Murdoch Mysteries (TV Series) What Lies Buried (2014) User Reviews

Outstanding story of forbidden love and loyalty

[jean-60562 · 10/10 · 17 April 2017]

Storyline has been outlined by other reviewers. I wish to add the following: If the scenes in which Murdock is interrogating Inspector Giles were scenes in a movie, actor Nigel Bennett would have received an Oscar nomination for best-supporting actor. Under questioning by Murdoch, Giles obfuscates, defends and finally breaks. He reveals how his true love turned out to be a lie and how it destroyed his willingness to ever love again. Bennett's portrayal of Giles at this moment — his face pained and his eyes slightly tearing — were heartbreaking and true to his stoic character. Bennett is a rare bird and a pleasure to watch. Bravo also to the writers of this episode. Makes me wonder why Giles is being written out of the series? I know he is incarcerated, but somehow bring him back, perhaps as someone the detectives consult with from time to time or as a private investigator.

P.S. I do not know Bennett and have never seen him act before Murdoch. However, I am a 53-year-old classic movie buff and a Shakespearean play lover. I have seen every episode of Murdoch on Acorn and Netflix multiple times. So, I feel like I am a fairly good judge of acting ability.

Skeletons in the (water) closet

[miles-33108 · 9/10 · 23 November 2016]

Police Station 4 is being renovated, with jackhammers making plenty of noise as they smash through the concrete floor to get at the plumbing. Suddenly the noise stops because a skeleton has been found. Dr Grace determines that the victim was a young adult male whose death was most likely caused by a blow to the temple, though he had also been shot some months before. The Station archives reveal the concrete floor was laid on 22 June 1881.

Current Chief Constable Giles was the detective there in those days. Other officers from that time are identified from a photograph taken that May, including retired Chief Constable Stockton (formerly Inspector) Inspector Brackenreid (a new Constable), and Sergeant Hodge (then a Constable). Most of the others are retired or, in one case, Constable Reid, dead.

Murdoch and Crabtree soon conclude that the skeleton was Constable Finch who last worked at the station the day before the concrete was poured.

This is a very different kind of episode from most in the Murdoch Mysteries, much more psychological, and I can imagine that some viewers might find some of the themes very challenging, but at its heart, this episode is about love, especially illicit love, loyalty, and of the prices we sometimes have to pay when we make ourselves vulnerable to others.

Against the background of Edwardian morality, some of the things done by some of the central characters in the story are defined as immoral or even illegal. We live in different, more pluralistic times in which the legal framework often permits things that were banned in the past. Hopefully, that should enable us to see more clearly who are the victims and who are the perpetrators.

Two of the characters choose to act out of loyalty for their friends in ways that will destroy their careers and their lives. Greater love hath no man than this… Others act only to protect themselves, and destroy those of good character. Sometimes the good guys win, this is not one of those times.

We can only watch it and weep for those who earn our sympathy.

Fantastic Episode

[jason-grenia · 10/10 · 29 March 2021]

In my opinion, a delicate handling of the issues at play and a high watermark in the entire series. Must-watch Murdoch.

Possibly the best episode

[k-kennedy-spaien · 10/10 · 23 June 2021]

The writing and acting in this episode is remarkable. Case in point: the interrogation scenes were longish, but absolutely *riveting*. These parts played out like a Tony Award-winning stage play. I assume Canada has an equivalent of the Emmy Awards, and I hope this episode was nominated.

Excellent dialogues in outstanding Murdoch episodes

[mariettebliekendaal · 10/10 · 6 November 2023]

I have seen and enjoyed many stunt-filled Murdoch episodes with sinking ships, explosions, and kung-fu fight scenes. The actors and screenwriters really enjoy their work, and entertain the viewers. However, this episode for me was one of the best, perhaps because of its lack of spectacular scenes.

The episode takes place almost entirely in the station house, and bring in inspector Giles, who hides multiple deep dark secrets. Murdoch has some truths to tell as well, as Giles fully well knows. The psychological game between Murdoch and Giles is exceptional, each interrogation revealing another layer of grief and truth. Outstanding.

Wow - A significant cut above more Murdoch episodes.

