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"Great Balls of Fire, Part 1" is the first episode of the tenth season of the Murdoch Mysteries, the one hundred thirty-third episode of the series and the season premiere. It was sneak previewed on Oct.1, 2016 at Unlock the Mysteries of Murdoch:The Ultimate Insider Conference. It first aired on October 10, 2016.

Summary[]

Murdoch suspects that rivals for a wealthy bachelor's affections may be responsible for a debutante's murder.

In the wake of Ogden’s near-death experience at the hands of a deranged former patient, Murdoch is trying to create some normalcy in their shared life by moving ahead with plans to build a house. Ogden appears to be recovered but her physical well-being hides trauma to her spirit and psyche.

The doctor masks it well as the couple spends a night on the town at the Grand Hotel for an elegant debutante ball. Dr. Ogden’s friend, Lady Suzanne Atherly, has recently arrived from London and is using the event to introduce her daughter Elizabeth to Toronto society and the very eligible bachelor Rodney Strong. As Ogden entertains her guest, Murdoch is assailed by George Crabtree’s commentary on the young unmarried women vying for the affections of the eligible wealthy suitor. When one of the debutantes Ruth Embree is murdered, Murdoch suspects that rivals for the bachelor’s affections may be responsible. Miss Embree's best friend, Faye Sloane, reveals that Ruth was carrying a secret.

Then, Faye Sloane, who had no interest in marrying Mr. Strong, is found murdered in her apartment. The only one with a possible motive for killing her is Lady Atherly, who knew Miss Sloane was snooping around the Atherly family's past back in England. Murdoch wires Scotland Yard and a detective there agrees to look into it. The Inspector points out that bobby best get to it, "At the rate we are going, there is going to be nobody left to marry this bloody bachelor!"

Meanwhile, Constable Higgins picks up a dirty, smelly smoking habit, and may very well be the person who accidentally starts the conflagration that consumes a large section of Toronto.

Character Revelations[]

  • Julia is concealing her 'post traumatic stress disorder', albeit not yet diagnosed as such (since PTSD is not officially classified until 1980).
  • George reads Madge Merton's "Page For Women" in the Toronto Daily Star an essential reading for anybody who wants to know the ins and outs of Toronto Society.
  • Brackenreid tells Murdoch, "When Margaret says she's "fine", I know that I'm one step away from the doghouse."
  • Miss James begins to work outside the morgue, at a second crime scene she tells Murdoch, "I never knew there was so such peril in being young, rich and white."
  • Nina Bloom was a debutante herself and she has a brother who spent time in Don Jail.

Continuity[]

Historical References[]

  • This episode takes place in Toronto 1904 – Edward VII (Albert Edward;1841-1910) is King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas.
  • Elmina Ella Susannah Elliott of Oakville, Ontario wrote under the nom-de-plume of Madge Merton as a journalist for the Montreal Herald and the Toronto Daily Star
  • The Great Toronto Fire of 1904, one of the seminal events in the city's history. 

Trivia[]

Errors[]

  • The water cooler was first invented in early 1906.

Cast[]

Main Cast[]

Yannick Bisson as Detective William Murdoch
Hélène Joy as Dr. Julia Ogden
Thomas Craig as Inspector Thomas Brackenreid
Jonny Harris as Constable George Crabtree

Recurring Cast[]

Lachlan Murdoch as Constable Henry Higgins
Mouna Traoré as Rebecca James
Daiva Johnston as Eva Pearce
Erin Agostino as Nina Bloom
Katy Breier as Lydia Hall

Guest Cast[]

Samantha Bond as Lady Suzanne Atherly
Dominique Provost-Chalkley as Elizabeth Atherly
Kyle Cameron as Rodney Strong
Caroline Palmer as Faye Sloane
Hannah Whitmore as Jennie Berridge
Kelly Van der Burg as Madeline Wellwood
Stefne Mercedes as Erma Fairhurst
Harmon Walsh as Bishop
Kristina Nicoll as Madge Merton
Sean Connolly Affleck as Samuel Bloom
Alison J. Palmer as Mathilda Thorn
Nathan Hoppe as Constable

Gallery[]


Murdoch Mysteries Season 10
Great Balls of Fire, Part 1Great Balls of Fire, Part 2A Study in PinkConcocting A KillerJagged Little PillBend It Like BrackenreidPainted LadiesWeekend at Murdoch'sExcitable ChapThe Devil InsideA Murdog MysteryThe MissingMr. Murdoch's NeighbourhoodFrom Murdoch to EternityHades Hath No FuryMaster LovecraftHot Wheels of ThunderHell to Pay
Season 1Season 2Season 3Season 4Season 5Season 6Season 7Season 8Season 9Season 10Season 11Season 12Season 13Season 14Season 15
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