that there is one.

I agree, it seems pretty clear that the stick is there on purpose. Plenty of other characters, both main and episodal, comment on it.

[pyralis]

Oh good, I'm not the only one watching this. While I agree that it has a cleaned up for tv feel to it, some of the things they've done have managed to elevate the series beyond merely cliche. Murdoch having difficulty getting over his fiancee's death (re-explored in last week's episode), the one murderer getting away with it and the problems with being RC in Protestant Toronto. The thing that made me most glad with the writers was the lack of resolution with his father. Most other shows would have shown the two forgetting the years of estrangement; the writers resisted that and it made for a more sad but better ending. Additionally, I've had a taste for this sort of Victorian sciencey thing since Wild Wild West (the series - yes I'm old) and Breckenreid getting in touch with his inner Gene Hunt makes me laugh. It's entertaining, the characters don't irritate too much and I'm having a good time with it, which is what I ask of tv.

Edited by pyralis, Mar 25, 2008 @ 12:53 AM.

[Trey]

It's a pretty good show and I enjoy all the Victoriana. I really like the character of George Crabtree.

I notice they're not too big on being accurate though. They mention a woman being wanted for crimes in "Windsor, London, and Cambridge" but Cambridge didn't exist until 1973.

And I'm not sure exactly what year this series is supposed to be set in but I think they were really pushing it with the rowers practicing for the Olympics when the modern Olympics didn't start until 1896.

[caia1970]

According to the show blurb it's set in 1895.

So those dates could actually work, except for the fact that Canada didn't send athletes to the 1896 games.

[mysticowl]

Awww, Dr. Ogden is jealous of Ms. Pencil.

The funniest part was the Inspector assuming the Murdoch Thinking Position and then exclaiming, "It really does work."

[pyralis]

My favourite was Murdoch's look of "Hey, that's my job" when he was told (in the "waking up scene"), that Crabtree had gone ahead looking for the further information on his own initiative. The characters have developed in some subtle ways even in the course of only 11 episodes.

[too shy]

Does anyone know when the new season will air?

I'm really enjoying this series, and love Yannick Bisson!

[caia1970]

According to TV, eh?, the second season will air sometime in Spring of 2009.

[too shy]

According to TV, eh?, the second season will air sometime in Spring of 2009.

Thanks, caia1970

Don't know how I'll be able to wait, though ...

[too shy]

Last night I saw the episode "The Annoying Red Planet" for the first time - it was so good!
I loved George's comments about martians, and Murdoch's look of worry that there might be martians to blame!
Can't wait for season 2.

[caper24]

Looking forward to it myself. In the meantime, I can chuckle at seeing Yannick on CIBC commercials.

Hoping they might move a little bit on the Murdoch/Julia romance, but it'll probably be glacial-paced movement.

Also, I'm hoping for more George. George is a great supporting character. Maybe they could bring back Tamara Hope as his potential love interest...

[pyralis]

My favourite line in "Red Planet" is the reference to Wales at the very end, which I took as a Torchwood shout out.

I also snorted at that CIBC commercial. I was "Wait. Isn't that? It is."

As far as George is concerned, I've referenced him in discussions about other shows as to how they've developed their second-tier comic relief characters. I though S1 did a great job of showing how he matured, both in terms of his own self-confidence and ability to think logically and critically as well as embracing what answers systemic policing could produce. The hapless George of Ep. 1 is a far cry from him in "Red Planet", even if his comic "I think it's Martians" schtick was a little over the top.

[too shy]

caper24
Yesterday @ 5:02 pm

Hoping they might move a little bit on the Murdoch/Julia romance, but it'll probably be glacial-paced movement.

Yes, me too - the episode where Murdoch grabbed her and kissed her (which of course was just a fantasy) had my son and I freaking out! Maybe he'll do it in real life in Season 2!?!

[caia1970]

From TV-Eh!, Murdoch Mysteries returns March 4th at 10 pm.

