|
|
Post by lovemondays on Jan 14, 2016 16:48:35 GMT
Can someone please explain this to me? Braxton and Missus think up baby day. They make fake memos and send them to the bank for the baby day and the chairs. Boom. They go in. Babies everywhere. Braxton goes downstairs. At a preset time, Missus blows the whistle and Braxton opens the vault. The alarm goes off and is drowned out by the babies. Braxton slips paper into the alarm to silence it. Regardless, triggering the alarm locks the doors. He opens the safe, steals the plates and puts them in his briefcase. He steals the money and hides it in the vent. He puts the iceblock into the alarm mechanism and then sneaks out, locks the vault and heads upstairs. He has a tete-a-tete with the loan clerk. The ice melts. The alarm goes off...again...everyone goes nuts...the moment the Loan Clerk's office is empty, Braxton tips the chair over, hides the plates inside and gets out of the bank scott free. Had things gone to plan, he goes back later, his wife creates another distraction, and Braxton steals the plates and they run off. Fine. WHERE THE HELL DOES HE GET THE ICE?? Where does the morgue get its ice?
There was a large industry harvesting ice from Lake Simcoe (about 80 km north of Toronto) in the winter, storing it and transporting it to the City for all the ice boxes used in the summer months. Murdoch did specify that the ice would have to be distilled water, but I'm sure there would have to be suppliers of such for scientific purposes......
I loved this episode......not sure how I feel about the baby, but let's see where they take us with it.........
Further stretching credulity is that it's summer...William asked Brackenreid about wearing a scarf in summer. Perhaps he had the ice wrapped in burlap in his briefcase. It immediately reminded me of the brain teaser about the man found hanging in a locked room with a puddle on the floor. |
|
|
|
Post by lovemondays on Jan 14, 2016 17:05:57 GMT
I enjoyed this episode very much. It was a very convoluted mystery that kept me guessing. It was also one of the rare episodes that didn't revolve around a murder.
Paul Aitken posted on FB in response to someone saying the episode was predictable:
Paul Aitken Murdoch Mysteries has always maintained an loose definition of what constitutes a mystery. In any mystery there is an intruiging question that is answered at the conclusion. Usually this question is a "whodunnit" but often, as was the case last night it's a "howdunnit." Still other times (such as the Murdoch Sting) we learn the how and the who early on and the lingering question becomes, "will they catch the kliller." Or "will Murdoch save Julia!!" These may not be mysteries by the standard definition but I would argue that as long as the audience is kept guessing through the episode, and as long as they WANT to know the answer, we've done our job. Anyone who correctly guessed how the bank robbers done it can full-thoatedly claim the episode was predictable.
I absolutely adored the lego gotcha!! William was preparing for a child without even knowing it. 
The B plot, pay by listen and colour commentary were hilarious! Well done to the writing team for linking the 2 plotlines together so neatly and logically.
|
|
|
|
Post by lovemondays on Jan 14, 2016 17:40:24 GMT
The baby plot needs its own thread IMO. There seem to be 3 polarizing points on this issue:
1) It's too soon to introduce a baby/should they have a baby?
2) Did the adoption idea feel forced?
3) Will they be able to keep the baby?
Let me start with that little guy absolutely melted my heart in the last scene when he smiled, revealing his 3 little teeth and a dimple! What a cutie!!
As soon as the concept of Baby Day at the bank was mentioned I figured at the very least that William and Julia would start a conversation about adoption, but when baby Roland "took a shine" to Julia and it was clear that his mother was in on the robbery I had a feeling he might be the baby they adopt. I don't think the adoption idea felt forced so much as rushed. The issue has come up between them, Julia obviously still believes she can't have a child and she desperately wants William to have a son. I laughed when William said "not this way"...I think he was expecting some discussion leading up to it.
As to will they be able to keep him, there are several potential issues that have been raised:
1) The angst factor...keep us all in suspense for a bit
2) Two parents who both work long hours so they will need a nanny...who can bring the little one to the morgue for regular visits with mommy. 
