09. Victoria Cross

[hannikan]

Oh, I would be happy to see an 8th season. Just knowing how long Canadian shows last (much shorter than U.S. shows, even if they have a large following and positive critiques) and the CBC's policies (it's not only about viewership for them), I will honestly be a bit surprised if there is an 8th season. Not because I wouldn't like there to be and not because I don't think it would do well.

[petunia]

I also would love to see an 8th season, but I would like to see a return of the writing team that was on board for S1 to S4. While I am enjoying S6 much better than S5, I still like the way things were being done in the earlier seasons better. I have yet to warm up to Emily. Her romance with George still feels "forced" to me.

[CosmicCavalcade]

I normally lose interest with shows after five seasons but this one is the exception. So like all of you, I'd love to see it go on forever if the quality remained highish. I also agree with Petunia and think S1-4 were better than the last two have been.

I think the perfect ending shot to the series would be Murdoch, Julia and his son/daughter(s) out in the badlands for real this time and NO stupid mustache.

[hannikan]

Yeah, I'd like a return to the original writing team, too. I agree that S6 has been better than S5, but still not up to S1-3. Even S4 for me was not quite as good. I like your idea for the ending, PP.

[kaybee]

I wouldn't mind the original writing team, but it's seasons 4 and 5 that didn't thrill me. I love season 6, as much as I enjoyed season 3, which was heretofore my favorite. (Although any of the first three were terrific. Seasons 4 and 5 had their moments, but also had dome major weak moments) .

[barbarama]

Now that I'm reading your comments, especially concerning seasons 4 & 5 (I did like season 4 though, some impressive episodes were done that season "Dead end street" being one of them) do you think it is because these were darker in tone/atmosphere and they didn't have as much humor as the first 3 seasons and I feel that season 6 has brought back the humor as well.

As for the writing team, it is hard for shows to keep the same group of writers for many seasons, either they go on other projects (their own show(s) or other tv series) or the process being an exhausting one they do something else. I have a question for Petunia though, what do you think is lacking in season 6 (forget about season 5, it's the "black sheep" of the show in my opinion) that was/were there in the first 4 seasons? Thanks in advance for your answer

[hannikan]

S4 was actually when the writing team started to change, and I think you can already see a change. But the team changed even more in S5. I was going to say in a show that lasts for more than about 3 or 4 years, the writing team will inevitably change for the reasons Barbara mentioned. I think the new writers usually need some time to find their groove. Then sometimes the show can even get better than it was previously. I don't think it's darker overall. I think S1 was actually the darkest overall. Each season has had darker episodes and lighter ones. It always has a good balance and each episode usually has a good balance, too. It's not just the writing either. Even though the backlot has been expanded in S6 and the production has great new equipment that gives the visuals a richer quality, I still miss the earlier seasons when they went to a greater variety of filming locations. It is harder to suspend disbelief that it is a set when you use one as much as they have the last two seasons. But this is also a common tactic when a show gets established because it saves money and is less intrusive to the public, than filming on location is.

[kaybee]

Yes, I think seasons 4 and 5 were darker with less humorous. That's part of why I liked them less. It's also the fact that Helene Joy was playing less of a part (or not present at all, in parts of 5). I didn't enjoy the whole go to Buffalo, get engaged to and marry Darcy, thing. The interplay between Yannick and Helene is one of my favorite parts of the show. That said, I did love Dead End Street!

[barbarama]

Thank you very much Hannikan & Kaybee, very interesting points made by both of you.

Hannikan I think (and you might have the same idea) that expanding the set was way less costly than filming on locations (even if we had varieties then) and that "might" have been one of the condition of CBC considering all the cuts in their budget.

And Kaybee, Helene Joy being my favorite (I love all of the actors of the show but I'm bias with Helene ) I agree that not seeing her in half of the season last year was certainly a downer and I too love seeing her interaction with Yannick and I enjoy the fact that season 6 has brought William & Julia back on a professional & personal level.

However for this specific episode "Victoria Cross", I think the tone was darker than most of the other episodes this season and I'm wondering if Maureen Jennings co-writing this one can be an explanation. The original books are way grittier in atmosphere and I have the impression that it is more her style.

