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Post by snacky on May 25, 2014 19:25:03 GMT
Annie pointed out that there's some cognitive dissonance involved in the idea that William had a previous career as a rugged logger, when now he's a "buttoned up" gentleman, a man of science, a man that obviously clings to routine and order and is loathe to, and I quote, "come out of his shell". When he does come out, and I quote again, it's to "step on toes and upset people" with his persistent seeking of the truth. This man should not be hauling logs.
So he was poor. His mom died, his father abandoned him. There may have been no other jobs available. For some unfathomable reason a logging camp may have hired him...though it should have been as an assistant to the accountant.
Enquiring minds would like to know what happened at the logging camp. Quite possibly, given that William has the opposite personality of a logger today, it was quite a traumatic experience. Or perhaps a tree fell on his head.
Several other people have speculated about William's experiences as a policeman before he worked at Station house 4. How did he manage to get into the constabulary? Did he help solve a mystery in the logging camp? How did he get on track to become a detective in the constabulary when he didn't have a college education? How did he get access to all that equipment to try all his new techniques? Was he more the "logger" type when he joined the constabulary - but then his personality changed later for some reason? Did Brackenreid hire him away from where he was working before?
There's a lot that needs to be explained here, and could be explained during season 8...
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Post by wildhorseannie on May 25, 2014 19:57:40 GMT
All good questions! I think AT LEAST one episode needs to be spent on this topic. Maybe this could be a plausible scenario they could consider: One of William's Jesuit pals becomes discouraged and leaves for a rugged life of longing. William follows because this is the only friend he knows. The same friend later dies; the logging camp rules it an accident but William knows better. He uncovers the truth, then is recommended to the life of a lawman. He joins Station House No. 1 as a beat cop (a known fact), then quickly rises through the ranks with his penchant for noticing details and his ability to stay one step ahead of the curve. When the constabulary conducts some personnel shifts a few years later, he ends up at No. 4, where Brackenreid quickly recognizes his talent and names him detective. Along the way William meets a young constable who takes an instant liking to him. Although the constable sometimes tries his patience, he can't get rid off him because he reminds him of the friend who died in the logging camp. The constable, of course, is George.  Excuse me while I fill my inkwell...this has the makings of a fanfic! |
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Post by snacky on May 25, 2014 20:47:52 GMT
All good questions! I think AT LEAST one episode needs to be spent on this topic. Maybe this could be a plausible scenario they could consider: One of William's Jesuit pals becomes discouraged and leaves for a rugged life of longing. William follows because this is the only friend he knows. The same friend later dies; the logging camp rules it an accident but William knows better. He uncovers the truth, then is recommended to the life of a lawman. He joins Station House No. 1 as a beat cop (a known fact), then quickly rises through the ranks with his penchant for noticing details and his ability to stay one step ahead of the curve. When the constabulary conducts some personnel shifts a few years later, he ends up at No. 4, where Brackenreid quickly recognizes his talent and names him detective. Along the way William meets a young constable who takes an instant liking to him. Although the constable sometimes tries his patience, he can't get rid off him because he reminds him of the friend who died in the logging camp. The constable, of course, is George. Excuse me while I fill my inkwell...this has the makings of a fanfic! I like it!  May I suggest two things? First, at some point William develops a "zealous" opposition to police brutality (which got a murderer off the hook, re: Murdoch in Wonderland) - you might write in where that happened. Second, IMHO, Brackenreid's tolerance would be explained more if he actually recognizes William is being misused or under-utilized where he is and poaches him. Regarding the logging camp story: it would be a real tragedy if the case was "covered up", and William becomes a lawman partly with the wish to someday bring the truth to light. But perhaps he could get another shot at it years later. New evidence comes to light or the murderer strikes again? One more thing - I think William was studying at a Jesuit orphanage/school, not training to become a Jesuit. Jesuits were famed for their schools in Europe, especially before they fell from grace in the late 18th century. I can recommend a wonderful series of historic mysteries set a Jesuit school by Judith Rock if you want some background. The "detective" (who frankly I envision as something a little closer to the TV William Murdoch than what I read in Maureen Jennings) is a dance instructor, but not a very fey one. |
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Post by lovemondays on Jun 16, 2014 0:46:46 GMT
William answered the question of how he came to be a policeman in "The Glass Ceiling". Chief Inspector Stockton asked him that very thing and his answer was that one of the fellows he met at the logging camp had done a stint on the force and he liked the sound of it so he applied.
As to why William became a logger, he grew up in New Brunswick. Logging and fishing were the major industries there. Since his detested father, Harry, had been a sailor, it makes sense to me that a rebellious, angry teenager would aim in the opposite direction for a job.
