This episode could have easily been a 10 because it began with a mysterious death on a dark and stormy night in the typical haunted house. The show allowed Constable Crabtree to regale all who would listen with his theories about the afterlife, a story of his aunt's seeing his uncle's apparition, zombies, etc. However, because the producers of Murdoch Mysteries are determined to bombard us with what they perceive to be "politically correct," Timothy, the dead Beaton brother, who is believed to have returned from the dead, is a mulatto. Then we hear Dr. Ogden claim she knew Timothy and he was a "sweet man." No "respectable" white woman of this time period would have said such a thing. If this wasn't enough, we are then expected to believe the wife of the eldest Beaton brother was initially interested in Timothy, the mulatto. Had this been the case, the elder brother, who despised and resented Timothy, would have never married her. Just how credulous do the producers of this show think we are? How about some authenticity? However, the Haitain maid's sticking pins in a voodoo doll toward the end was a nice touch.
4 Reviews
This above all, to thine own self be true
miles-331084 November 2016
I have read the comments of two other reviewers, and whilst both of them make some good points, I feel that they undervalue this episode because of what they perceive as too much pandering to political correctness.
In particular, the issue in this episode seems to be the interactions between the white characters in the story and those who are black or mulatto (to use the definitely non-PC word repeatedly used in this show). As a British person, my observations could easily be wide of the mark, but surely the attitudes of these family members would be very much influenced by their Haitian (and before that, French) origins. Equality is, after all, one of the three principles on which French society stands. The interracial dynamics could be quite different from the norms for a typical Canadian or American family of the day.
When it comes to the behaviour of the other principal characters, Detective Murdoch is a Roman Catholic whom we are told early on will get no preferment within the Police force because of that fact, so as the underdog, perhaps he is more likely to empathise with others who are underdogs in other ways. Dr Ogden has had to struggle herself, so perhaps she more readily warms to others in their struggles, leaving aside the fact that she is better educated than any other principal character, and better educated people tend to have broader minds. Inspector Brackenridge is a diamond in the rough whose multiple prejudices are very near the surface, but every now and then we do glimpse a softer man underneath the brash exterior.
Overall, then, I am happier than my fellow reviewers to allow the characters in this show more latitude in their behaviour before crying foul. For me, this episode is a definite 10 for the quality of the mystery and the pacing of the action. I also believe it is quite clear that Yannick Bisson is very good value for his portrayal of Detective Murdoch. It isn't poor acting as some have written in other reviews, and anyone who has seen the hilarious series 2 finale would surely agree.
In particular, the issue in this episode seems to be the interactions between the white characters in the story and those who are black or mulatto (to use the definitely non-PC word repeatedly used in this show). As a British person, my observations could easily be wide of the mark, but surely the attitudes of these family members would be very much influenced by their Haitian (and before that, French) origins. Equality is, after all, one of the three principles on which French society stands. The interracial dynamics could be quite different from the norms for a typical Canadian or American family of the day.
When it comes to the behaviour of the other principal characters, Detective Murdoch is a Roman Catholic whom we are told early on will get no preferment within the Police force because of that fact, so as the underdog, perhaps he is more likely to empathise with others who are underdogs in other ways. Dr Ogden has had to struggle herself, so perhaps she more readily warms to others in their struggles, leaving aside the fact that she is better educated than any other principal character, and better educated people tend to have broader minds. Inspector Brackenridge is a diamond in the rough whose multiple prejudices are very near the surface, but every now and then we do glimpse a softer man underneath the brash exterior.
Overall, then, I am happier than my fellow reviewers to allow the characters in this show more latitude in their behaviour before crying foul. For me, this episode is a definite 10 for the quality of the mystery and the pacing of the action. I also believe it is quite clear that Yannick Bisson is very good value for his portrayal of Detective Murdoch. It isn't poor acting as some have written in other reviews, and anyone who has seen the hilarious series 2 finale would surely agree.
Thoroughly Enjoyable
mmvrxktnr25 September 2021
I enjoyed this haunted house story and the more diverse cast, and the ending was perfect.
Reviews by those uncomfortable with seeing Black actors in a period drama (or white people being romantically involved with Black people) and dismissing these depictions as unrealistic or "PC" are additionally entertaining-not only is Murdoch Mysteries is far from diverse, those reviewers might want to better acquaint themselves with some actual history.
Reviews by those uncomfortable with seeing Black actors in a period drama (or white people being romantically involved with Black people) and dismissing these depictions as unrealistic or "PC" are additionally entertaining-not only is Murdoch Mysteries is far from diverse, those reviewers might want to better acquaint themselves with some actual history.
Creepy, voodoo, zombies, ghost, Haiti and bi-racial siblings
ctyankee129 March 2015
This episode has a lot of suspense and mystery. A man is killed and at first it was thought suicide. Police investigate because the cause of death has not been determined and the man that died called out "Timothy" the name of his dead brother.
After comments by house staff that are all from Haiti and seem to be inter-related they talk about their beliefs in voodoo and someone walking at times in the house when everyone is supposedly in their rooms. The people that live in the house say it is cursed and most of the owners or people that would get the property died young. It comes out that Timothy was father by Mr Beaton, the father of all the sons living in the house. Timothy is a black Haitian and Mr Beaton is from Haiti but is white. Timothy's mother was a house maid to the Beatons. When the Beatons left Haiti they took several black people to work as maids and house help.
As the story goes on Crabtree as in the past professes his belief in occult practices and manifestations of ghost. He reads up on voodooism and tries to get Murdoch to believe in zombies and the like because he does.
I find that after watching several of these episodes Inspector Brackenreid is the only one that takes a strong stand against any of these practices and beliefs. He has a short temper and he drinks but his perception of spiritualist, mediums, ghost are right on target in my view. He wants a answer that is logical and does not believe in this stuff.
The ending is bizarre and many of the spiritual beliefs the characters have are disproved. As in the Murdoch series the writers have to make some sort of ending that they want you to believe in some strange occurrence that their is some truth in these practices. Such baloney.
After comments by house staff that are all from Haiti and seem to be inter-related they talk about their beliefs in voodoo and someone walking at times in the house when everyone is supposedly in their rooms. The people that live in the house say it is cursed and most of the owners or people that would get the property died young. It comes out that Timothy was father by Mr Beaton, the father of all the sons living in the house. Timothy is a black Haitian and Mr Beaton is from Haiti but is white. Timothy's mother was a house maid to the Beatons. When the Beatons left Haiti they took several black people to work as maids and house help.
As the story goes on Crabtree as in the past professes his belief in occult practices and manifestations of ghost. He reads up on voodooism and tries to get Murdoch to believe in zombies and the like because he does.
I find that after watching several of these episodes Inspector Brackenreid is the only one that takes a strong stand against any of these practices and beliefs. He has a short temper and he drinks but his perception of spiritualist, mediums, ghost are right on target in my view. He wants a answer that is logical and does not believe in this stuff.
The ending is bizarre and many of the spiritual beliefs the characters have are disproved. As in the Murdoch series the writers have to make some sort of ending that they want you to believe in some strange occurrence that their is some truth in these practices. Such baloney.
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