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Detective Llewelyn Watts of Station House No. 1 is introduced in Season 10, played by Daniel Maslany.

Preferring the streets and outdoors instead of blackboards, stating, "the truth is in the air and we must breath it in". Detective Watts is quite unlike Detective Murdoch. He is a little hard to get a handle on with regard to what he’s going to say next— a bit of a loose cannon with little in regards to social graces. Well-read, he has an existential philosopher's curiosity about human nature and an objective analytical logic in the mould of Sherlock Holmes, but processes his thoughts aloud as they come to him– unfiltered.

He dines on street food and especially likes German soft pretzels.

Early Life

Born to a Jewish mother (ep.1115), Llewelyn Watts lost both his parents before his twelfth birthday and was raised by his older sister and only sibling. When he was twelve, his sixteen-year-old sister disappeared (ep.1012) but their landlady looked after him (ep.1015). The landlady’s twin sons Daniel and Hubert Marks became, in every way, his brothers (ep.1207) and he their protector.

Llewelyn Watts’ quietly searches for his missing sister from his time as a young constable to becoming a detective for the Toronto Constabulary through to his working with the team at Station House No. 4 in Season 10.

Character Arc - Season 10

Concocting A Killer

  • In a chat with Crabtree, Det. Watts deduces, "Are you the same man today you were yesterday? Your hair is not the same. You cut and discarded it. Same with your fingernails. Over time, our entire body falls away and is reconstituted. How, then, can you be the same? In truth, the continuity of personhood may be nothing more than a delusion. In fact, it makes me question our whole profession..."
  • In the morgue with Dr. Ogden, he observes aloud, "The detective was wrong.  You're not pretty. Look at you... Classic, Romanesque bone structure, excellent physiognomic symmetry... You're not pretty, you're beautiful." Julia replies, "Well, I suppose I'm flattered." He asks, "Why? It's merely an objective assessment."

A Murdog Mystery

  • Watts has been asked to vacate Station House No. 1 due to personality conflicts and freely admits it is his own. Happily, he has heard that there is an opening for a detective at Station House No. 4 as Murdoch is now Acting Inspector until Brackenreid returns.
  • Det. Watts enlists Constable Jackson in the investigation of missing women, whereupon their Detective-Constable partnership brings.

The Missing

  • While he doesn't like asking for permission, he requests for Constable Jackson again, calling him an "agreeable fellow" which is high praise coming from Watts.
  • He tells Jackson, "If I was a betting man.  Well I was a betting man once....and that didn't go well."
  • Watts has a missing sister. When he was 12 years old, his older sister went missing. She was 16 years old. This is the motive behind his determination to find the missing women.

Mr. Murdoch's Neighbourhood

  • Detective Watts finds an interesting book of Greek Gods and Goddesses belonging to Muriel Bruce which may be a valuable clue to his on-going case into the missing women.

Hades Hath No Fury

  • Watts discovers that the woman killed in a mysterious explosion is Muriel Bruce and further investigation leads to a the Greenwood Estate and a surprise reunion with his long lost sister Clarissa Watts, now known as Athena.
  • Clarissa Watts abandoned her 12 year old brother because she did not want a life of servitude. Lady Greenwood was looking for a companion and when she died left her entire estate to Clarissa.
  • After a rough start in their working relationship, Freddie Pink relates, "You didn't choose your sister. In fairness, she didn't choose you." Watts tells her that she has a symmetrical face. Julia reassures Freddie that he meant as a compliment. (ep.1004)

Hell to Pay

  • Watts appears at the end of the episode after Murdoch is locked up, framed by a conspiracy for the murder of Lydia Hall. With the majority of Murdoch's allies presumed dead or incapacitated, Watts appears to offer him needed help.

Season 11

Up From Ashes

  • As it turns out, Watts offer to help is a genuine offer. He attends the funeral of Jackson with Murdoch, having allowed him to attend. He then proceeds to get on Penelope Marsh's good side, acting as if he is there to follow her orders, when he is truly trying to find out what is really going on. He also tries to convince Marsh that Williams and Graham are the bad guys.
  • He runs into Julia in the street, who is in disguise, and takes her to the tavern where George and Brackenreid are waiting. Watts then tells the others how he stuck to the shadows when he heard things were going badly for Murdoch, and recounts how he ran into the church after the shooting occurred. He found Jackson dead, but Henry and George were alive. Ordering Henry and Jackson to be taken to the hospital, he pretends that George is dead so that he can go undercover, and takes him to Miss James, who saves his life.
  • He teams up with Marsh, who turns out to be on their side, to get the fingermarks of Williams and Graham, but when they can't get Williams' fingermarks, they take him to the Windsor House Hotel room that the Murdoch's live in.
  • In the closing scene, Watts listens in as Brackenreid makes a tribute to Jackson, and Watts mentions that 'he was a stout, earnest fellow, I liked him very much.' Watts then decides to stay on at Station House Four.