3) They are going to need a house pronto so no time for William to build one...he can modify an existing home over time.
4) There may in fact be a biological father who comes to claim the baby. It was only implied that Joanne Perly and Nigel Braxton were married. That scene at the bottom of the bank steps looked more like Bonnie and Clyde, who didn't have a baby. Maybe little Roland had been kidnapped as part of the Baby Day ruse so there could be parents wanting him back.
5) William's religion may be a hiccup. My guess is the lady who came to get Roland was from a Protestant orphanage and they would not be likely to allow a Catholic to adopt a child through them. Until those papers are signed it's not a done deal.
My feeling is that it is too soon for a baby. The required bits of family time would feel forced, not to mention adding a new character with the nanny. Peter Mitchell has alluded to a very sad episode that could well be William and Julia having to give the baby back.  I am holding out hope that Julia gets pregnant but that can wait for another season or the series finale.
|
|
|
|
Post by lovemondays on Jan 14, 2016 17:59:58 GMT
I was wondering about where the bank interior scenes were shot and Hodge found out that it was in a studio in Kleinburg (just north of Toronto) from the pics on the MM FB site. So I went scrounging in the pics an found out some interesting things. I already knew that the same set had been used as the museum in Dinosaur Fever and the hotel lobby in Murdoch Takes Manhattan. If you'll recall, last summer there were pics of Helene posing as Julia in the Oval Office which sent us all on suppositions about why they were in D.C. It turns out that this studio has the only standing set of the Oval Office in North America....no wonder she posed in there while they were filming Murdoch Takes Manhattan.
I also heard from another MM friend that there isn't enough money to do a "Making of" short for each episode this season. They are so interesting and full of information so now this Location Queen will have to content herself with finding leads in the captions MM posts with each picture.
|
|
|
|
Post by snacky on Jan 14, 2016 18:15:24 GMT
1) The angst factor...keep us all in suspense for a bit
2) Two parents who both work long hours so they will need a nanny...who can bring the little one to the morgue for regular visits with mommy.
3) They are going to need a house pronto so no time for William to build one...he can modify an existing home over time.
4) There may in fact be a biological father who comes to claim the baby. It was only implied that Joanne Perly and Nigel Braxton were married. That scene at the bottom of the bank steps looked more like Bonnie and Clyde, who didn't have a baby. Maybe little Roland had been kidnapped as part of the Baby Day ruse so there could be parents wanting him back.
5) William's religion may be a hiccup. My guess is the lady who came to get Roland was from a Protestant orphanage and they would not be likely to allow a Catholic to adopt a child through them. Until those papers are signed it's not a done deal.
My feeling is that it is too soon for a baby. The required bits of family time would feel forced, not to mention adding a new character with the nanny. Peter Mitchell has alluded to a very sad episode that could well be William and Julia having to give the baby back. I am holding out hope that Julia gets pregnant but that can wait for another season or the series finale.
William looked soooo dubious! He knows he's going to regret always letting Julia have her way. Caution is in his blood! Interesting point about religious obstacles. Julia may be able to bring the baby to work with her. It's probably also possible to hire a nanny from the hotel staff. If not, I read somewhere that suites could have servant's quarters linked to them. Did anyone else think that baby was really huge? That felt symbolic, lol. |
|
|
|
Post by snacky on Jan 14, 2016 18:18:33 GMT
I enjoyed this episode very much. It was a very convoluted mystery that kept me guessing. It was also one of the rare episodes that didn't revolve around a murder.
Paul Aitken posted on FB in response to someone saying the episode was predictable:
I absolutely adored the lego gotcha!! William was preparing for a child without even knowing it.
The B plot, pay by listen and colour commentary were hilarious! Well done to the writing team for linking the 2 plotlines together so neatly and logically.
