Margaret Brackenreid is one of the original reoccurring characters in the Murdoch Mysteries (2008) portrayed by Canadian actress Arwen Humphreys.
Biography
Margaret Brackenreid is married to Inspector Thomas Brackenreid and together they have two young boys.
Constable Brackenreid was only on the force two weeks when he arrested Margaret. She had gotten into a tiff over the lunch special at Maisy’s,“…such a tart tongue, full of sass, even then.” (ep 807)
Thomas Brackenreid had just come out of the army when Margaret's father asked him to join the family's plumbing business. Margaret thought he'd have been a good plumber, but his heart was set on the police force. Married to a policeman, she knew what she was getting into, no point in complaining about the long hours– and the worry. But still... she does worries after they had the two boys (ep 304).
Margaret disapproves of Thomas' drinking habits and is in a Temperance League. In Season 5, she joins a gambling club for ladies which Thomas frowns upon until she wins the jackpot.
Margaret does not like the opera but instead enjoys classical music on their gramophone. She is a good cook, bakes her own bread, and is noted for her excellent plum pudding at Christmas by Murdoch.
"Margaret Brackenreid is the ideal counterpart to her classic Victorian husband. Equally a product of the times, Margaret may not buy into the votes for women, but she has learned from the women who went before her how to manage a husband without him knowing." – Investigating Murdoch Mysteries
Episodes
"The Glass Ceiling"
Margaret is shown escorting her two sons from a room in the family residence containing some gruesome evidence.
"Mild Mild West"
Mrs. Brackenreid has joined The Temperance League in an effort to get the Inspector to stop drinking. This will be the issue of contention between the Brackenreids for episodes to come.
"Murdoch.com"
"Rich Boy, Poor Boy"
In this episode, where their son Bobby is kidnapped, Margaret under extreme worry and stressed, even angry with Thomas out of frustration and grief, revealing her most vulnerable side.
"Murdoch in Wonderland"
Margaret attends Julia Ogden's wedding to Darcy Garland, along with Station House No.4.
"Murdoch at the Opera"
"Who Killed the Electric Carriage?"
"Invention Convention"
Margaret appears when Brackenreid develops a toothache and tries to get him to see a dentist, which eventually he does go see.
"Twentieth Century Murdoch"
"Murdoch Air"
"Murdoch and the Cloud of Doom"
"Kung Fu Crabtree"
Margaret accompanies Thomas to a Chinese dinner, where a dignitary is poisoned. She is inspired by the new cuisine and starts shopping at the Chinese market, buying ginseng, and cooking Chinese dinners for Thomas which has some surprising after-effects.
"On the Waterfront Part 1"
Margaret is concerned about Thomas not recovering from his grievous injury (ep 718) and three months in hospital, "He's not the same man, Detective, he just sits there like a lump. He won't retire, he won't return to work. He won't do anything. It's as if the beating took the life out of him."
"Holy Matrimony, Murdoch!"
Margaret is involved in the planning of William Murdoch and Julia Ogden's wedding and is an enthusiastic and fastidious planner that makes sure nothing goes wrong (which, of course, it does.)
"Election Day"
"Marked Twain"
Margaret tries to get Thomas to join the Empire Club.
The Local Option
Margaret invites radical anti-alcohol activist Carrie Nation to stay at the Brackenreid's home, which means hiding the Inspector's scotch. Thomas protests, saying if Toronto goes dry he will move back to England.
Gallery