Customer Reviews

Murdoch Mysteries: Season Two

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

More 1890s Toronto cop investigation than romance, since Det. Murdoch is so romantically bashful. Comedy, mystery, adventure and romance unite perfectly in a Victorian setting. This is Victorian murder investigations with contemporary evidence gathering techniques. Murdoch (Yannick Bisson) is a century ahead of his forensic sleuthing counterparts. Dr. Ogden (Helene Joy) is the gorgeous pathologist in the forensics search--the morgue maiden. Victorian 'sparks' happen between Murdoch and Dr.O, but at he cautious, delicate, discretionary Victorian rate. Romantic chemistry cleverly woven into murder investigations. Insp. Brackenreid (Thomas Craig) ex-army & boss, plus Crabtree (Jonny Harris) ambitious right-hand man, are back in every episode. 4 TV stars who make this a 5-star Series. Also plenty of guest stars.

All episodes are police investigations with interesting new technology or science helping find clues. Marvelously inventive in plot and beautiful to view it the realistic Victorian era. Perfection in sets, costumes, and props. It's no wonder it is award grabbing and still continues currently with new adventures on TV. This series is the 2009 season, at DVD release less than a year past original airing.

It is dreadful, dastardly, murder situations, with some violence and blood (especially in Dr.O's morgue clue-gathering scenes), and multiple plot episodes. Highly recommended for the mystery, crime, and even Victorian romance fans.

Bonus includes SDH SUBTITLES, behind the scenes, character bios, 4 cast filmographies, 7 Murdoch (Maureen Jennings) novels (1997-2007), and a PDF on props.

You will want to check the listing for Murdoch Mysteries Series 1 also. Both highly recommended and since season 3 is airing now, surely there will be a DVD series 3 to come.
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Continue only if you like episode details (no spoilers):
1 Mild Mild West--It's Buffalo Bill Roadshow and murder while Murdoch, Dr.O, Brackenreid, & Crabtree watch. Watch for the Scotch tape forerunner invention.

2 Snakes and Ladders--(predecessor of Chutes & Ladders?) Alastair Mackenzie (Monarch of the Glen) joins cast as a Scotland yard bobby chasing Jack the Ripper over 7 years. Uses profiles, fingermarks, and ultraviolet light for clue finding.

3 Dinosaur Fever--A dino find from Alberta Badlands, Terrorsaurus, causes murder at a National Geo. Soc. event. Murdoch & Dr.O use Rontgen's rays (x-ray).

4 Houdini Whodunit--Murdoch uses a crime scene model to help find the guilty when Houdini Bros perform in a theater next to a bank which is robbed, a guard killed. Is Dr.O's sis, Ruby involved?

5 The Green Muse--Who murdered the victim employed at the local elite bordello? Plenty of beauties in delectable Victorian 'evening-wear.' Plenty of suspects.

6 Shades of Grey--Murdoch and Dr.O 'relationship' heats. An unclothed male victim seems cold murder. Evidence leads to a former flame of Dr.O. Oops!

7 Big Murder on Campus--Crabtree seeks his natural mom. A peeping-Tom prof is shot. Dr.O & Murdoch's warm relationship is nearly shot. A student pair shadows Murdoch's investigation. He uses ballistic testing.

8 I, Murdoch--A child's knight story is not as alluring as the boy's windowed mom is to Murdoch. What does the boy, a poison murder, a dwarf, a spy agent, & a blind man have in common? It takes mathematics on the verge of computer logic to find out.

9 Convalescence--Murcoch incapacitating injuries give Crabtree a chance to solve the murder. Murdoch's healing is mixed between beautiful caregivers, strange noises, and a 2nd mystery at his own living quarters. Interesting, those night vision goggles. Double mystery--double romance--good X 2.

10 Murdoch.com--The dueling romance continues with Murdoch's scintillating admirers. A murdered girl, a telegrapher, had a 'wire affair' that may be a lead to the killer.

11 Let Us Ask the Maiden--Murder in a synagogue leads to love relationships in conflict due to Jewish law. Murdoch still has his own female conflict between Dr.O and Enid.

12 Werewolves--Hunting partners suddenly are murdered one-by-one apparently by a werewolf. On the romantic side, Enid suggests to Murdoch it is time to choose.

13 Anything You Can Do (I can do better. Pffft!)--In an abandoned mining town, Murdoch and a Canadian Mounty (an almost detective clone) are caught in a crossfire. Flashbacks show how the 2 murder investigations brought these men to this trap. A new metal, aluminium, to the rescue?
A FANTASTIC SEASON-ENDING EPISODE.

This Canadian television series is a most enjoyable program to watch. I enjoyed Season One so much that I eagerly purchased Season two and I have not been disappointed. The episodes are most interesting, well directed and acted very well by all. I really like this series and look forward to its season three (3).

