Murdoch Mysteries (The Artful Detective)

Network: Ovation.
Episodes: Ongoing (hour).
Seasons: Ongoing.

TV show dates: July 27, 2013 — present.
Series status: Has not been cancelled.

Performers include: Yannick Bisson, Hélène Joy, Jonny Harris, Thomas Craig, Lachlan Murdoch, Georgina Reilly, Kristian Bruun, Arwen Humphreys, and Mouna Traoré.

TV show description:
A Canadian period drama which formerly ran on Ovation as The Artful Detective, the Murdoch Mysteries TV show unfolds at the turn of the 20th Century. The period mystery drama centers on Detective William Murdoch (Bisson) of the Toronto Constabulary — a good-looking, innovative detective in the Victorian era.

For the day, Detective Murdoch’s techniques are beyond cutting-edge and include fingerprinting, UV Light, and trace evidence. Working alongside him to crack Toronto’s grizzliest murders are pathologist Dr. Julia Ogden (Joy) and Constable George Crabtree (Harris) — Murdoch’s righthand man.

Originally from a Catholic family in Eastern Canada, Murduch was an autodidact as a young boy and has never lost his hunger for knowledge. He holds inventor and physicist Nikola Tesla in high esteem and is a great fan of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes novels.

When he first arrived in the city, although Murdoch had big dreams of taking Toronto by storm with his keen detective skills, he ended up walking a beat as a constable. Eventually though, his superiors took notice of his skill at solving crimes, and he was promoted to detective.

Working closely with the police force, Dr. Ogden is a modern woman, who tends to be brusque and candid. She and Murdoch become steadfast allies. Meanwhile, young George Crabtree doesn’t have the education to make detective, but considers Murdoch a role model and is eager to follow in his footsteps.

Dour and pragmatic, Inspector Brackenreid (Craig) is not overly burdened by imagination. While Murdoch’s novel techniques make him uncomfortable, he can’t deny the man’s results.

Although she works hard cleaning the city’s morgue, Rebecca James (Traoré) is not too busy to let her curiosity get the best of her. It is not long before Dr. Ogden takes notice of this resourceful, intelligent young woman and begins to mentor her.

Rounding out the team is Dr. Emily Grace (Reilly), a protégé of Dr. Ogden. She proves quite useful to Murdoch’s investigations, and she and Crabtree have a nice chemistry.

Working together, this crack team solves crimes inspired by Canadian history, as well as those involving early 20th Century celebrities.

Series Finale:
Episode #TBD
This episode has not aired yet.
First aired: TBD

What do you think? Do you like the Murdoch Mysteries TV series? Should this TV show be cancelled or renewed for another season on Ovation?