This episode is a clever, lighthearted return to the series' best days. I still miss Crabtree, currently enjoying history's longest honeymoon, but the complete absence of Violet Hart's nonsense almost makes up for it. Murdoch and Brackenreid work together with the ease of an old married couple, and it's delightful never knowing when Julia and little Susanna are going to zip through the scene on a motorcycle, but the comedy duo of Higgins and Watts really gives the episode life. Watts gives Ariel vibes throughout, wanting to be where the constabulary are and scratching his cheek thoughtfully with random forks. When his own life is on the line, Higgins turns out to be an able conspirator. The two teams are, of course, working on the same case and the ending comes together with the satisfying ease of a dovetail joint, but the murder is a secondary pleasure. This is a group of seasoned performers having fun and it's a joy to watch them work.
Murdoch invention-of-the-day: baby leashes (tethers)
Murdoch invention-of-the-day: baby leashes (tethers)
