"It's a Wonderful Game” is the sixteenth episode of the fifteenth season of Murdoch Mysteries and the two hundred thirty-first episode of the series (not including the three stand-alone holiday specials). It first aired on January 31, 2022.
Summary
Murdoch, Ogden, and Harry join Crabtree and his ragtag team of street kids for a fundraising basketball tournament in Almonte, a village outside Ottawa. Shortly after presenting the key to the city to local hero Dr. James Naismith, the game's inventor, the mayor is found dead in the gymnasium equipment room. What initially looked like misadventure soon looks like murder.
Meanwhile, Watts digs deeper into Clara Walker’s murder.
Character Revelations
- Jack Walker is wanted for murder.
Continuity
- Another busman's holiday for Julia and Murdoch...
- Julia Ogden shares her basketball skills (last seen playing in ep.303)
Historical References
- 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.
- Almonte’s Bad Fire-Perth Courier, September 1909: The chief business block on the main street was completely destroyed which included the Commercial Hotel, West’s General Store, Patterson’s Drug Store, and Kaufman’s Hardware Store. The loss was $75,000 (in 1909 equates to about $2 million in today’s dollars) and the insurance will not exceed $38,000.
- The real life Toronto Raptors joined the NBA in 1995.
Trivia
- While this episode is set in Almonte on the Mississippi River near Ottawa, it wasn’t actually filmed in the former mill town in Lanark County, in the eastern portion of Ontario, Canada.
- Raptors head coach Nick Nurse has what it takes to make team Murdoch (and speaks six lines); He made his acting debut in 2020, appearing as himself in an episode of the Canadian comedy-drama series, Private Eyes.
- Not the first time the surname Shanley (ep.1004) has been used.
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
Daniel Maslany as Detective Llewellyn Watts
Shanice Banton as Violet Hart
James Graham as Arthur Carmichael
Jesse Lavercombe as Jack Walker
David Andrew Reid as Milo Strange
Etienne Kellici as Harry
Samantha Walkes as Cassiopeia Bright
Mark Sparks as Ezra Steele
Tammy Isbell as Lucille Cartwright
Wayne Ward as Franklin Cartwright
Nathan Hoppe as Constable McNabb
Guest Cast
Nicholas Fry as Fast Eddie
Nasj Raymond as Slim Sydney
Nigel Hamer as Dr. James Naismith
Marine McPhail-Diamond as Daisy Stewart
John Nelles as Robert Shanley
Jasper Jordan as Darryl Shanley
Rex Hagon as Mayor Alex McKenzie
Melody Johnson as Lillian Belton
Julie Nolke as Prudence
Shawn Roberts as Simon
Ashley Comeau as Rose
Nick Nurse as Locker Room Attendant
Gallery
| Murdoch Mysteries Season 15 |
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| The Things We Do for Love Part 1 • The Things We Do for Love Part 2 • Manhunt • Blood on the Tracks • Love or Money • I Know What You Did Last Autumn • The Incorrigible Dr. Ogden• Murdoch Knows Best • The Lady Vanishes • Drawn in Blood • The Night Before Christmas •There's Something About Mary • Murdoch on the Couch • The Witches of East York • Rawhide Ralph • It's a Wonderful Game • Bloodlines • Patriot Games• Brother Can You Spare a Crime • Pendrick's Planetary Parlour • Devil Music • Sweet Amelia • Pay the Piper • Close Encounters
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