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Warning: Major spoilers below
“Murdoch Mysteries” season 13 episode 18 “The Future is Unwritten” proves why the hit CBC series has enjoyed a 13-season run. Well past a point where many series, including a few of my beloved favorites such as “The X-Files” and “Star Trek: The Next Generation” lost their fervor, “Murdoch Mysteries” remains as charming, surprising, and nuanced as ever.
“The Future is Unwritten” resumes after a major shocker in “Things Left Behind.” Special Constable Robert Parker (Marc Senior) meets an untimely demise which titular Det. William Murdoch (Yannick Bisson) is positive came about at the hand of Toronto coroner Miss Violet Hart (Shanice Banton). Miss Hart is blackmailed by former accomplice and con man Lincoln (Ryan Hollyman). Detective Llewellyn Watts (Daniel Maslany) and his partner Jack Walker (Jesse LaVercombe) continue their covert relationship, but Station House No. 1 Det. Edwards (Ben Sanders) suspects their homosexuality. Dr. Julia Ogden (Hélène Joy) contemplates an affair with fellow surgeon Dr. Dixon (Sebastian Pigott). Meanwhile, Constable George Crabtree (Jonny Harris) is held captive by a fan, Amelia (Sarah Swire), who claims that George’s aunt from his book is actually her mother.
With Robert Parker laid to rest, Murdoch pursues prime suspect Violet Hart. Crabtree’s beau, Effie Newsome (Clare McConnell) is sent to represent Miss Hart as her first case. And Effie accomplishes this brilliantly, successfully freeing Violet from the cells. But Murdoch remains intent on bringing Miss Hart to justice. However, Violet threatens Murdoch with revealing that Dr. Ogden euthanized a patient, technically a crime regardless of the moral intent behind the action, and something Miss Hart covered up. As such, Murdoch tenders his resignation, though without Julia’s knowledge.
Det. Edwards throws Jack Walker in the cells for indecency, or homosexuality which, unfortunately at the time was a crime. When Walker’s partner, Det. Watts, congratulates Edwards on solving his first case and offers him a bottle of wine, Edwards callously smashes it. Watts confronts Inspector Thomas Brackenreid (Thomas Craig), arguing that is he leaves Walker in jail that Brackenreid might as well toss Watts behind bars as well.
Observations:
It’s quite possible that “The Future is Unwritten” ranks as the most nuanced “Murdoch Mysteries” episode to date. Violet Hart, the primary antagonist for most of season 13, succeeds in getting Brackenreid, and even the audience, to better understand her motivations. Sure, the succumbed to blackmail and falsified evidence. While reprehensible, her motivations prove understandable. And as Brackenreid sagely points out, which of us is without guilt.
There’s a running theme of doing what’s easy and abiding by the book versus pursuing justice which, all too often, conflicts with the law. Brackenreid grapples with this when confronted with Watts being, as the Inspector puts it “a left-footer.” Hilariously, everyone including Det. Murdoch and the good Inspector’s wife, Margaret (Arwen Humphreys) knew for ages of Watts’s sexual orientation, while Thomas is blindsided. As Margret admits, it was right there under your nose the whole time.
Julia admits that she contemplated being unfaithful with Dr. Dixon and Murdoch, in a pleasant surprise, doesn’t bat an eye. After all these years, the artful detective remains as dynamic a character as ever. In fact, the overall tone of the series shifted since its inception towards refined characters exhibiting many gradations. The once-pious detective now understands, and moreover accepts, the innate imperfections of humanity, including himself and his wife. “Murdoch Mysteries” season 13 comes to a close with one of its most thought-provoking, charming, and heart-warming episodes to date. Cyclical, Det. Murdoch brings everything full circle when he reminds Julia that the sheets are still cold, to which Dr. Ogden reveals that she
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