Murdoch investigates the suspicious death of an Arctic expedition crew member, while their workplaces become increasingly complicated in light of recent events.Murdoch investigates the suspicious death of an Arctic expedition crew member, while their workplaces become increasingly complicated in light of recent events.Murdoch investigates the suspicious death of an Arctic expedition crew member, while their workplaces become increasingly complicated in light of recent events.
- Dr. Julia Ogden
- (as Hélène Joy)
- Foster Blair
- (as Steve Arbuckle)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe Inuit consist of many culturally similar indigenous peoples inhabiting the Arctic regions of Greenland, Canada, and Alaska. Some of the people who call themselves Inuit were once called Eskimos, but this term is no longer acceptable as it is viewed as a colonial imposition.
- GoofsWhen George is being seated at his table in the upscale restaurant, a sensor for a modern burglar alarm can be plainly seen on the wall, over the maître d's right shoulder.
- Quotes
[last lines]
Detective William Murdoch: You know... Captain Bernier asked me to join him on his expedition.
Dr. Julia Ogden: Did he, now?
Detective William Murdoch: Mm, but I told him I could not accept, on account of being a father.
Dr. Julia Ogden: And how long would the expedition take?
Detective William Murdoch: Four years, give or take a year.
Dr. Julia Ogden: But if not for being a father you would go? Leaving me here for four years.
Detective William Murdoch: You would wait for me, Julia.
Dr. Julia Ogden: Oh, don't be so sure. Speaking of being a father, where is our child?
Detective William Murdoch: Right this way.
[they go to the next room, where Roland is happily playing in a baby bouncer]
Detective William Murdoch: It replicates the motion of bouncing him on one's knee.
[Roland gurgles and bounces]
Dr. Julia Ogden: Look how happy he is!
Detective William Murdoch: Oh, yes. He's our gleeful bouncer.
Dr. Julia Ogden: I could use one of those at the morgue.
Detective William Murdoch: That's why I've made three. One for the morgue, one for here. and one for my office. That way Roland can remain occupied while we go about our work.
Dr. Julia Ogden: Never miss a moment.
Detective William Murdoch: No, no.
- ConnectionsReferences Nanook of the North (1922)
Without giving away spoilers, I will say that if you use the social justice rulebook for determining a murderer, you will include and exclude the proper suspects. For example, a portly white captain criticizes Julia Ogden's mothering skills in the first five minutes, and then Murdoch has a stick up his rear about the guy for nearly the rest of the episode. And it goes without saying that no minority can ever, EVER be the murderer when there are white suspects still possible.
The "gentle giant" of an Inuit character, being the token minority, is imbued with every possible virtue they can stuff into him, all the way to the point of absurdity. He walks into a well-dressed dinner crowd and begins eating off stranger's plates, only to have all the women in the room smile at him and let him eat their food. Later, he kisses one of these women, causing her to join him and George at their table.
This isn't just unrealistic or laughable writing, it is insulting. To both the intelligence of the viewer and to Inuit culture proper. Perhaps we should assume that people are smart enough, and Inuits typically decent enough, that no one would require a dancing dark-skinned man virtually carrying a sign saying "I'M A MINORITY AND NOT SCARY!" to have a mature view on the subject. This speaks directly to what MM writers believe about their viewers, and should be extremely concerning. If they think the viewer is an idiot that requires this stuff, then they won't put much effort into complex plot writing that - according to them - the "folks" won't even understand.
Another "rule" of the MM writers - that I have now seen used at least three times - is that unverified information from a minority character can send the investigation on a completely new direction, whereas equally unverified info from another character gets them accused of lying, or a night in jail until they "clear it up". Apparently, minority characters have an oracle to the heavens that gives them the unvarnished truth about every case. No insult to minority characters or cultures. They deserve much better than these writers are giving them.
A lesser theme is the parenting woes of William and Julia, who pass cute little Roland between them throughout the episode. I am interested to see how this sub-plot is resolved in future episodes. Do the MM writers view infants as a way to add depth to their lead characters, or simply as a stage decoration for Julia Ogden to stand aside with her thumb up, saying "Imma workin' career gal!"
Okay, that's about all. I'll see you folks in the next MM episode. Don't worry, we'll make it all the way through. Praise be to Brackenreid!
Details
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- Runtime42 minutes
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