Enough with these "negative" reviews. Murdoch Mysteries tends to have a tongue-in-cheek attitude toward 20th Century inventions by either having Murdoch jury-rig something together that anticipates a genuine future invention or meet the actual inventor sort of. In this episode it is the halftone wirephoto Murdoch anticipates, and there is a hint about paint by numbers kits. You are supposed to smile at the would be anachronism. However this episode reveals a very clever plot by an opportunistic young woman to murder a woman, take her place; and then when she discovers the arranged marriage has produced a husband with gay proclivity, she seizes upon a new opportunity: blackmail "her" husband. Unfortunately to carry out her plan two innocent women must die. Murdoch receives some assistance from a detective sent by the Surete ; but he serves more as a character meant to evoke Murdoch's reserved Romantique side such that he reveal his true feeling to Dr. Ogden before it is too late. And a story arc is introduced regarding Inspector Brackenreid and his personal aspirations to perhaps become an alderman. A solid mystery and a good episode.
6 Reviews
Clever plot, plenty of humour
miles-331086 November 2016
Warning: Spoilers
The disappearance of a young woman recently arrived from France to visit her sister opens this story.
While investigating another room in the hotel, Murdoch discovers another detective, monsieur Guillaume (French for William, Murdoch's first name) who seems determined to get Murdoch to be more adventurous in his private life, much to Murdoch's discomfort.
The two sleuths find a body in a trunk. It is the missing woman, but her body is already decaying -how long has she been dead, and what has become of her camera? Also, why doesn't her sister have any pictures of her?
There are some terrific comic lines in this episode, such as what ensues from Murdoch telling Inspector Brackenreid that the Frenchman has a certain je ne sais quoi. The actors play these things straight, so inattentive viewers may well miss them.
This is a clever plot, which could have benefited from slightly longer to clarify it, but everything else about this episode is spot on.
One of the other reviewers gives the impression that this episode is full of gays jumping into bed with each other. It just isn't. The sham marriage entered into by one character is an important part of the plot, on which the entire conspiracy depends, but, as the French detective says, this character's sexual preference is not the issue - it's all about the murder.
While investigating another room in the hotel, Murdoch discovers another detective, monsieur Guillaume (French for William, Murdoch's first name) who seems determined to get Murdoch to be more adventurous in his private life, much to Murdoch's discomfort.
The two sleuths find a body in a trunk. It is the missing woman, but her body is already decaying -how long has she been dead, and what has become of her camera? Also, why doesn't her sister have any pictures of her?
There are some terrific comic lines in this episode, such as what ensues from Murdoch telling Inspector Brackenreid that the Frenchman has a certain je ne sais quoi. The actors play these things straight, so inattentive viewers may well miss them.
This is a clever plot, which could have benefited from slightly longer to clarify it, but everything else about this episode is spot on.
One of the other reviewers gives the impression that this episode is full of gays jumping into bed with each other. It just isn't. The sham marriage entered into by one character is an important part of the plot, on which the entire conspiracy depends, but, as the French detective says, this character's sexual preference is not the issue - it's all about the murder.
Great acting, I wish the stories were > believable
itrofimova24 October 2012
Good: great acting for all small and big roles, but big roles especially; great take of social issues and the historic gap between values of 2 centuries - probably the only 2 reason why I am watching it; costumes, decoration, operator work, attention to historical details is OK and often fine.
Bad: background street scenery is often sloppy and repetitive; all good female characters look like Polish Jews, slim, with narrow lips and chins, all bad female characters have wide faces, and often are overweight. Last season included other races, but they still looked the same - narrow lips and chins...; stories around great names belong to some comedy show, but not to the show about real person;
the attribution of great scientific talent to a detective is fine, but, please, no human is so talented that he could jump from invention of an idea to making an application-device over night and even over an year without working 24 hours in technical invention workshop all his life, and even so most of talented guys didn't make it. Such a sloppy and simplified take on science makes a point to an audience how uneducated Canadians might be that they think it is so easy to implement the ideas from physics. If the show is a comedy, then it should be advertised like this, but it would lose a credibility about social issues.