Merlot Mysteries

  • Llewelyn Watts is an oenophile and has a sommelier Jean-Michel Larouche Coutre III.
  • Watts assists Murdoch in the investigation of the murder of a wine connoisseur. As they investigate the cellar, Watts reveals himself to be a bit of a wine connoisseur, able to name the notable wines in the cellar.
  • In order for Murdoch to have a better understanding of the different varietal characteristics of wine, Watts conducts a tasting experiment for the Detective, resulting in Murdoch becoming quite drunk.
  • Investigating where the old winery used to be located, George and Watts return to the the Station House rather happily tipsy. Upon discovering that the winery was right next to the estate owned by the murder victim, Watts departs with Murdoch to determine its exact location.

The Canadian Patient (Mention)

  • Inspector Brackenreid asks, "Where's bloody Watts?"  When told that he has ask for a couple of days off, the Inspector responses with, "Thinks he can wander in and out of this Station House and do as he pleases."

21 Murdoch Street

  • Detective Watts gleans that John Brackenreid is not certain whether he truly wants to be a policeman.

The Accident

Brackenreid Boudoir

  • Llewelyn Watts finds romance in the adventurous and well-travelled Miss Fiona Faust.

The Talking Dead

  • Detective Watts' life is at risk.

Mary Wept

Crabtree à la Carte

Murdoch Schmurdoch

  • While investigating the case with Al Jolson, Watts hears children singing as they pass a window. It stops him as he recognizes it as the one his mother sang to him. Jolson tells him that it is an old Yiddish lullaby and that his family must be Jewish. Highly unlikely, for his last name, Watts, is not a Jewish name. But names are changed all the time when folks get off the boat from the old country, Jolson insists, "And if your mother is Jewish, so are you."
  • Al Jolson tells Watts that he has found his new shtick, before applying black makeup to his face. Jolson appears in blackface in the The Jazz Singer.

Game of Kings

  • Watts points out the thing about the Travel Agency, "They not only know where you are going, but also where you are coming from"...

Shadows Are Falling

Free Falling

Season 12

Murdoch Mystery Mansion

  • Watts appreciates the design of the new Murdoch Home, suspecting that Murdoch might not he asks him directly (as is his fashion). William states that "it suits Julia's needs" – neither men know that Julia has heard them.

Murdoch Without Borders

Sir. Sir? Sir!!!

Brother's Keeper

  • Detective Watts reports a killing at his own hands, in self-defence; This is the first time he has taken a life.
  • Hubert Marks and his twin brother Daniel are the sons of the landlady who took care of twelve year old Llewelyn Watts when his sister abandoned him.  Watts has always held them as his brothers and himself as their protector.

Drowning in Money

Annabella Cinderella

Six of the Best

Darkness Before the Dawn Part 1

Darkness Before the Dawn Part 2

Season 13

The Philately Fatality

  • Detective Watts returns to the Station House to assist Detective Murdoch and Inspector Brackenreid with a case involving a stamp enthusiast and a men-only party. 
  • When various men are brought to light as being homosexual, Watts' views conflict with Brackenreid's as the case progresses. Where Brackenreid threatens arrest, Watts attempts to speak one-on-one with the suspects as he understands that no one wants to lose their jobs, nor their reputation.
  • Jack Walker helps Watts locate Mr. Paxton's secret stamp collection in exchange for an hour to run an errand visiting his mother. When the Inspector learns of this, he criticizes Watts for being so foolish as "he's being held on suspicion of murder! He could be on a train halfway across the country by now." Watts firmly assures Brackenreid that Jack Walker, though he could have run, has done what was promised and returned to the cells.
  • When the investigation comes to a close, Detective Watts calls on a now-released Mr. Walker to thank him for his cooperation. Hesitating in the doorway, Walker asks if there was anything more Watts wanted to tell him. Watts asks, "do you mind if I call you Jack?"
  • No response is needed: Jack goes back inside his apartment and Watts follows, closing the door behind him.

