Murdoch Mysteries solves the problem of “the usual suspect” TV shows

Murdoch Mysteries

150 episodes, 10 seasons

Of the things that Canada is known for, excellent television series isn’t one of them. However, this show puts a twist on the traditional crime-solving show that makes it truly unique.

This show takes place in Toronto, the largest city in Ontario, Canada, during the turn of the 19th century with various historical figures such as Thomas Edison, Harry Houdini, Nikola Tesla, and Arthur Conan Doyle weaved into the story to add credibility. Detective Murdoch of the Toronto Constabulary works with Inspector Brackenreid and Constable Crabtree to solve crimes with deductive reasoning and the relatively new forensic technology of the time. The way they solve crimes is fascinating in a psychological and historical sense and will keep you guessing until the end.

Besides the mystery, the show features a strong subplot that tackles the tough issue of prejudice towards women and different religious groups. A century later, the conflicts that plagued the people of the past still nags us today. This is a rare gem of a period piece that has managed to stay relevant and interesting for 10 seasons and will continue to do so in its 11th season.

Unfortunately, only seasons 1-7 are available on Netflix. This isn’t a huge problem since I’ve only watched through seasons 1-3 (which were originally the only seasons available in 2014 when I first discovered the show) and the episodes are 45-50 minutes long which means that it will take you longer to get through the seasons.

My rating– 2 episodes at a time to savor the episodes available.