"'Til Death Do Us Part" is the fifth episode of the first season of the Murdoch Mysteries and the fifth episode of the series. It first aired on February 17, 2008.
Summary[]
A man is found dead in an ante-room of a church moments before his wedding. His watch, jewelry and wallet are missing.
William Murdoch learns that the man was required to marry to gain his half of his father's legacy but that he was a homosexual. The marriage takes on the appearance of a marriage of convenience.
Murdoch is told by the bridesmaid, Daisy Hanson, that the bride was called Eunice McGinty and came to Toronto from Niagara Falls. In Niagara Falls, however, he is told by McGinty's former employer that McGinty had died after jumping off a gorge in mysterious circumstances, and that the friend who had been with her, Brigitte Klein, left town shortly thereafter.
Returning to Toronto, Murdoch interrupts Kline, who is actually a con woman who had been posing as McGinty. She is preparing to skip town after attempting to murder Thomas Merrick, who was her partner in the attempt to acquire complete control of the family company.
Character Revelations[]
- Murdoch and Dr. Ogden have a heated discussion about homosexuality, Murdoch upholding the religious beliefs of immorality vs Julia's secular biological knowledge of nature and that human beings are animals too.
- By the end scene, Murdoch confesses to his priest that he can no longer follow his faith blindly for he imagines a world more compassionate and enlightened towards homosexuality.
Continuity[]
- William and Julia have a quiet follow-up conversation out of which Julia gives William an insight to help solve the case and this will be their modus operandi of their successful partnership.
Historical References[]
- This episode takes place in Toronto 1895 – Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria 1819 - 1901) is Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, and Empress of India.
- One of the members of the Taylor Creek Tennis Club, Jeffery, tells Murdoch "You look like Oscar Wilde, if Oscar Wilde was good-looking," referring to his outfit. Oscar Wilde (1854 – 1900) was an Irish author, poet, and playwright and was well-known to have an unconventional style for the time period. In 1895, he was involved in a legal suit for criminal libel after being accused of sodomy (Wilde v Queensbury), which he lost, and was subsequently convicted for gross indecency for homosexual acts (Regina v Wilde).
Trivia[]
- When impersonating Inspector Brackenreid, Constable Crabtree says "I'm from Sheffield!" Thomas Craig who plays Brackenreid actually comes from Sheffield.
- It is revealed that Constable Higgins has a homosexual cousin.
- While crashing the gay club, Murdoch gives his name as George Crabtree.
- Writer Janet MacLean was nominated for Gemini Award for Best Writing in a Drama series for this episode.
- Gay euphemisms: sodomite; homosexual; mandrake; pansy; shirt-lifters; hand bag; Marys; mollies;
- "Me Ol' Mucker" Count: 0
Cast[]
Main Cast[]
Yannick Bisson as William Murdoch
Hélène Joy as Julia Ogden
Thomas Craig as Thomas Brackenreid
Jonny Harris as George Crabtree
Guest Cast[]
Joel Keller as Thomas Merrick
Waneta Storms as Brigitte Klein/Eunice McGinty
James Gallanders as Father Franks
Natalie Radford as Daisy Hanson
Steve Cumyn as Lawrence Braxton
Doug McGrath as Old Dan
Shawn Campbell as Jeffrey
Gema Zamprogna as Cecile Braxton
Jerelyn Craden as Mrs. Merrick
Zack Keller as Wendell Merrick
Non-Credited Cast[]
Mya Rylyn Banks as Baby Braxton
Lachlan Murdoch as Constable Henry Higgins
References[]
Gallery[]
| Murdoch Mysteries Season 1 |
|---|
| "Power" • "The Glass Ceiling" • "The Knockdown" • "Elementary, My Dear Murdoch" • "'Til Death Do Us Part" • "Let Loose the Dogs" • "Body Double" • "Still Waters" • "Belly Speaker" • "Child's Play" • "Bad Medicine" • "The Prince and the Rebel" • "The Annoying Red Planet" Season 2 • Season 3 • Season 4 • Season 5 • Season 6 • Season 7 • Season 8 • Season 9 • Season 10 • Season 11 • Season 12 • Season 13 • Season 14 • Season 15 |