***SPOILERS*** Well, what did I think was wrong? I'm NOT gonna give away very much. Certainly not enough for anyone to miss seeing this fine drama. As usual, the writers play fast, and very loose with actual history. Evidence is that Butch and The Kid were fugitives, alright - from Wyoming. IF they were in our wonderful ally, Canada, they were OUT of any U.S. jurisdiction. Next, Bat Masterson was definitely a sports writer. Highly respected, and with a serious western background in violent conflict; nonetheless, he STILL had no standing as a lawman outside our borders. Still, it was interesting, and could have been much more so, if it weren't for the intrusion of Dr. Ogden, and her wedding plans. I can't recall having read about Canada and Butch and Sundance in the same historical reference. Oh well, it IS a work of fiction, isn't it? The fellow who played Bartholemew "Bat" Masterson, Steven Ogg, was the same guy who got beautifully clouted (and cut down to size) by one of my favorite characters, Mike Ehrmantraut in an episode of "Better Call Saul" he did a great job of helping us old farts lord it over youthful muscle. The acting, as usual, was great, the sets and setting was wonderful, but, I can't give this one any better than an 8.
3 Reviews
Murdoch meets another living legend of a lawman
miles-3310822 November 2016
Warning: Spoilers
A boxing match is about to begin, with off-duty Constables Higgins and Jackson in the audience, debating the propriety of betting on the fight. Suddenly there is a commotion as a man in the crowd draws a revolver and shouts across the hall at two of the spectators. Chaos ensues, and the two men disappear among the people rushing to escape from the potential shootout. Higgins and Jackson apprehend the man with the gun, and take him off to the cells of Police Station 4. The gunman refuses to speak to the Constables, but wants to see whoever is in authority. Inspector Brackenreid arrives at the cells, and the gunman announces himself as Bat Masterson, a living legend of a lawman from Dodge City. He is in Toronto for two reasons, first as a sports reporter for the New York Telegraph newspaper, and second because he is on the trail of the outlaws Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. The police catch two suspects, but they turn out not to be the outlaws and are released.
Meanwhile, Inspector Brackenreid's wife Margaret wants to lend a hand with the arrangements for Murdoch's nuptials, and it is while Murdoch is explaining this to Dr Ogden that the alarm is raised at the Bank of Toronto. Masterson, Murdoch, Crabtree and Brackenreid arrive at the Bank to find the robbery still in progress. Masterson goes in through the front door, while Crabtree goes around the back. After a flurry of gunshots, Masterson and Crabtree emerge unscathed, but the robbers have escaped. Masterson visits a house of ill repute to try to pick up the trail, and indeed the ladies do remember them, so he stays on to conduct private interviews.
A train is held up, and a railway employee in the car which held the safe carrying the railway payroll is shot dead. This is out of character for the outlaws who pride themselves on avoiding killing innocent people. Masterson needs time to consider this turn of events, but disappears, leaving Murdoch and Brackenreid wondering what is going on. They track Masterson down in a bar, drowning his sorrows, where he expresses his regret for events, because he had known ever since seeing the two suspects that he had been mistaken about seeing the two outlaws, but he had played along with the newspaper circus as it made him the centre of attention again, decades after his glory days.
So, if Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid aren't responsible for robbing the bank and train, who are, and how can the Toronto Constabulary catch them? Can Bat Masterson provide any real help? And what have Murdoch's colleagues got lined up for his bachelor party?
There is a really lovely bit in this episode, involving Dr Ogden and Father Clements, the priest in charge of the church that Murdoch attends. The two debate the meaning of life, enabling the priest to trust that Murdoch has found a good partner, while also allowing Julia to appreciate just how important Murdoch's faith is to him. She may not understand all the ways in which faith affects Murdoch's thoughts, values and actions, but she knows that without his faith, Murdoch would not be the man she loves.
Watch this episode with a hankie
Meanwhile, Inspector Brackenreid's wife Margaret wants to lend a hand with the arrangements for Murdoch's nuptials, and it is while Murdoch is explaining this to Dr Ogden that the alarm is raised at the Bank of Toronto. Masterson, Murdoch, Crabtree and Brackenreid arrive at the Bank to find the robbery still in progress. Masterson goes in through the front door, while Crabtree goes around the back. After a flurry of gunshots, Masterson and Crabtree emerge unscathed, but the robbers have escaped. Masterson visits a house of ill repute to try to pick up the trail, and indeed the ladies do remember them, so he stays on to conduct private interviews.
A train is held up, and a railway employee in the car which held the safe carrying the railway payroll is shot dead. This is out of character for the outlaws who pride themselves on avoiding killing innocent people. Masterson needs time to consider this turn of events, but disappears, leaving Murdoch and Brackenreid wondering what is going on. They track Masterson down in a bar, drowning his sorrows, where he expresses his regret for events, because he had known ever since seeing the two suspects that he had been mistaken about seeing the two outlaws, but he had played along with the newspaper circus as it made him the centre of attention again, decades after his glory days.
So, if Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid aren't responsible for robbing the bank and train, who are, and how can the Toronto Constabulary catch them? Can Bat Masterson provide any real help? And what have Murdoch's colleagues got lined up for his bachelor party?
There is a really lovely bit in this episode, involving Dr Ogden and Father Clements, the priest in charge of the church that Murdoch attends. The two debate the meaning of life, enabling the priest to trust that Murdoch has found a good partner, while also allowing Julia to appreciate just how important Murdoch's faith is to him. She may not understand all the ways in which faith affects Murdoch's thoughts, values and actions, but she knows that without his faith, Murdoch would not be the man she loves.
Watch this episode with a hankie
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