Review: Murdoch Mysteries “Kill Thy Neighbour”

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Warning: Post contains spoilers

“Murdoch Mysteries” season 13 episode 13 “Kill Thy Neighbour” opens with the titular Det. William Murdoch (Yannick Bisson) slated to head to a party with his wife, Dr. Julia Ogden (Helene Joy). A haggard Murdoch complains to Inspector Thomas Brackenreid (Thomas Craig) and Constable George Crabtree (Jonny Harris) of his bothersome neighbors, Raymond (Paul Braunstein) and Goldie Huckabee (Jonelle Gunderson).

Suspiciously, Murdoch doesn’t appear at work the following morning, a rarity for the disciplined detective. Constable Crabtree and Det. Llewellyn Watts (Daniel Maslany) respond to an incident at the Huckabee household, one of Murdoch’s cufflinks at the scene of the crime. There, Parker and Crabtree find Raymond murdered. A broken water main forced Det. Murdoch and Dr. Ogden to stay at a hotel. Crabtree, Watts, and Brackenreid interrogate Julia and William, although it appears neither remembers much of the evening. As such, suspicion falls on Murdoch.

Despite being the prime suspect, Murdoch continues investigating the murder. Information from Toronto coroner Miss Violet Hart (Shanice Banton) initially seems to clear the good detective’s name, but unfortunately, the more William seeks to prove his innocence, the guiltier he appears. Once journalist Louise Cherry (Bea Santos) reports that Det. Murdoch, suspect number one, leads the Raymond Huckabee murder investigation, Allen Templeton (Sebastian Spence) orders William off the case. Over the course of the investigation, Raph Fellows (Colin Mochrie) resurfaces as a private investigator hired by none other than Goldie Huckabee. With Murdoch in jail, Special Constable Robert Parker (Marc Senior), Inspector Brackenreid, Constable Crabtree, and Dr. Ogden scramble to prove his innocence.

George has more to worry about than merely Murdoch’s fate. His book, A Man Alone, isn’t selling. Despite his love interest, Effe Newsome’s (Clare McConnell) assurances, Crabtree fears that his underperforming book sales will result in the remaining stock being pulped.

Observations:

“Murdoch Mysteries” S13E3 “Kill Thy Neighbor” finds Murdoch behind bars, the second time during season 13 that either Murdoch or Julia have been incarcerated. Earlier, during “The Killing Dose,” Julia was jailed for euthanizing a patient. Cleverly, “Kill Thy Neighbor” almost convinces even Det. Murdoch, and the audience, that perhaps the artful detective knocked off his neighbor. It’s curious that, in the previous episode “Fox Hunt,” a sort of “Rear Window” subplot found Julia suspecting Raymond of murdering his wife, Goldie. Now, Raymond turns up dead.

As Sation House 4 frantically attempts to prove Murdoch’s innocence, there are some delightful moments. Parker pretends to be a witness that Murdoch interviewed some days earlier who, if found, would solidify the detective’s alibi. Robert hilariously feigns the part of a philosopher hermit. When Watts suggests that attempting to prove Murdoch’s guilt should turn up evidence of his innocence, Crabtree misunderstands and delivers an impassioned speech in defense of Murdoch. “I know what lurks in the heart of William Murdoch. It is a passion for justice, a respect for science, and a desire to create ingenious automated machines that might one day save us from doing housework.”

Fellows returns as a conniving foe, and the shady Huckabee’s provide a curious presence. When the Goldie and Raymond were first introduced, Goldie mentioned that their neighbors were murdered under strange circumstances. Although that seems to be a red herring in “Kill Thy Neighbor,” it could be important later in the season.

The beginning of the episode features a bit of odd acting. Murdoch is suspiciously animated while expressing his disdain for his neighbor, Raymond Huckabee. Sure, it’s clear this is a set up framing Murdoch for murder. But it’s so out of character for the detective that it sticks out, and it’s unnecessary. Still, “Kill Thy Neighbor” is a solid “Murdoch Mysteries” episode that finds Det. Murdoch almost doubting his own innocence while endeavoring to prove his own guiltlessness.