This season, Murdoch comes to terms with the relationship developing between himself and Dr. Julia Ogden (Hélène Joy). Investigations take Murdoch out to the Calgary Badlands and to a deserted mining town in British Columbia and Murdoch continues to meet some of the period’s more popular characters like Buffalo Bill, Annie Oakley and Harry Houdini.

Sounds like some interesting stories. I wonder if they actually went out to Calgary and BC to film?

[caper24]

March 4th? Time to set the PVR. Thankfully, I don't watch much tv on Wednesdays.

[pyralis]

double entry - weird

Edited by pyralis, Mar 2, 2009 @ 1:57 PM.

[pyralis]

I saw that on the City(Toronto) website and was coming in to post.

Dear PTB - you got Season 2, don't screw this up like they did with "The Collector".

Edited by pyralis, Mar 2, 2009 @ 1:56 PM.

[caper24]

That was a fun episode. I think that Nicholas Campbell had a lot of fun, and it was a blast seeing Maurice Dean Wint as the retired bounty hunter.

And the whole narration thing at the end, where George is making fun of Murdoch? Priceless.

[pyralis]

That was Nicholas Campbell under the facial hair! I kept looking at him going "Where do I know him from". I missed the credits and so didn't see who was guest starring. Several of the guest stars have looked (to me at least) as though they have been enjoying themselves rather than just wading through.

The narration thing was my favourite bit too. And it just shows how far George has developed that he could do that and it didn't seem out of place.

According to TV.com (not always the most reliable) this is listed as the 2nd episode. Perhaps they showed this one because you didn't need to have a ton of backstory to solve the mystery, although knowing the inter-relationships of the characters from last year added to the experience. I'll be interested to see if this week's is the ostensible first episode to see what is or is not included.

Edited by pyralis, Mar 9, 2009 @ 1:35 PM.

[caper24]

Yeah, I'm looking forward to tomorrow night. It's really kind of interesting to have a period piece on the air, and the whole hook of Murdoch using "newfangled" techniques like trace evidence and fingerprints is a lot of fun.

Plus, the cast is just great. The core of Murdoch, Inspector Brackenridge, George and Dr. Ogden are really, really good together.

The one thing that I sometimes get tired of is a character coming up with an idea that's clearly from modern day, but it getting dismissed. Like George's "glue strips" from last week's episodes. It's a little too... cute... in a way.

Still though, it's a really fun Canadian show, and I'm happy that it's managed to stick around for two seasons.

[pyralis]

Even though I knew how it was going to fall out about 10 minutes in (as it hit more than a few cliches on its way by), I still had a good time with last night's episode. I think it's the way the cast interacts and the more quiet / character moments allowed. And this seemed as though it should be S2 E2, with the call back to Brackenreid's marital issues and the call forward to the event next week.

[too shy]

Did anyone else think that Dr Ogden was "different"?

I think it was the same actress, but she seemed different somehow - maybe her hair or makeup?

[caper24]

too shy I think it's Dr. Ogden's hair. They definitely did different things with her hair for the ballroom scenes.

Speaking of which... those ballroom scenes warmed this Ogden/Murdoch 'shipper's heart. The last one, with Julia saying "Tonight, of all nights, I'd like to be held" and then leaning her head against Murdoch's? Very, very nice. Too bad she had to be traumatized to reach that point, but I love that she felt comfortable enough to tell Murdoch that... and to take advantage of the socially acceptable dancing to get some comfort.

Not to mention that Murdoch actually got the guts to ask her to the ball! Now that's progress for you.

pyralis, I was with you almost right from the "detective's" introduction. It was like "OK... when do we discover that he's the murderer?" But the character stuff was great. We learned some more about Brackenridge, got to see Murdoch defend Julia... all good stuff.

Looking forward to next week.

[caia1970]

Yeah the 'mysteries' part haven't really been taxing, have they? I called the stable hand and the detective. Still I like characters so it's all good. I liked that they've brought back the dance lessons which appeared in both the first book (only one I've read so far) and the TV movies.

I'm pretty sure the house they used for the mental hospital is Whitehern in Hamilton.