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"Parker in the Rye" is the tenth episode of the thirteenth season of the Murdoch Mysteries and the one hundred ninety-sixth of the series (not including the three stand-alone holiday specials). It aired on January 6, 2020.

Summary

When a whiskey baron and his family are murdered, Murdoch puts Parker in the cells with a hitman to see who hired him.

Character Revelations

  • Special Constable Robert Parker gets his first undercover assignment, giving up tickets for the Grand Opening of the Royal Alexandra Theatre.
  • Brackenreid has nickname Parker "Butch", as in Butch Cassidy. Parker reveals to George,"I was part of the Pinkerton squad that tracked Butch through Colorado."
  • Parker is fluent in Tagalog (Filipino) and was a member of the U.S. Army, "Dumbest thing I've ever done was fight for a country that hates me."


Continuity

  • All of Julia's human relationship skills and compassion come into play during this case, but not so much with William – still working through their proverbial conflict.
  • Crabtree and Parker, on a first name basis with George, work the streets of Toronto and once again (2nd time) discover a crime scene.
  • Inspector Brackenreid is "beyond enamored with the Old West," (ep.201, 803) George tells Parker and if the Inspector found out about Parker being on the Pinkerton squad that tracked Butch through Colorado, "... you're sure to become his new drinking partner," and Parker would have to learn to appreciate rye.
  • Constable Crabtree shares his favorite street food (ep.711), the Hot Sausage aka Hot Dog, with Jacob Quincannon.


Historical References

  • This episode takes place in Toronto 1907 – 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.
  • Built in 1907, the Royal Alexandra Theatre, commonly known as the Royal Alex, is the oldest continuously operating legitimate theatre in North America, located 259 Richmond St W, Toronto, ON. The venue has a seating capacity of 1,497, and is designed in a beaux-arts style, with a proscenium stage, built in a typical 19th century British theatre style. It was designated under the Ontario Heritage Act in 1975 and named a National Historic Site of Canada in 1987, on the 80th anniversary of the theatre.
  • Butch Cassidy, born Robert LeRoy Parker on April 13, 1866, in Beaver, Utah Territory, was a U.S. train and bank robber, and the leader of a gang of outlaws known as the "Wild Bunch" in the American Old West.
  • Canada's most notorious bootlegger Rocco Perri is introduced.
  • In July 1899, the 24th stationed at Fort Douglas, Utah and in Wyoming arrived in the Philippine Islands to reinforce Army units which had captured the islands from the Spanish and were then under attack by Filipino insurgents – officially known as the Philippine Insurrection.
  • Sic semper tyrannis is a Latin phrase meaning "thus always to tyrants", suggesting that bad outcomes will or should befall tyrants.

Trivia

  • This episode was filmed at the same time as the Halloween episode (ep.1305); The distillery was built inside a mill at Lang Pioneer Village.
  • Recasted actor Gord Rand first played Travis MacQuire in Blast of Silence.
  • Peter Mitchell tweeted that Mr. Bronson was named after the notorious Bronson, Britain’s most dangerous criminal.

Errors

  • According to most historical sources, Rocco Perri arrived in Canada a year after this episode's timeline  in 1908.

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
Shanice Banton as Violet Hart
Marc Senior as Robert Parker

Guest Cast

Sean Dolan as Jacob Quincannon
Gord Rand as Leon Bronson
Alex House as Mooney
Alex Weiner as Roberts
Stefano DiMatteo as Rocco Perri
Meghan Allen as Angela Dempsey
Brian Coffey as Ian Kilmister
Mark Allan as Attendant
Sean Hoy as Veterinarian
Steve MacDonald as Jail Cell Guard

Gallery


Murdoch Mysteries Season 13
Troublemakers Bad PenniesForever YoungProdigal Father
Murdoch and the Cursed Caves The Philately Fatality Toronto the BadThe Final CurtainThe Killing Dose
Parker in the RyeStaring Blindly into the FutureFox HuntKill Thy NeighbourRigid Silence
The Trial of Terrence MeyersIn the Company of WomenThings Left BehindThe Future is Unwritten


Season 1Season 2Season 3Season 4Season 5Season 6Season 7Season 8Season 9Season 10Season 11Season 12Season 13Season 14Season 15

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