I imagine, keeping a television show fresh for 17 years challenges the best of filmmakers. Devoting one episode per season to diverge into a 180° change of pace highlights the team's talents, breaks monotony, stretches creative juices, and keeps a freshness enjoyed by cast and crew. IMHO, It should be embraced by critics and consumers alike. This year's off-label effort: the Murdoch crew did a musical.
The score and book should be mentioned first. The songs skillfully suited the actors' range and singing talent. Some of the cast have more natural singing chops than others, yet a few were surprisingly delightful. Hats off to Paul Aitken, Jono Grant, and, of course, Robert Carli -weaving the spirit of the characters, telling the tale through lyric, style, and employing all tenets of musicals' song types (opening/production, expo/narrative, charm/comedy, comment song, "I want," "I am," reprise/finale etc.) into this episode. To the naysayers, I say, "chill"-just sit back and enjoy the show-Bloody 'Ell, Why Not!