With his wife in London, Detective Murdoch finds himself at loose ends. Despite his promotion after Brackenreid was appointed chief constable, Murdoch realizes solving crimes is what he does best. He declines the role in order to keep investigating and the station house welcomes Inspector Choi. While Murdoch focuses on policing, Crabtree feels the lure of his creative pursuits, coroner Violet Hart runs her nightclub and Effie Newsome-Crabtree becomes a crown attorney. Cases include the killing of a man during a battlefield reenactment, a paleontologist’s murder, a drug overdose at a low-cost housing complex, and a murder mystery at an event for Charles Dickens aficionados. Donal Logue, Rebecca Liddiard, and Luann de Lesseps guest star.
What We Thought:
Murdoch Mysteries: Season 18 wasn’t my favorite season of the popular show, but I still enjoyed it. After so many seasons, stories can feel familiar, but it’s still a show I enjoy getting to review. It’s quirky with an odd setting and timeline full of fun characters and guest historical figures.
Season 18 opens on the battlefield of a reenactment for the War of 1812. When an American man is really killed, Murdoch must figure out why. There is gold involved and we are introduced to Inspector Choi who is taking over for Murdoch after he decided he didn’t want the promotion. Murdoch and Crabtree don’t know who Choi is at first and think he’s a suspect. The side story around the station involved the mob and nightclub. It was a good episode to start the season and to introduce the new boss. It also featured the return of the character Terrence Meyers who was looking for the gold.
Other episodes have Murdoch moving into a rooming house where someone is murdered, a Charles Dickens celebration leads to murder, the theft of a skull, the theft of a ruby, multiple women are strangled during campaign season, a death at a diner, a performance of Hamlet leads to murder on stage, a mechanical man with a cannon arm, a hydroelectric project leads to murder and more.
Season 18 also includes the show’s 300th episode and a new opening scene. It’s also the first season where show regular Helene Joy is not part of the main cast. She appears in a few episodes across the season, but her character spends the majority of the season in England.
If you’ve been a fan of the series from the beginning you’ll still enjoy Murdoch Mysteries: Season 18. It tries to infuse some new blood, but only having Helene Joy for two episodes felt odd. The new inspector does fit in well and the backdrops and sets are still very much Murdoch Mysteries styling. I’m not sure how much longer it will last, but I still enjoy taking a few days to binge the new seasons when they come my way.
The Nerds Templar 