The Final Curtain

The Killing Dose

  • Watts has spent the night over at Jack's residence.
  • Watts is grabbing his things to leave when Jack stops him, handing him his lunch. "I hope you come back again," he says. Watts is hesitant. "If anyone were to find out-" but Jack interrupts him. "Some things are worth the risk," adjusting the detective's tie. The two share a knowing smile before Watts puts on his hat and steps out into the hall.
  • At the other end of the hallway, he spots George just leaving Effie Newsome's room. He tries to make a discreet get-away but George catches him, saying he didn't know Watts lived in the building. Watts truthfully tells him that he, in fact, doesn't.
  • George assumes Watts has been visiting a lady friend like himself, "We're in the same boat," no need to hide.
  • George has been asked by Effie to track down a possible thief in the building, so he asks Watts to help in the case. When evidence arises pointing to Jack Walker's butcher shop, they engage in a 'wink and nod' questioning which helps resolve the case but leaves a puzzlement.
  • Watts has asked George to meet with him yo explain that he's been having "money troubles" which is why he was staying over at Jack Walker's. Unconvinced George replies, "Well, Detective, you should know that your – 'money troubles' – are safe with me," with a reassuring smile.
  • A bit taken aback, Watts is silent for a moment before thanking his fellow copper and friend.

Things Left Behind

  • "I detest the weather here," Watts comments as he and Jack leave a pub late into the night. Jack assures him that Watts needs only a warmer coat, but the detective clarifies himself. "It's not the cold. It's the dark." Jack tells him that he prefer sthe dark, as no one can see what one gets up to. Jack and Watts then share their first on-screen kiss, safely concealed by shadows.
  • The moment is short-lived, however, as Watts discovers a body. He instructs Jack to leave and calls Detective Murdoch to the scene.
  • Constable Higgins arrives and informs them of a robbery of a wealthy estate. Watts goes to investigate the disappearance of a MacAuley painting. A few minutes later, a man identifying himself as Detective Edwards walks in. He explains that he's new to Station House One and still does not have a solved case under his belt, and wishes to work together with Watts. The next day, the two discover evidence that leads to the possible conclusion of the thief being a woman.
  • Later that night, Jack and Llewelyn meet up at a pub. Watts assures him that Detective Murdoch is now on the case and that he does not know the truth about how he came across the body. Once again, their time together is interrupted, however, when Detective Edwards enters and asks if he could join the two of them. Watts introduces Jack as merely a friend.
  • After interviewing Aldous Germaine, Germaine comments as he leaves, "it was nice seeing you the other evening, Detective." This may suggest that Watts and Jack have attended men-only parties since being together.
  • A day later, Watts is confronted by Detective Edwards, who informs him that Jack had been picked previously on charges of suspected homosexual activity. "I will take that under advisement," says Watts. As Detective Edwards walks away, Watts gives him a rather annoyed look before following suit.

The Future is Unwritten

  • Upon finding Philipe MacAuley alive, Detectives Watts and Edwards question both the painter and Stella Davenport. They explain how the paintings had been put on loan, not actually bought, in hopes that people would see them and want to buy them. This plan worked differently than expected as news of MacAuley's apparent "death" raised the prices greatly. Watts surmises that the real thieves are the collectors - not MacAuley and Davenport. "I like the way you think," Detective Edwards agrees.
  • The two detectives go to retrieve MacAuley's paintings from collector Derek Ferdinand, who objects, stating he'd bought them. However, when Watts asks to see a bill of proof, Ferdinand proudly states the agreement was done by handshake. Watts and Edwards then proceed to take the paintings off the walls anyway.
  • Watts and Jack are enjoying each other's company at a bar when Edwards walks in. While neither man sees him, Edwards does see them. He leaves without saying a word.
  • To celebrate Edwards' first case closed, Watts produces a bottle of wine. "I don't want it," Edwards states shortly. "I don't like your kind." He then smashes the bottle against the floor, startling Watts and the surrounding constables. "If you are looking for your friend from last night - he's in the cells at Station House One." Watts moves to strike the man but backs down.
  • Watts goes to free Jack, but the butcher refuses to let Watts damage his career. "You're a policeman, Llewellyn. Don't throw that away." 
  • Later, Watts storms into Inspector Brackereid's office and explains the situation. Brackenreid can't do anything: his hands are tied in this matter. Jack Walker is "guilty" of what he was charged with. "Then charge me," Watts demands. "I am as indecent as Jack Walker." He shouldn't have told the Inspector that, but he did. "Jack Walker should not be persecuted for being a human being - nor should I." Before he leaves, Watts asks the inspector what his next action will be.
  • As it happens, Brackenreid ends up releasing Jack. Though Watts doesn't thank the Inspector personally, he does leave a bottle of wine on his desk.

