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"Murdoch Air" is the first episode of the sixth season of the Murdoch Mysteries and the sixty-sixth episode of the series.

Summary

The episode opens with William Murdoch and Julia Ogden in a church, about to be married. George Crabtree is attending as well as the Brackenreids. The moment doesn't last, however, as Murdoch is awaken from his dream by George loudly warning about a flying machine in the air over Toronto. They rush outside to see an amazing device flying over the city, only to see it crash into a building. They investigate the crash and find both a man and a pig have been killed. George wonders if the pig is an alien creature. Murdoch asks him, “Don't you think it highly unlikely that a creature from another planet would look exactly like an earthly pig?” George comes back with, “Parallel evolution, sir, except on his planet pigs became the dominant species.”

Meanwhile, Inspector Brackenreid decides to re-join the military to fight for home and country against the Boers in South Africa, while Mrs. B. shrewdly sets up a plan to dissuade him.

George discovers the pig is just a pig but its purchase leads them to James Pendrick, the inventor of the flying machine named the Pendrick Arrow. The one that flew over the city was a practice test and part of the Mortimer Challenge. An oil tycoon by the name of Samuel Mortimer has put up a million dollars to the first man who can achieve controlled flight. Pendrick points out that any fool can get a flying machine off the ground, how do you turn the damn thing? That is the question to which he has the answer and that’s what someone is after. Unfortunately he is right, the real Pendrick Arrow is stolen and Pendrick’s assistant is the dead man.

Further investigation reveals, they have a millionaire that doesn't exist, but a million dollars that does, dead bodies, coded notes, special darts, and an exotic poison. With all that, Inspector Brackenreid thinks he knows who is behind all this– Terrence Meyers. Sure enough, super spy Terrence Meyers strolls into the station house declaring “…it’s a matter of national security,” and wants access to everything, except the pig.

Murdoch knows that where there is Meyers, American spy master Clegg is not far behind. One of them has the stolen Pendrick Arrow while the other wants its new technology and both of them are willing to do anything to win, the race is on for Murdoch to retrieve the Arrow first.

Character Revelations

  • James Pendrick would rather remain financially ruined than to design a war machine
  • Julia returns from studying with Freud in Austria possessing a new European style and confidence.
  • George can sew, no doubt a skill he acquired from one of his aunts.

Continuity

  • Dr. Ogden secures a position as psychiatrist at the asylum and tells William she hopes to be unmarried, he gives her his heartfelt support
  • Darcy is agreeable to an annulment, William and Julia can marry.

Historical References

  • Otto Lilienthal (1848 – 1896) was a German pioneer of aviation who became known as the Glider King. He was the first person to make well-documented, repeated, successful gliding flights.
  • The Wright brothers are briefly mentioned in this episode.
  • Inspector Brackenreid signs up for military service during the Second Boer War.

  • Allusions to the Avro Arrow in that outside influences are trying to hijack the technology of the Canadian Arrow.

Trivia

  • George introduces Emily to the hot hamburger which at first she declines (making a reference that combining hot meat and bread was not good for the digestion), but later she is eating one in the morgue and offers it to Murdoch for a taste. He declines.

Errors

Cast

Main Cast

Yannick Bisson as William Murdoch
Hélène Joy as Julia Ogden
Thomas Craig as Thomas Brackenreid
Jonny Harris as George Crabtree
Georgina Reilly as Emily Grace

Recurring Cast

Lachlan Murdoch as Constable Henry Higgins
Arwen Humphreys as Margaret Brackenreid
Charles Vandervaart as John Brackenreid
Jayden Greig as Bobby Brackenreid
Peter Stebbings as James Pendrick
Peter Keleghan as Terrence Meyers
Matthew Bennett as Allen Clegg

Guest Cast

Jamie Abrams as Harry
Rick Hughes as Arthur
Tim MacLean as Arthurs

Other Cast 

David MacInnis as Recruits Sergeant
Derek Bogart as Wilbur Wright (uncredited)
Daniel Cristofori as Orville Wright (uncredited)
Scott Leaver as Arm Cast Suspect (uncredited)

Gallery

Murdoch Mysteries Season 6
"Murdoch Air" • "Winston's Lost Night" • "Murdoch On The Corner" • "A Study in Sherlock" • "Murdoch Au Naturel" • "Murdoch and the Cloud of Doom" • "The Ghost of Queen's Park" • "Murdoch in Ladies Wear" • "Victoria Cross" • "Twisted Sisters" • "Lovers in a Murderous Time" • "Crime and Punishment" • "The Murdoch Trap"
Web Series: Nightmare on Queen Street
Season 1Season 2Season 3Season 4eason 5Season 6Season 7Season 8Season 9Season 10Season 11Season 12Season 13Season 14Season 15
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