[petunia]

To Barbara,

It is difficult to put into words but I will try... I find the episodes unpolished. A good example is William and Julia spending the night together at the end of Murdoch au naturel (MAN). It has now been four episodes an we have yet to see any follow-up from this. In S2 William and Juia break up at the end of Shades of Grey. The next episode is Big Murdurer on Campus. The first time William and Julia meet in that episode, they are awkward with each other and George notices. The whole scene only takes about 5 seconds. Why could something like this not have been done in the episode following MAN? In the first William/Julia scene in Cloud of Doom, they could have shown some of the constables elbowing each other and pointing at William/Julia.... Something simple like that. I have read all the excuses fans have made for this and to be honest they do not fly for me.
The characters are also lacking. In season 1 and 2 Thomas does not hide his disdain of royalty, yet we are suppose to believe that he is willing to risk his life for Crown and Country in Murdoch air? His character had more depth in S1 to S3 than he does in S5 and S6. He is more of a clown now.
Julia... well I could write forever how I think her character has changed. I do not believe the current writers would storylines such as Shades of Grey in S2. She admits having had an abortion and when questionned if she regrets it, she says no. That was a fairly brave TV move in my opinion. We often see lead female characters admit to abortions, but usually we see them regretting it. I also do not like how wimpy she has become. In Snakes and Ladders she gets attacked and defends herself. In Victoria Cross she huddles helpless in the corner like Lillian Gish would have done in a silent movie. I am not sure how many people on this board are able to see the short video clips CBC now has on their Murdoch Mysteries web page. They have four short videos entitled: Who is William, Who is Julia.... They are made up of short clips from previous seasons. It is interesting to note that all of the Julia short clips are from Seasons 1 to 3...
Emily... well. I think Dr. Francis fitted more in the morgue in four short episodes than she does after 20. The Geore/Emily romance is like a calorie wise William/Julia. We have seen that synergy already, give us something different. I am disapointed at having a second femate pathologist in the morgue. We all know that it was next to impossible to have Julia in the first place considering the roles of women in that era. To have two is stretching reality one step too far.
Anyway, I could go on forever.

[hannikan]

Yes, it would definitely be cheaper. They had already used the backlot a few times in S2 and S3. There was a fire that destroyed most of it during the filming of S4. So it was rebuilt in time to use it more in S5 and S6. I would guess that they decided to do so for cost efficiency. It is also easier for the production/the actors to have to only go to one place. Yeah, I agree about the polish somehow not being there in the later seasons. I actually think Thomas has always had a love-hate relationship with the monarchy. He complains about them one minute, but then gets fiercely loyal the next. I think that has always been a very complex feeling, opposing feelings battling within him. That was probably how many working class people felt really. The loyalty is tied up with patriotism, but the feeling of injustice is there, as well. I agree about having two women coroners. I think that is really almost ridiculous. It would not have been remotely possible in those days, no matter their abilities and connections/money. I didn't like Dr. Francis though. I also didn't like the way Julia cowered at the door, but I do think it's good to show that she's not superhuman in strength either. Still I wanted her to continuing to push back, even if she was unsuccessful at overcoming the man. Esp. since William just saved her from Gillies in S5. We don't want her turning into a damsel in distress! Maybe we'll see her do some ass kicking before S2 is over. I hope so!

[CosmicCavalcade]

Well, there's definitely SOMETHING lacking the past few seasons and this whole not paying attention to detail thing isn't helping matters (in relation to NOTHING coming up about the 'affair'). I suppose this will happen at some point but by now it's fairly ridiculous. But considering all the other ridiculous things that have happened in the show, that and 2 female coroners is the least of it. Agree, I hated Francis too.

Maybe Julia is still a bit traumatized herself from that experience and isn't quite back to her spunky self yet? At least she did attack the fugly nurse and wasn't just cowering in fear the entire time. But it's kind of funny cuz I don't really get how Murdoch found them so easily. They ran up some stairs and were on a completely different level than where he would have expected to find them. Whatever.

[hannikan]

Yeah, that's true about how William found them. A little too convenient! I still think Julia should have had a key to the doors on her waist, like an asylum matron would. It really doesn't seem like anyone knows about the "affair" except Darcy and the lawyers. That's fine except that they made a point to be seen, they weren't trying to hide it. The point was for it to be publicly known. So yeah, I'm confused, too. I didn't think it would have gotten to every corner of the city immediately. But by now...?

[murdochic]

Julia seems more or less the same woman to me as she always was. The show isn't quite as entertaining as it was during S1-4, but that happens with every show. They all lose some momentum after the first few seasons. I still enjoy the cases, characters and W/J. The way their faces light up when they see the other is adorable. As for G/E, I wish the storyline would take up less screen time. It doesn't really work and it's spoiling the flow of the plots. And I am missing Higgins. He's barely been in this season, it used to be no more than a couple of episodes in between appearances.

I noticed in this episode they had a reference to the web series. Emily had Mary Foster chalked up on the blackboard in the morgue. She is a murder victim from that.

They also had a tie-in to the original mini-series. The actor who played George was Mr Hobson in this. A wink to the fans to tie-in all three mediums of the show in one episode.

[CosmicCavalcade]

Well, Henry WAS in this episode, in the fake mug shot. But yeah, I'm missing his sarcasm badly.

I didn't notice that myself but knew about the blackboard thing via twitter. Funny how the webseries case took a week to solve yet there's still references to it in the show when it must be months later by now.

I also didn't know that either until twitter filled me in. I knew he looked familiar but couldn't quite place him. He did a good job playing a wicked wizard. Get it?