In The Future

A Frankie Drake Mysteries Cold Case

  • In 1921, Inspector Watts is called to help with a case that he worked on with former Chief Constable Brackenreid in 1905, but they were unable to solve. By teaming up with Morality Officer Mary Shaw and Private Detective Frankie Drake, they uncover the real culprit behind the robbery that was believed to have involved Frankie's father.

Trivia

  • MM writer Simon McNabb: "There was a long conversation in the Writers’ Room about how to bring in a detective who could play off Murdoch and be his opposite without being a terrible detective,... So we thought about how to come up with someone who is totally unlike Murdoch but still very much a classically great detective and in the mould of your Sherlock Holmes’. We found a nice balance—so it was really fun to see them play off each other and I think the actors did too."
  • Daniel Maslany, who plays Detective Watts, is the younger brother of actress Tatiana Maslany who plays Alison Hendrix in Orphan Black.
  • When Greg David (TV, Eh?) asked if we can trust Watt's motives at the end of Season 10, Peter Mitchell answered, "Maybe. I never trust those Maslanys. They have many faces! [Laughs.] Daniel is fantastic; just a very pleasant young man."
  • Season 11 will reveal him to be "a gadabout detective and he comes and he goes. He is semi-permanently stationed in No. 4.", according to Peter Mitchell. Watts is in at least half of the season's episodes.
  • According to showrunner Peter Mitchell after Season 13, "And I think that the way that Daniel portrayed the character, it was with the writers easy for us to go, ‘Yeah, that wouldn’t be a surprise.’ I don’t think we plotted out a three-year arc that would uncover a secret, other than it seemed like although some of the fans had a hard time accepting that this could indeed be possible, it never seemed to us that it was a huge leap. And Dan was super pumped to do it, sort of like off to the races."

Gallery


Murdoch Mysteries Recurring Actors and Characters
Daniel Maslany as Detective WattsShanice Banton as Violet HartLachlan Murdoch as Henry HigginsArwen Humphreys as Margaret BrackenreidCharles Vandervaart as John BrackenreidClare McConnell as Effie NewsomeBea Santos as Louise CherryPeter Keleghan as Terrence MeyersPeter Stebbings as James PendrickMatthew Bennett as Allen CleggNigel Bennett as former Chief Constable Giles • Siobhan Murphy as Ruth NewsomeShailene Garnett as Nomi JohnstonStephanie Belding as Nurse SullivanSebastian Pigott as Dr. DixonColin Mochrie as Ralph FellowsJames McGowan as Dr. ForbesPatrick McKenna as Hamish SlorachDmitry Chepovetsky as Nikola TeslaJohn Tench as Alexander Graham BellMartin Moreau as Theodore RooseveltCyrus Lane as Rupert NewsomeCraig Brown as Eddie CrawfordDavid Reale as Mr. ClementsErin Agostino as Nina BloomMouna Traoré as Rebecca JamesJordan Johnson-Hinds as Nate DesmondDylan Neal as Jasper LinneyKristian Bruun as Constable JacksonRichard Clarkin as Chief Constable DavisMichael Seater as James GilliesRothaford Gray as Alderman William Peyton HubbardCyrus Lane as Roger NewsomeGeorgina Reilly as Emily GraceCharlotte Sullivan as Charlotte (formerly Minerva Fairchild)Sean Harraher as Constable WorseleyTamara Hope as Edna Brooks (née Garrison)Giacomo Gianniotti as Leslie GarlandNicole Underhay as Margaret HaileSarah Gadon as Ruby OgdenKate Greenhouse as Sally PendrickStephen McHattie as Harry MurdochGeraint Wyn Davies as Arthur Conan Doyle
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