DVD Review : Murdoch Mysteries, Season 8

Garnering more than two dozen Gemini® nominations, Murdoch Mysteries debuts Season 8 on Blu-ray and DVD on August 4, 2015 from Acorn, an RLJ Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ: RLJE) brand. Exuding plenty of period charm, this critically acclaimed mystery series centers on the brilliant detective William Murdoch (Yannick Bisson), a pioneer of crime-solving technologies in Victorian Toronto. Inspired by Maureen Jennings novels, Murdoch Mysteries airs on the CBC in Canada and airs in the U.S. as The Artful Detective on Ovation. Season 8 made its U.S. premiere on Acorn TV, the premier international television streaming service in North America, in May 2015. Already renewed for a ninth season, the series co-stars Gemini® winner Hélène Joy (Durham County), Thomas Craig (Where the Heart Is), Jonny Harris (Hatching, Matching & Dispatching), and Georgina Reilly (The L.A. Complex) with Season 8 guest stars Peter Keleghan (The Red Green Show, The Newsroom), Patrick McKenna (The Red Green Show) and Peter Outerbridge (Orphan Black), who played William Murdoch in the 2004 Murdoch Mysteries: The Movies which preceded the series. The DVD 5-disc set and the Blu-ray 4-disc set each feature 18 episodes along with a 100^th Episode featurette and nearly two hours of Making Murdoch featurettes ($59.99 each, AcornOnline.com)

In Season 8 of this delightful detective show, joy and heartbreak await Detective William Murdoch (Yannick Bisson) and his friends in turn-of-the-century Toronto. After his brutal beating by the dockyard gang, Inspector Brackenreid’s (Thomas Craig) future remains uncertain. Constable Crabtree (Jonny Harris) faces life-altering changes, including a new romance, while Dr. Emily Grace (Georgina Reilly) and Dr. Julia Ogden (Hélène Joy) join the women’s suffrage movement. And in the show’s 100th episode, wedding bells ring as Murdoch and Julia finally walk down the aisle. Along the way, Murdoch encounters notables like W.C. Fields, Thomas Edison, and President Theodore Roosevelt.

BONUS FEATURES: Making Murdoch featurettes (118 min.), 100th Episode featurette, and a behind-the-scenes photo gallery

Street Date: August 4, 2015             SRP: $59.99 each

DVD 5-Disc Set: 18 episodes – Approx. 792 min., plus bonus – SDH Subtitles

UPC 0-54961-2406-9-2                                              ISBN 978-1-62172-406-3

Blu-ray 5-Disc Set: 18 episodes – 792 min., plus bonus – 1080p/16:9 – 5.1 DTS-HD MA – SDH Subtitles

UPC 0-54961-2407-9-1                                              ISBN 978-1-62172-407-0

My Thoughts 

I think this is one of my favorite crime based shows. I love period drama, and I love learning about criminal investigations. This show combines both in a late 1890 - early 1900 setting. You'll learn how forensics experts solved the cases before they had the help of computers.  The cast of characters are funny, interesting, and diverse. This set includes eighteen including the 100th episode where Murdoch and Julia get married.


On the Waterfront: Part 1- There's a murder at the Queen's Hotel that looks like assassination.

On the Waterfront: Part 2 - Brackenreid is hunting down the O'Shea brothers to make them pay for his beating.

Glory Days - A New York reporter claims Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid robbed a bank in Toronto.

Holy Matrimony, Murdoch!- In the midst if preparing for their own old wedding, Julia and Murdoch investigate a wife suspected of killing her husband.

Murdoch Takes Manhattan - Murdoch and Julia get involved in a case involving U.S. President Teddy Roosevelt on their honeymoon.

The Murdoch Appreciation Society -A body is found in the park and another is missing from a medical school.

What Lies Buried - A cold case is opened when the body of a constable is found in the concrete at Station 4.

High Voltage - Thomas Edison Jr is suspected of murder when someone dies in an electronic chair.

The Keystone Constables - WC Fields is suspected of murder when a comedian is killed-this is a great slapstick episode.

Murdoch and the Temple of Death- A body is found in an old temple that might contain the Holy Grail.

All That Glitters - An N. Ontario RR surveyor's last words could be the only clue to help find his killer.

The Devil Wears Whalebone - An underwear model is killed and a brick through the window may be the only clue.

The Incurables- A nurse in killed in an asylum and some old villains make a reappearance.

Toronto's Girl Problem- Dr. Grace and Lillian Moss go undercover in a shoplifting sting.

Shipwreck- Murdoch's old mentor, a priest, comes on board to help solve a murder.

Crabtree Mania - A wrestler is killed and foul play is suspected.

Election Day- A voter is found strangled on election day.

Artful Detective- Murdoch goes after a serial killer with a little help from the newly invented taser.

 All of episodes are a bit on the dark side, but they are always tempered with humor. Both the costumes and the sets are realistic and really help to paint a picture of the time period.   This series is definitely a refreshing switch from the norm, and I'm looking forward to watching the full series. If you want to take the advantage of a full set of amazing old world  stories, than this is the box set for you. You can order Murdoch Mysteries: Season 8 on DVD on Acorn Media or amazon.