MURDOCH MYSTERIES opens with an episode about electricity – fitting for a show set in the late 1800s, as electricity became commercially available in Canada around 1881. It’s also a great way to showcase Murdoch’s nerdy interests and fan-boying over Nikola Tesla! Also check out the first meeting of George and Edna and their sweet (yet temporary) courtship.

Synopsis

At a demonstration of alternating current from proponents of direct current, William and Julia witness plans to electrocute a dog (can you tell who the bad guys are in this episode?). Representatives from the Humane Society (IRL: Toronto group established in 1873) – including a very vocal Edna Garrison – are protesting the demonstration. Good news: the dog survives. Bad news: Miss Toronto Electric and Light doesn’t fare so well.

Episode Main Characters

• Detective William Murdoch
• City Coroner Julia Ogden
• Inspector Thomas Brackenreid
• Constable George Crabtree
• Edna Garrison (who we’ll see again in Season 9)

Historical characters

Nikola Tesla (IRL: germaphobe and really did wear gloves all the time)

Back to the Future

Murdoch and Tesla “invent” the TV, riffing off transmitting messages wirelessly to evolving to images. Murdoch suggests “telekinetascope,” while Tesla calls it “television.”

I have questions…

It’s unclear from this first episode if William and Julia are already dating. They show up to the demonstration together with a picnic, which infers that they are involved, because who brings a picnic to an outing with a co-worker?

Bonus round

First appearance of Julia’s goldfish.