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“Murdoch Mysteries” season 13 episode 11 “Staring Blindly into the Future” marks its 200th episode. It’s rare to witness a television series surpass 200 episodes, much less maintaining such a level of quality as “Murdoch Mysteries.” This landmark episode features a slew of familiar faces, hilarious easter eggs, and running gags.



The James Pendrick (Peter Stebbings) Symposium hits Toronto. And with it, the best and brightest minds of the 1900s are in attendance: Alexander Graham Bell (David Storch), Nikola Tesla (Dmitry Chepovetsky), Marie Curie (Ewa Placzynska), Albert Einstein (Eric Charters), Ernest Rutherford (Andrew Hodwitz), Thomas Edison (David Storch), Henry Ford (Todd Hofley), Andrew Carnegie (Philip Craig), Harry Houdini (Grisha Pasternak), H.G. Wells (Thomas Craig), and Emma Goldman (Lisa Norton). The titular Det. William Murdoch (Yannick Bisson) is slated to give a speech at the Pendrick Symposium. Murdoch and his wife, Dr. Julia Ogden (Helene Joy) prepare to head to the event. “I think I should have been invited,” Constable George Crabtree (Jonny Harris) protests. “I mean, who has a more exciting view of the future than I do?” Resigned, Murdoch wonders, “Right then, George. What do you believe the future holds?” Ecstatic, Crabtree predicts, “Automatons, sir. At least one in every household. And artificial meat grown in great vats. You can take the gelatinous byproduct and warm it into a household lubricant.” Considering the trend of smart assistants such as Google Home and Amazon Alexa devices, as well as plant-based meats such as the Impossible Burger and Beyond Meats, George isn’t far off.

Lamenting that he’s not invited to Pendrick’s symposium, especially odd considering that Pendrick is his best friend, Inspector Thomas Brackenreid (Thomas Craig) requests Marie Curie’s signature for his autograph book. “I’ve got prime ministers, presidents, I’ve even got Buffalo Bill. But what I don’t have is a Noble Laureate.” Arriving at the Symposium, Murdoch and Ogden reunite with old friends including Graham Bell and H.G. Wells. Strangely, Pendrick fails to show up at his own symposium. Instead, in a recorded video message, Pendrick explains that Svetlana Tsiokofsky (Christine Horne) will be his proxy. Soon after the symposium kicks off, various attendees begin disappearing. First, Tesla goes missing. Frowning, Murdoch asks the bellhop who lets him into Tesla’s room, “Do I know you?” The bellhop responds, “We met in New York.” Turning to Julia, William exclaims, “Oh! When we saved President Roosevelt.” Agreeing the bellhop adds, “yes, when you didn’t tip.” Murdoch consults Houdini on Tesla’s disappearance, While at first it seems Tesla might have pulled some sort of trick, Rutherford, Einstein, and Curie vanish as well. This causes Murdoch to suspect foul play.

Obvervations:

“Murdoch Mysteries” S13E11 “Staring Blindly into the Future” is a classic “Murdoch Mysteries” gem. It’s full of historical characters, many of whom have appeared in previous episodes. Tesla, Graham Bell, and H.G. Wells notably popped up in earlier episodes. Likewise, recurring characters in Pendrick Svetlana, and the nefarious Sally Pendrick (Kate Greenhouse) mark the 200th “Murdoch Mysteries” episode.

The wit and hilarity of the series continue. A ceaselessly entertaining gag, Crabtree’s often outlandish imagination predicts the future. This time, Constable Crabtree envisions plant-based meats and artificial intelligence assistants. His thinking, the stuff of sci-fi, inspires Einstein who offers George a position collaborating with him, but Crabtree turns it down. Constable Henry Higgins (Lachlan Murdoch) showcases his rearview mirror to Henry Ford. While Higgins views this as an opportunity to get rich, his lack of a patent allows Ford to simply file for a patent of his own. Det. Llewellyn Watts (Daniel Maslany) chats with Emma Goldman who proceeds to punch Andrew Carnegie, shouting, “This is for the workers!” Watts has her removed but not charged remarking, “The woman has a point.”

In an epic finale, Murdoch, Ogden, Brackenreid, and Crabtree escape in a hot air balloon while Det. Murdoch gives an impassioned, inspired speech about the idyllic yet unrealistic and ultimately unrealized future he foresees. There are a few plot holes, notably that Pendrick supposedly captured, is never found. Still, “Staring Blindly into the Future” is a delightful Murdochian romp filled with all of the charm that established the series as not only one of CBC’s hit shows, but one of the top television series of all-time.