Bad: background street scenery is often sloppy and repetitive; all good female characters look like Polish Jews, slim, with narrow lips and chins, all bad female characters have wide faces, and often are overweight. Last season included other races, but they still looked the same - narrow lips and chins...; stories around great names belong to some comedy show, but not to the show about real person;
the attribution of great scientific talent to a detective is fine, but, please, no human is so talented that he could jump from invention of an idea to making an application-device over night and even over an year without working 24 hours in technical invention workshop all his life, and even so most of talented guys didn't make it. Such a sloppy and simplified take on science makes a point to an audience how uneducated Canadians might be that they think it is so easy to implement the ideas from physics. If the show is a comedy, then it should be advertised like this, but it would lose a credibility about social issues.
Clever and compelling murder mystery. Flamboyant dectective.
reb-warrior12 December 2022
Warning: Spoilers
This was such a great setup. The mystery is compelling. The murderer was clever.
I enjoyed Inspector Guillaume. He was fun and flamboyant. I wish they had him back for more episodes. Or, maybe they should have set up him up with a spin-off in a French-Canadian murder mystery series. Must have been nice for Yannick Bisson to speak french given he's from Montreal.
Loved the telegraphy picture idea that Murdoch invented. This is basically a fax machine. Lol. And of course, George, who is the most forward when it comes to his imagination, sees the potential in painting using numbers, which is a take on paint by numbers. Ah, this show is always winking at us. Love it.
The murder(s) itself elicits a sense of horror that anyone could be that diabolical. 10/10.
I enjoyed Inspector Guillaume. He was fun and flamboyant. I wish they had him back for more episodes. Or, maybe they should have set up him up with a spin-off in a French-Canadian murder mystery series. Must have been nice for Yannick Bisson to speak french given he's from Montreal.
Loved the telegraphy picture idea that Murdoch invented. This is basically a fax machine. Lol. And of course, George, who is the most forward when it comes to his imagination, sees the potential in painting using numbers, which is a take on paint by numbers. Ah, this show is always winking at us. Love it.
The murder(s) itself elicits a sense of horror that anyone could be that diabolical. 10/10.
Reply to itrofimova
sarahjulien28 April 2021
Did not like this episode
ctyankee13 April 2015
It starts with a lady named Monique going back to her room for a camera and then disappearing.
She was with her sister in a hotel and her sister's husband. She had confided in a man on the train that she felt her sister was not happy in her marriage. The French language is used in some parts of this episode.
There are different things going on in this series. Inspector Brackenreid wants to run for Alderman and he is encouraged by men who have an interest into building an underground subway. Also policeman that is French is called on to help Murdoch find out what has happened to Monique.
Monique's body is found in a trunk decaying. Her camera is later found with pictures of her sister's husband in bed with a man.
I believe Murdoch Mysteries has lot of homosexual actors. One of Murdoch episodes was disgusting when a man kisses him.
I do believe the religious mocking in these series has to do with the lack of moral content written into the series. After seeing part this episode about a homosexual relationship I lost interest and stopped watching.
She was with her sister in a hotel and her sister's husband. She had confided in a man on the train that she felt her sister was not happy in her marriage. The French language is used in some parts of this episode.
There are different things going on in this series. Inspector Brackenreid wants to run for Alderman and he is encouraged by men who have an interest into building an underground subway. Also policeman that is French is called on to help Murdoch find out what has happened to Monique.
Monique's body is found in a trunk decaying. Her camera is later found with pictures of her sister's husband in bed with a man.
I believe Murdoch Mysteries has lot of homosexual actors. One of Murdoch episodes was disgusting when a man kisses him.
I do believe the religious mocking in these series has to do with the lack of moral content written into the series. After seeing part this episode about a homosexual relationship I lost interest and stopped watching.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
