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“Murdoch Mysteries” season 14 episode 8 “The Dominion of New South Mimico” is campy and side-splittingly hilarious. You know it’s going to be a comedic romp when the Mimico Newsomes are involved, and “The Dominion of New South Mimico” does not disappoint.
Rupert Newsome (Cyrus Lane) summons Detectives William Murdoch (Yannick Bisson) and Llewelyn Watts (Daniel Maslany) when his best friend Dickie Fanshaw is murdered. However, Watts and Murdoch discover more than just a dead body. Rupert Newsome has declared himself King Rupert the First of New South Mimico (pronounced “Newsome-Mimico”), and moreover claims that the Newsome Estate is its own country. While Det. Murdoch argues that you can’t simply make your own nation, Rupert boasts that New Sou Mimico has its own language, currency, and postage.
Indeed, lawyer Roderick H. Roderick (Christopher Jacot), Effie Newsome’s (Clare McConnell) ex-husband has actually secured New South Mimico as a nation, albeit through sleight of hand when filing paperwork. Dr. Julia Ogden (Helene Joy), Constable George Crabtree (Jonny Harris), Inspector Thomas Brackenreid (Thomas Craig), and Effie Newsome are called in to aid in the investigation.
Meanwhile, Constable Henry Higgins (Lachlan Murdoch) works under the employ of Rupert Newsome as the head of security. The murder of Dickie proves a mystery. Blame shifts from suspect to suspect, with motives seemingly all around. Rupert’s wife, Lucinda Helmsworthy-Newsome (Kira Guloien) appears guilty, Rupert seems to have cause to knock off Dickie, and even Roderick may be at fault.
Part of the brilliance of “Murdoch Mysteries” is its versatility. While some episodes are drama-filled, others are lighthearted and silly, as is S14E08 “The Dominion of New South Mimico.” Cyrus Lane reprises his role as Rupert Newsome with a Leslie Nielsen-esque deadpan comedic flourish. One scene finds Rupert declaring war on Canada, delivering an impassioned William Wallace-caliber speech to a ragamuffin assortment of house servants: a maid clutches a feather duster like a sword while a butler brandishes a candelabra. Ruth Higgins-Newsome (Siobhan Murphy) puts in a much-needed appearance. Unfortunately, Ruthie mostly remains flighty, while she’s proven herself to be caring and intelligent underneath the veneer of frivolity.
In the third act, George is instrumental in providing a breakthrough in the case. Packed with hilarity, “The Dominion of New South Mimico” is laugh-out-loud funny, although likely a bit polarizing like other goofy “Murdoch Mysteries” episodes such as “Sir. Sir? Sir!” which remains one of my favorite “Murdoch” shows. The actors themselves look like they’re having a blast. With its over-the-top theatrical air, razor-sharp scriptwriting, and a Mimico Newsome-centric plot, “The Dominion of New South Mimico” is classic “Murdoch Mysteries” fanciful fun.
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