Murdoch investigates a murder at the Newsome Estate, which has declared itself a nation.Murdoch investigates a murder at the Newsome Estate, which has declared itself a nation.Murdoch investigates a murder at the Newsome Estate, which has declared itself a nation.
Helene Joy
- Dr. Julia Ogden
- (as Hélène Joy)
Kyle Derek
- Courtney Van Doren
- (as Kyle McDonald)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaChristopher Jacot was also in the Murdoch Mysteries Season 5 episode "Staircase to Heaven".
- SoundtracksMurdoch Mysteries Opening Theme
Written by Robert Carli
Featured review
Such Great Fun..."A Barrel of Laughs"
If you need an interlude that isn't rife with human grimness and stress, this episode is it! Perfect for those of us so tired of the pandemic and its constancy of stresses such as impacts of isolation after 16 months or so, as I am. Watching and now reviewing this episode, makes me smile even yet. It's "good old-fashioned fun" as that saying goes.
Of course the storyline has lots of ludicrous propositions, it's their once-a-season deliberately taking themselves less seriously and providing a humorous 'romp' through solving a murder nonetheless, as usual. "So what" that it's even more caricature-esque than usual! It works to have the Newsome family eccentricities thread recur and make us laugh at their ignorance and foibles, help keep Henry and Crabtree relevant, and get them all out of Toronto for that variety too.
It would be hard to argue, even after all these years, that few besides the good detective Murdoch and Dr Ogden, and perhaps the Brackenreids next, are given much character development over time that sees them grow as persons. Crabtree and Higgins remain largely the comic relief elements, more of a fable element than realistic humans as well-rounded individuals. This episode therefore fits, even though some people just want the gore and darkness, I guess ... my advice: Lighten up, laugh a lot once in awhile, look beyond the "potato cooking rooms," Murdoch on a rocket flight and similar ludicrous content tied in some way to modern machinery and science, in the more serious shows, to this deliberately engaging in more of that. Including some seeming over-the-top end of the spectrum that the Newsome family plots involve just makes sense once in awhile, to keep things lively.
On the acting alone, this episode shows off quite a few of the actors' attributes, their versatility and adeptness, very well. Watt's character, for one, is superbly done in this episode, IMO. Already excellent at the 'odd-one-out' portrayal, the gestures and movements he used here offer great physical comedy for the discerning viewer, as do the Newsome king's and queen's (the anthem is wonderfully rendered, for e.g., as well as brilliant use of imperial and dismissive hand gestures, arms encompassing the world, the queen's embodiment to illustrate her memory issues, and so on). The episode recalls to me the experience of watching a stage play, which perhaps means some will indeed also like it less; this is not for everyone, clearly but so many of us equally do appreciate this as a MM trademark in most seasons, the lightest, most comedic episode.
Of course the storyline has lots of ludicrous propositions, it's their once-a-season deliberately taking themselves less seriously and providing a humorous 'romp' through solving a murder nonetheless, as usual. "So what" that it's even more caricature-esque than usual! It works to have the Newsome family eccentricities thread recur and make us laugh at their ignorance and foibles, help keep Henry and Crabtree relevant, and get them all out of Toronto for that variety too.
It would be hard to argue, even after all these years, that few besides the good detective Murdoch and Dr Ogden, and perhaps the Brackenreids next, are given much character development over time that sees them grow as persons. Crabtree and Higgins remain largely the comic relief elements, more of a fable element than realistic humans as well-rounded individuals. This episode therefore fits, even though some people just want the gore and darkness, I guess ... my advice: Lighten up, laugh a lot once in awhile, look beyond the "potato cooking rooms," Murdoch on a rocket flight and similar ludicrous content tied in some way to modern machinery and science, in the more serious shows, to this deliberately engaging in more of that. Including some seeming over-the-top end of the spectrum that the Newsome family plots involve just makes sense once in awhile, to keep things lively.
On the acting alone, this episode shows off quite a few of the actors' attributes, their versatility and adeptness, very well. Watt's character, for one, is superbly done in this episode, IMO. Already excellent at the 'odd-one-out' portrayal, the gestures and movements he used here offer great physical comedy for the discerning viewer, as do the Newsome king's and queen's (the anthem is wonderfully rendered, for e.g., as well as brilliant use of imperial and dismissive hand gestures, arms encompassing the world, the queen's embodiment to illustrate her memory issues, and so on). The episode recalls to me the experience of watching a stage play, which perhaps means some will indeed also like it less; this is not for everyone, clearly but so many of us equally do appreciate this as a MM trademark in most seasons, the lightest, most comedic episode.
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- Bellatext
- Aug 8, 2021
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- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime44 minutes
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