I was surprised the bank robber waited for his girlfriend after he hijacked a car. They must be doing well if he knew how to drive! The fact he cared enough to wait and got out of the car when she died makes me think there is more to their story. |
|
|
|
Post by Hodge on Jan 14, 2016 19:17:06 GMT
Where does the morgue get its ice?
There was a large industry harvesting ice from Lake Simcoe (about 80 km north of Toronto) in the winter, storing it and transporting it to the City for all the ice boxes used in the summer months. Murdoch did specify that the ice would have to be distilled water, but I'm sure there would have to be suppliers of such for scientific purposes......
I loved this episode......not sure how I feel about the baby, but let's see where they take us with it.........
I'm well aware of the history of ice harvesting. I have studied 19th century ice manufacture and harvesting and ancient chilling methods. That's not what I'm asking about. My question is - how the hell did he get the ice into the bank? How did he get a piece small enough to do what he want, and not stop it melting before he put it into the alarm mechanism? What? Did it have it in a tiny little freezer in his pocket or what? That's what I don't understand. PLOT HOLE!! Of course I'm ignoring it like all the other plot holes throughout the other 8 seasons.... |
|
|
|
Post by Hodge on Jan 14, 2016 19:22:45 GMT
I'm well aware of the history of ice harvesting. I have studied 19th century ice manufacture and harvesting and ancient chilling methods. That's not what I'm asking about. My question is - how the hell did he get the ice into the bank? How did he get a piece small enough to do what he want, and not stop it melting before he put it into the alarm mechanism? What? Did it have it in a tiny little freezer in his pocket or what? That's what I don't understand. Depending on how far he'd have to travel to the bank, he could have had it wrapped in some sort of material to insulate it, then waterproofing, like oilcloth. Plain newspaper would do the trick if it wasn't for a prolonged period. Given how everyone was dressed,the episode didn't take place in the height of summer, so ice wouldn't melt that fast. There also wasn't that long a time lapse between when he put the ice in to when the alarm sounded the second time, so he wouldn't have needed that much. I thought I heard August mentioned at one point. |
|
|
|
Post by shangas on Jan 14, 2016 19:32:51 GMT
The episode takes place in the middle of summer. Murdoch says so when he sees the inspector wearing the scarf, remember?
|
|
|
|
Post by Hodge on Jan 14, 2016 19:45:33 GMT
The baby plot needs its own thread IMO. There seem to be 3 polarizing points on this issue:
1) It's too soon to introduce a baby/should they have a baby?
2) Did the adoption idea feel forced?
3) Will they be able to keep the baby?
Let me start with that little guy absolutely melted my heart in the last scene when he smiled, revealing his 3 little teeth and a dimple! What a cutie!!
As soon as the concept of Baby Day at the bank was mentioned I figured at the very least that William and Julia would start a conversation about adoption, but when baby Roland "took a shine" to Julia and it was clear that his mother was in on the robbery I had a feeling he might be the baby they adopt. I don't think the adoption idea felt forced so much as rushed. The issue has come up between them, Julia obviously still believes she can't have a child and she desperately wants William to have a son. I laughed when William said "not this way"...I think he was expecting some discussion leading up to it.
As to will they be able to keep him, there are several potential issues that have been raised:
1) The angst factor...keep us all in suspense for a bit
2) Two parents who both work long hours so they will need a nanny...who can bring the little one to the morgue for regular visits with mommy.
3) They are going to need a house pronto so no time for William to build one...he can modify an existing home over time.
4) There may in fact be a biological father who comes to claim the baby. It was only implied that Joanne Perly and Nigel Braxton were married. That scene at the bottom of the bank steps looked more like Bonnie and Clyde, who didn't have a baby. Maybe little Roland had been kidnapped as part of the Baby Day ruse so there could be parents wanting him back.
5) William's religion may be a hiccup. My guess is the lady who came to get Roland was from a Protestant orphanage and they would not be likely to allow a Catholic to adopt a child through them. Until those papers are signed it's not a done deal.
