I have just finished watching the first episode of the new TV Series on Maureen Jennings "Murdoch Mysteries". I had trouble with the episode for several reasons. In December there were a series of TV Movies starring Peter Outerbridge as Detective William Murdoch that appeared (at least to me) far superior that what I saw on the TV series. Because of the Outerbridge version of the movie I saw, it made me want to investigate further. I looked up Maureen Jennings website and got the names of the books that the movies are based on. I have now read the first book in the series and thoroughly enjoyed it! I am looking forward to reading the other books. Ms. Jennings makes a comment in her website that Peter Outerbridge is the perfect actor to portray Detective Murdoch (and she ought to know). After reading the first book, I tend to agree that Mr. Outerbridge's performance was spot on! There are several things I find not right with the series (which in itself is OK and I would probably have liked if I hadn't seen the other versions and/or read the book).
1. First of all they have Detective Murdoch too well dressed! In the book he is a struggling detective and lives in two rooms in a boarding house so he obviously doesn't have a lot of money to be spending on clothes etc.
2. The inside of the police station is much too posh! In the books they describe the police station as very old and the detectives only have a very small room where they conduct their business. Also, they have to use the same tea leaves over and over again during the day because there isn't a lot of money for luxuries.
3. Next is the portrayal of the character. The books definitely show him as an intelligent person but there is a vulnerability to him as well. I won't give anything away, but he has sadness in his life that he is trying to overcome and this comes across very much in the way he deals with people and in coping with his inner demons. I felt that Peter Outerbridge really did this well! He always questions people with the utmost decorum and often shows kindness and really tries to understand the people he is questioning. The actor in the TV series is definitely to cocky and over confident and abrupt in his dealings with suspects and the people he works with.
The last thing I will say is that in the books that although Murdoch is definitely intelligent and intuitive, he knows that he has bosses to answer to and constables under him that he needs to guide and nurture. Therefore he is neither top man or low man he is somewhere in the middle and he knows his place quite well.
Well, I have droned on enough, but I would urge people to definitely see the Peter Outerbridge versions and see how you like his portrayal of Murdoch or better yet read the books! I don't think you will be disappointed!
1. First of all they have Detective Murdoch too well dressed! In the book he is a struggling detective and lives in two rooms in a boarding house so he obviously doesn't have a lot of money to be spending on clothes etc.
2. The inside of the police station is much too posh! In the books they describe the police station as very old and the detectives only have a very small room where they conduct their business. Also, they have to use the same tea leaves over and over again during the day because there isn't a lot of money for luxuries.
3. Next is the portrayal of the character. The books definitely show him as an intelligent person but there is a vulnerability to him as well. I won't give anything away, but he has sadness in his life that he is trying to overcome and this comes across very much in the way he deals with people and in coping with his inner demons. I felt that Peter Outerbridge really did this well! He always questions people with the utmost decorum and often shows kindness and really tries to understand the people he is questioning. The actor in the TV series is definitely to cocky and over confident and abrupt in his dealings with suspects and the people he works with.
The last thing I will say is that in the books that although Murdoch is definitely intelligent and intuitive, he knows that he has bosses to answer to and constables under him that he needs to guide and nurture. Therefore he is neither top man or low man he is somewhere in the middle and he knows his place quite well.
Well, I have droned on enough, but I would urge people to definitely see the Peter Outerbridge versions and see how you like his portrayal of Murdoch or better yet read the books! I don't think you will be disappointed!