Probably the best thing ever to come out of Canada. (Mind you, to be honest, I've not tried maple syrup, so who knows - I might change my opinion if I do.)
Murdoch Mysteries is set in Montreal in the late 19th century. The main characters are as follows:
- William Murdoch, a detective. Estranged father was a fisherman, his mother died when he was a child. Worked as a lumberjack, but then joined the police. A bit of a nerd. He's Catholic and rather repressed. What I like about him is that he is always trying to learn and do good. And he uses the latest scientific facts to solve his crimes.
- Inspector Brackenried - Murdoch's boss. A blunt-speaking man from Sheffield. Often says, "Bloody hell!" (As I often do.) I like his accent and his bluntness.
- Constable George Crabtree - a bit of a bungler, but he does grow over time. Not stupid, he just has to learn. Another one with a good heart. I follow the actor, Johnny Harris, on Facebook. As nice in real life as on the screen.
- Dr Julia Ogden - the coroner. Very down-to-earth. She is amused by Murdoch's uptight nature.
As for the series itself, the crimes are intriguing, the sets and costumes very good. Sometimes, I like to believe that they went back in time to film the episodes.
And best of all, they weave people who really existed into the stories. The first episode includes Nicola Tesla - yes, the electricity guy. The first series has two episodes with Arthur Conan Doyle. Other episodes include
Buffalo Bill Cody, Annie Oakley, H G Wells, Nikola Tesla, Wilfrid Laurier, Jack London, Arthur Conan Doyle, Queen Victoria, Theodore Roosevelt, Oliver Mowat, Orville and Wilbur Wright, Henry Ford, Sir Winston Churchill, Bat Masterson, Alexander Graham Bell, Emma Goldman, H. P. Lovecraft, Harry Houdini, Thomas Edison and Helen Keller
If you don't know where to find the series... here they are:
All 16 series so far! No need to sign up; no need to pay. Just sit back and enjoy!