I totally agree that all this deserves an episode or two.
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Post by snacky on Jun 16, 2014 2:07:14 GMT
William answered the question of how he came to be a policeman in "The Glass Ceiling". Chief Inspector Stockton asked him that very thing and his answer was that one of the fellows he met at the logging camp had done a stint on the force and he liked the sound of it so he applied. As to why William became a logger, he grew up in New Brunswick. Logging and fishing were the major industries there. Since his detested father, Harry, had been a sailor, it makes sense to me that a rebellious, angry teenager would aim in the opposite direction for a job. But by then he was studying with the Jesuits, and presumably living with them. He's made remarks about learning his analytical skills there, studying literature and art. Yet somehow he made the jump back to logging? He was a ranch hand for a bit, too, according to "Mild Mild West". |
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Post by lovemondays on Jun 16, 2014 2:23:54 GMT
My take on it is he studied with the Jesuits once he got old enough to leave the nuns. Admittedly, Suzannah's input muddied the water. Yep, we need an episode for clarification.
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Post by snacky on Jun 16, 2014 3:04:18 GMT
My take on it is he studied with the Jesuits once he got old enough to leave the nuns. Admittedly, Suzannah's input muddied the water. Yep, we need an episode for clarification. I want the episode where the hat appears to him. It will probably appear in a vision first. Perhaps it will be bequeathed by a Wise Mentor. In any case, when William chooses the homburg, he will choose his destiny!  |
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Post by lovemondays on Jun 16, 2014 3:34:54 GMT
Just like Mr. Olivander's Wand Shop in the Harry Potter series! I like it |
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Post by snacky on Jun 16, 2014 4:15:20 GMT
Just like Mr. Olivander's Wand Shop in the Harry Potter series! I like it Perhaps the hat is just a want and/or a broom in another shape. |
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Post by lovemondays on Jun 16, 2014 4:26:36 GMT
Well we have been speculating on the 'Magic' Homburg after all.
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Post by snacky on Jun 16, 2014 4:42:48 GMT
Well we have been speculating on the 'Magic' Homburg after all. I'm beyond speculation. I think it Is what it Is.  |
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Post by CosmicCavalcade on Jun 16, 2014 15:40:17 GMT
Well I think you guys are in luck. I believe the showrunner said they were planning on doing a Murdoch backstory this season!
As to the magic hat...obviously that's where he gets all of his brilliance/ exceptional memory from and most of his personality as well. So that's why when he was stranded in Bristol he was a completely different/logger type of person.
And that's also why it's the first thing on his mind every time he loses it.
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Post by snacky on Jun 16, 2014 17:05:41 GMT
Well I think you guys are in luck. I believe the showrunner said they were planning on doing a Murdoch backstory this season! As to the magic hat...obviously that's where he gets all of his brilliance/ exceptional memory from and most of his personality as well. So that's why when he was stranded in Bristol he was a completely different/logger type of person. And that's also why it's the first thing on his mind every time he loses it. There might be some hat-brain quantum entanglement effect boosting William's analytical powers, but I'm not so sure about improving his personality. Doesn't he become more reserved and properly Victorian with it on? When the hat is off in The Murdoch Identity, he becomes Danger Man. Now that I think about it he all but admitted it to Dr. Tash in Still Waters when he was wearing his suit in the heat. That hat defies the weather, too! It did in Loch Ness Murdoch as well. William was sweating more in his bathing suit than when he had his Suit of Propriety on. Do you have any better name for Devotees of the Hat Theory besides Homburgers? Ps. lol at your new icon. Glad I don't have to keep some Pepto by the computer anymore while reading your posts! XD |
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Post by CosmicCavalcade on Jun 16, 2014 17:13:51 GMT
I never said it improved his personality, rather that it gave him the one that he has most of the time. I'm starting to think his magic hat gave him the idea of developing the cooling system that astronauts use in their spacesuits. Not off the top of my head no. I think Homburgers is pretty good. Lol I changed it cuz it was distracting me. I'm not sure this new one is better... |
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Post by snacky on Jun 16, 2014 17:26:04 GMT
I never said it improved his personality, rather that it gave him the one that he has most of the time. I'm starting to think his magic hat gave him the idea of developing the cooling system that astronauts use in their spacesuits. Not off the top of my head no. I think Homburgers is pretty good. Lol I changed it cuz it was distracting me. I'm not sure this new one is better... D'oh, gotcha. Yes, that's what I'm thinking, too. Kind of reminds me of that concept Dr. Roberts used - "Mask of Sanity". D: Both images are hilarious, and I'm trying to imagine captions for them. "Oh dear, I seem to have dropped an earring down the front of my corset. William, could you help me find it?"
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