When you get bored with everything else that is currently on television and you need a guaranteed hour of sheer entertainment that can whisk you away to a simpler time when the world was not as chaotic and confusing as it is now than may I suggest getting hooked on the CBC's (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) television series Murdoch Mysteries which is now entering their ninth season of continued success.
This is a very unique crime/mystery series which takes place at the turn of the 20th century in the large bustling city of Toronto Ontario, Canada, which is served by the finest constabularies in the country, that being the Toronto Constabulary. There are three main characters who are employed by the City of Toronto Constabulary in the year 1899. The local police station is managed by the gruff (of Scottish descent) Inspector Thomas Brackenreid and he is played by Thomas Craig. The lead detective William Murdoch is played to perfection by Yannick Bisson. One of the constables who is usually chasing behind the clever detective William Murdoch with a slew of his own questions is the affable Newfoundlander born Constable George Crabtree, played with an endless supply of lovable smiles and charisma by actor Jonny Harris. Now George Crabtree does add a lot of comic relief but if you pay careful attention to the ingenious inventions that George shares with his peers you will note that he is usually talking about an actual discovery/invention that will come to fruition in the latter half of the 20th century. Thus the series provides some historical significance to many inventions/things we usually take for granted.
Detective William Murdoch also is ahead of his time with some of his newly created forensic science approaches to solving crimes, such as his underwater sonar device and his archaic night vision glasses. Murdoch has a near distant love interest in the city coroner Dr. Julia Ogden played extremely well by Helene Joy. The audience anticipates and is constantly teased that some day maybe they will be together. Between the two of them they assess the W5 (Who, What, When, Where and Why) of the current episodes latest murder victim(s), serious crime, and/or historical event that actually occurred in documented history and brought to life in this excellent crafted mystery/crime series.
Mrs. Shullivan and I have not only watched every single episode of this amazing series but we have also deliberately watched repeated episodes with as much interest if not more than the first time we saw the episodes as we always seem to pick up more interesting tidbits of not only historic events but of the development of the City of Toronto and its urban sprawl during the 20th century. The writers must have taken great pride in maintaining the accuracy of events such as the time line to build the Toronto subway line, and the evolution of fortune 500 companies such as the Ford Motor Company, IBM and General Electric.
Murdoch Mysteries cannot be taken for granted and should be on your MUST see list as there is so much punch packed in to each 60 minute episode that you rarely can determine how each episode will end. This is a series that is filled with mystery, suspense, historical events and great humour. The success of this excellent series continues into its ninth season with no diminishing return as each episode concludes. Mrs. Shullivan and I cannot wait for the next episode to be released as it is one hour each week of guaranteed entertainment. The quality of the cinematography and wardrobe is first rate.
A 10 for 10 rating without a doubt
Footnote: Actor Jonny Harris had his own weekly TV series launched in 2015 titled STILL STANDING in which he travels from one small Canadian town to another each week where the population is typically under 1,000 people and where the town is surviving based on the people and their small town pride. Jonny Harris meets with the local yokels and then he roasts the entire town in their local civic hall explaining to his hometown audience and we the television viewers what makes this town so special. It is a great 30 minute hooray for Canadiana heritage that is also sheer to entertain. Super job Jonny Harris and CBC!
This is a very unique crime/mystery series which takes place at the turn of the 20th century in the large bustling city of Toronto Ontario, Canada, which is served by the finest constabularies in the country, that being the Toronto Constabulary. There are three main characters who are employed by the City of Toronto Constabulary in the year 1899. The local police station is managed by the gruff (of Scottish descent) Inspector Thomas Brackenreid and he is played by Thomas Craig. The lead detective William Murdoch is played to perfection by Yannick Bisson. One of the constables who is usually chasing behind the clever detective William Murdoch with a slew of his own questions is the affable Newfoundlander born Constable George Crabtree, played with an endless supply of lovable smiles and charisma by actor Jonny Harris. Now George Crabtree does add a lot of comic relief but if you pay careful attention to the ingenious inventions that George shares with his peers you will note that he is usually talking about an actual discovery/invention that will come to fruition in the latter half of the 20th century. Thus the series provides some historical significance to many inventions/things we usually take for granted.
Detective William Murdoch also is ahead of his time with some of his newly created forensic science approaches to solving crimes, such as his underwater sonar device and his archaic night vision glasses. Murdoch has a near distant love interest in the city coroner Dr. Julia Ogden played extremely well by Helene Joy. The audience anticipates and is constantly teased that some day maybe they will be together. Between the two of them they assess the W5 (Who, What, When, Where and Why) of the current episodes latest murder victim(s), serious crime, and/or historical event that actually occurred in documented history and brought to life in this excellent crafted mystery/crime series.
Mrs. Shullivan and I have not only watched every single episode of this amazing series but we have also deliberately watched repeated episodes with as much interest if not more than the first time we saw the episodes as we always seem to pick up more interesting tidbits of not only historic events but of the development of the City of Toronto and its urban sprawl during the 20th century. The writers must have taken great pride in maintaining the accuracy of events such as the time line to build the Toronto subway line, and the evolution of fortune 500 companies such as the Ford Motor Company, IBM and General Electric.
Murdoch Mysteries cannot be taken for granted and should be on your MUST see list as there is so much punch packed in to each 60 minute episode that you rarely can determine how each episode will end. This is a series that is filled with mystery, suspense, historical events and great humour. The success of this excellent series continues into its ninth season with no diminishing return as each episode concludes. Mrs. Shullivan and I cannot wait for the next episode to be released as it is one hour each week of guaranteed entertainment. The quality of the cinematography and wardrobe is first rate.
A 10 for 10 rating without a doubt
Footnote: Actor Jonny Harris had his own weekly TV series launched in 2015 titled STILL STANDING in which he travels from one small Canadian town to another each week where the population is typically under 1,000 people and where the town is surviving based on the people and their small town pride. Jonny Harris meets with the local yokels and then he roasts the entire town in their local civic hall explaining to his hometown audience and we the television viewers what makes this town so special. It is a great 30 minute hooray for Canadiana heritage that is also sheer to entertain. Super job Jonny Harris and CBC!