My feeling is that it is too soon for a baby. The required bits of family time would feel forced, not to mention adding a new character with the nanny. Peter Mitchell has alluded to a very sad episode that could well be William and Julia having to give the baby back. I am holding out hope that Julia gets pregnant but that can wait for another season or the series finale.
Everyone knows how I feel about a baby at this point in the show, I did enjoy the episode nonetheless. I knew when Julia held the baby they would end up trying to adopt however it worked out in the story line, I still think it's not to be though. I think William's Catholicism would be a problem as in a protestant town the woman would probably automatically come from a protestant orphanage, they would definitely balk at William adopting a child from them. As an aside I wonder how a Catholic orphanage would feel about Julia adopting from them...  It seems that adoption may not be a route they can take after all. If they have to have a child I want it to be biological and this story could lead to that. We know that many people after adopting conceive as the pressure is off. Perhaps they manage to keep Roland long enough to ease the pressure of having a child and Julia conceives.... Still don't like the idea though. Should add for lovemondays, who knows I'm not a baby person, I did really like this baby! The more I see 'him', as it's really twins, the more I like him. What a wonderful happy, bouncing baby.  |
|
|
|
Post by lovemondays on Jan 14, 2016 19:52:12 GMT
Depending on how far he'd have to travel to the bank, he could have had it wrapped in some sort of material to insulate it, then waterproofing, like oilcloth. Plain newspaper would do the trick if it wasn't for a prolonged period. Given how everyone was dressed,the episode didn't take place in the height of summer, so ice wouldn't melt that fast. There also wasn't that long a time lapse between when he put the ice in to when the alarm sounded the second time, so he wouldn't have needed that much. I thought I heard August mentioned at one point. It was filmed in August but the only reference in the ep was the word "summer". |
|
|
|
Post by Hodge on Jan 14, 2016 19:54:09 GMT
I thought I heard August mentioned at one point. It was filmed in August but the only reference in the ep was the word "summer". I could have sworn I heard August at one point because I found it odd that they'd actually 'dated' the episode which they rarely do. |
|
|
|
Post by shangas on Jan 14, 2016 19:54:46 GMT
Murdoch says "middle of summer" at the start of the episode when the inspector arrives. And even if he hadn't, a block of ice that would fit into the alarm system would melt very fast even at room temperature.
|
|
|
|
Post by lizmc on Jan 14, 2016 19:58:10 GMT
The episode takes place in the middle of summer. Murdoch says so when he sees the inspector wearing the scarf, remember? But it isn't the height of summer and extremely hot, or Brackenreid wouldn't have been able to stand the scarf around his neck......plus, there were still plenty of things around to use as insulators.......personally, I've wrapped frozen food in multiple sheets of newspaper, driven for 3 hours in the middle of summer and arrived at my destination with said food still frozen solid. Keeping ice for a relatively short period is fairly easy, provided it isn't in direct sunlight. If the robber started out with way more than he needed and chipped a sliver off, the ice as a block for the alarm is entirely plausible. Don't forget too, the vault is in the basement, with thick, re-enforced walls.......it would be considerably cooler than the rest of the building. |
|
|
|
Post by shangas on Jan 14, 2016 19:59:48 GMT
Possibly, but how did he get it there? Wrapped in something hiding inside his briefcase? Did he walk? Take a carriage? Cycle? Take a streetcar? He'd need a block of ice the size of a housebrick if he wanted to do this. That's my feeling. And if he did, where did he put the rest of it that he didn't need? Swallow it?
|
|
I am holding out hope that Julia gets pregnant but that can wait for another season or the series finale.
It seems that adoption may not be a route they can take after all. If they have to have a child I want it to be biological and this story could lead to that. We know that many people after adopting conceive as the pressure is off. Perhaps they manage to keep Roland long enough to ease the pressure of having a child and Julia conceives.... Still don't like the idea though.