[bmk8 · 10/10 · 13 August 2021]

This one surprised me. Very likely the best episode of the entire series. Very glad I stuck with it to this episode. It was well worth watching through the many uneven episodes to get to this gem of a story.

So glad I got to see it.

The best MM episode

[LGuerrero-a-x-e · 10/10 · 23 November 2021]

Absolutely fantastic episode, the best one of the whole series in my opinion. Nigel Bennet did an exquisite job and I hope he got nominated for and won all the awards for his performance.

Nigel Bennett.... WOW!!!!

[Blues1138 · 9/10 · 21 December 2023]

Truly one of the best Murdoch episodes. Predictable? To a point, but most Murdoch's are predictable to a point. Where this one shines is that it is a fairly decent mystery and Nigel Bennett. Nigel Bennett's performance is absolutely amazing and award worthy. This also leads to one of Yannick Bisson's better performances. The Bisson/Bennett scenes might be the best scenes of the series to this point. That interrogation was just outstanding. This is my first time viewing and I only dream there are more scenes of this quality as I continue to watch.

Unfortunately the production botched the ending. The episode developed a theme and the ending turned mistakenly away from that theme. This was all about truth vs justice vs law and they chose the wrong way to end a plot that was pretty brilliant up to that flawed ending. What a shame. The ending turned Nigel Bennett and Yannick Bisson's 10/10 to a 9/10.

Homosexual perversion results in deception & blackmail

[ctyankee1 · 15 May 2015]

This episode is about a dead body found underground under a police station that is getting a new floor in. The body is that of a cop.

The cop was known to "telegraph boys or street boys" who would sell themselves for money. He would force them to give him money.

The cops talk to a former street boy who is now and adult gives them info but seems to want to garner sympathy.

All the police that were in that station at the time get questioned. They all have nicknames. One former cop Chief Constable Stockton is in la la land. When they ask him a question he gives mostly stupid answers but the important things he remembers that the last time he saw the dead cop "Finch",. Finch wanted to talk to him.

It comes out in this story there is a lot of deception and lots of secrets. Here is some of it: A cop is a homosexual, a intimate picture of him was taken with his lover, loyalty hides the murder of a cop and street boys are involved in prostitution. Police records are falsified and information changed.

It seems two people involved in the death and deception of the Finch murder are going to get charged by the "Crown". In this case Murdoch did his job but feels sorry for the man who helped cover up the death of Finch and who might get more time in jail than the murderer who is being charged with manslaughter and not. Murdoch is still a wimp. To me the charges are not hard enough for these criminals no matter what the reason.

Personal Professional Growth

[guthrie-07688 · 10/10 · 23 February 2022]

Well-earned high marks for this episode!

I thought Murdock needed the ethical push to make him more well-rounded. Not only did he free the woman who murdered her husband, but he's matured enough to work through Julia's previous abortion, borderline relationship during her marriage to Darby, was able to look beyond racial issues with the black boxer and blues singers, the daughter of a Chinese shopkeeper being blackmailed into sex by a cop from a neighboring precinct, and other things, even during Scotch with the fellas. A little personal growth is always good. I only wished he and Brachenreid could've been more discreet with knowledge of Giles' sexual orientation.

Two quotes I'll commit to memory:

"Motive is not evidence; it is merely supposition!"

"Loyalty is the only moral instinct that can exist on the same plain as Truth itself. They may clash, but neither one can overcome without cost. But, in this case there's no cost to bare."

Confusing as heck

[interestingstuff · 23 October 2022]

This is one of the most confusing episodes of the show. It moves too fast and jumps from place to place without any transition or any explanation, not to mention throwing 50 different names throughout the episode where viewers won't even be able to keep track of who is who without getting confused as heck.

In this episode there are 20 different things going on but they touch all of them on the surface in an extremely confusing way which makes the episode impossible to even follow and understand let alone enjoy.

Also most of the episode made no sense since they used forensic techniques and methodologies that have barely been available in the last 20 years in a story that is supposedly taking place 120 years ago. They might as well have used that hologram machine in Bones since they were going for extreme ridiculousness in this episode.