"Murder Checks In" is the fifth episode of the fourteenth season of the Murdoch Mysteries and the two hundred ninth episode of the series (not including the three stand-alone holiday specials). It aired on February 1, 2021.
Summary
Murdoch and Ogden's weekend at a country inn goes awry when a guest is murdered.
William and Julia's weekend at a remote inn starts inauspiciously when their unpleasant traveling companions squabble. Things take a turn for the worse when one of the travelers is stabbed.
Back in Toronto, Crabtree and Higgins contend with the severed body of a woman buried in a community garden. Brackenreid puts Higgins in charge, but he appears more interested in solving a jigsaw puzzle.
Character Revelations
- While she enjoys tramping and sleeping in a tent with William, Julia has booked a cozy inn this time.
Continuity
- Julia and Murdoch's getaways always turn into a busman’s holiday.
- Art collector Derek Ferdinand returns...
- Higgins’ oblivious laziness and lack of focus are on full display...again, but with a twist.
Historical References
- This episode takes place in Toronto 1908 – 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.
Trivia
- Filmed in part at Lake Simcoe near Innisfil, Ontario, Canada.
- According to MM writer Noelle Girard, "We wanted to have a few ‘types’ as suspects, such as the flirty widow and the tweedy professor, to annoy Murdoch and Ogden, and it’s fun to play someone who thinks he knows it all off Murdoch, who actually does know it all." A larger cast of suspects were planned but due to pandemic restrictions it had to be whittlee down the numbers, "...but I think it turned out better with a smaller group of characters". She confesses to stealing the head in the garden from an article about a woman in France who was furious that her industrious co-worker was making her look lazy so she killed the woman with a wine bottle, then buried her head in her allotment. Girard had second thoughts about halfway through the process, but the props team and the model artist "were having too much fun making the head".
- Noelle Girard hints about that Henny and Ru-Ru are having a baby, "...I’m sure their parenting will be sweet but absolutely chaotic".
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
Shanice Banton as Violet Hart
Lachlan Murdoch as Constable Henry Higgins
Ken Hall as Derek Ferdinand
James Graham as Arthur Carmichael
Guest Cast
Sydney Meyer as Clair Ferdinand
Deborah Hay as Pricilla Bantam
Ryan Kelly as Professor Leamington
Dillan Chiblow as David Johnson
Neil Foster as Mr. Hagar
Tim Dowler-Coltman as George Collins
Jenny Young as Susannah Irwin
Michael Wacholtz as Mr. Graham
Mark Waters as Waiter
Non-Credited Cast
Natalie Dale as Allotment Woman
Gallery
| Murdoch Mysteries Season 14 |
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| Murdoch and the Tramp • Rough and Tumble • Code M for Murdoch • Shock Value • Murder Checks In • The Ministry of Virtue • Murdoch Escape Room • The Dominion of New South Mimico • The .38 Murdoch Special • Everything is Broken Part 1 • Everything is Broken Part 2
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