Murdock is an award winning (according to the notes on the cover) "who done-it" series set in Victorian Toronto when the emerging science of "detective sleuthing" was in its infancy--little or no use of finger printing (finger marks as it was called) little or no use of ballistics, ultra-violet light to detect traces of blood, etc. But the lack of the use of "sleuthing techniques" does not stop the series hero and its lead William Murdock wonderfully played by Yannick Bisson who plays the detective that solves some dastardly murders with his charm, good looks and very "forward thinking" use of some of the emerging investigative science much to the objections of his boss played greatly by Thomas Craig. There is also a "love interest". Murdock who is very shy is besotted by the pathologist acted by Helen Joy. She adds just the right amount of humor (the character calls it "morgue humor"). While helping Murdock solve the nasty deeds through her own sleuthing in the morgue.

If you want to see some good T.V. while guessing "who done-it", buy this season two of this series because it will keep you highly entertained.

By the way, Season Two runs about 598 minutes on 4 DVDs. The picture and sound quality are great!

The best explanation I've heard for this show is CSI: Steampunk. It is a mystery series with an earnest detective and his cohorts set in Victorian era Toronto. Certainly William Murdoch is as convoluted and troubled a character as Gil Grissom ever was and we follow him as he uses his particular genius to solve crimes with what is cutting edge science in his time. Some of the history and science is fuzzy around the edges, but not so that it would put an average viewer off the show. I am particularly sensitive to "magic bullet" solutions and I admire the show for keeping a check on the "ahead of his time" genius of Murdoch for the most part. As a forensic science series it is unique, in that it doesn't present us with any new ideas. Instead, it offers historic perspectives on the discovery or use of modern methods. I have found myself cringing as, for example, Dr. Ogden uses a perfectly acceptable method in her time that we now know as pure poison. Or grinning as Murdoch dismisses as outlandish some concept we modern folk accept as commonplace.

This is also a show that does Unresolved Sexual Tension (UST) right! At least, so far, it doesn't overwork the idea of UST to the point where the viewer is encouraged to go watch something else. Detective Murdoch has a romantic interest in the police pathologist, Dr. Julia Ogden, however, they face the many very real restrictions of their time. And William Murdoch's religion (he is Catholic) features prominently in the show, as it colors his views on romance. These real obstacles are fascinating to explore and make for a very refreshing change from the manufactured obstacles that are used to create UST in so many television series today. Here there is relationship dysfunction, but it is believable. So far, it has not been taken to the infantile extreme of shows like Bones, to name just one example. I do have hope that Murdoch and Ogden can work through their differences to a happy resolution. Of course, it is only S2 and if the show runs 7 seasons, I would imagine they too might run out of plausible denials just like every other show does.

Still, we must enjoy the show while it is great. And this season...is great.

I really get upset to see so many good movies without closed caption; is it really too expensive to add subtitles to these movies. We view cc movies and would like to purchase them, even when they are expensive, but Acorn (the worst of the group) doesn't provide closed caption, altho they have started to put SDH (a subtitle) on newer movies. Couldn't they go back a few years and do the same with other fine movies? And really make an effort for cc with the new ones they are releasing?

Snagged S2 due to library did not carry. Stories solid and grapples with topics resonating today. Well done and plan to snag S3 when available. Can watch over and over...

Even better than the excellent first season, these episodes explore the relationships and Murdoch's inner conflicts among love, faith, and professional excellence in a highly satisfying and well written sea of mysteries, perplexing crimes and even pseudo-supernatural happenings. While the imagination must sometimes stretch a bit to buy into the goings on, the investment is well worthwhile. The cast is solid, the acting and directing consistently above the genre, and the setup for more is irresistible. Well worth it for mystery fans, or those just looking for something different that's quality.

The Murdoch Mysteries series is entertaining and addictive. While the characters are appealing, it is the setting that I find particularly enjoyable: the interweaving of historical figures (like Conan Doyle) into the mystery and the turn of the century Canadian backdrop make this series special.

I never saw this series on PBS, but I saw a trailer and thought it was something I would like. It is different than any of the other mystery shows. Each story is different. It is very entertaining and I wish that they had made more shows. It is the only series I remember seeing that has police officers riding around on bicycles. You might call the show early CSI. The actors are all good in their roles. If you like mystery shows, then you should enjoy this series.

Wonderful series ... will buy any additional ones. Period setting, fabulous acting, and just simply fun to watch even though there are mysteries!!

Writers have improved in second season, but dialogue remains stilted. Romance between detective and pathologist attracts the viewer's interest. Definitely entertaining but historical characters introduced are not always convincing, Conan Doyle excepted. Hope season three continues to improve.