Preview: Murdoch Mysteries gets spooky with “Sir. Sir? Sir!!!”

I’ve been excited about the Murdoch Mysteries Halloween episode ever since showrunner Peter Mitchell teased it during our chat earlier this year. There won’t be a Christmas-themed TV movie in Season 12, but he did say this Monday’s instalment is a worthy replacement.

“There is going to be an out-of-the-box Halloween episode,” Mitchell said late last month. “It’s certainly a standalone episode. And it is probably unlike any Murdoch you’ve seen.” So, is he right? Here’s what the CBC has revealed regarding “Sir. Sir? Sir!!”

Murdoch (Yannick Bisson) investigates an astronomical phenomenon with a strange impact on his colleagues’ behaviour and dire implications for Toronto.

And here’s what I can tell you after watching a screener of the episode, written by Mitchell and directed by Craig David Wallace. Don’t forget: because this is a standalone episode, there won’t be any Season 12 storylines involved.

It all starts right away
I love it when an episode of my favourite show shakes things up and really lets you know you’re in for something special. That happens right out of the gate with Murdoch. And look closely at the men Higgins speaks to in the alleyway. I swear the one who doesn’t say a word looks eerily familiar. As for Higgins, well, the astronomical phenomenon affects him in a unique way. Lachlan Murdoch is at his outrageous best.

What is the inspiration for “Sir. Sir? Sir!!”
A long-running animated program that features special instalments at this time of year seems to be the main culprit, but there are plenty of nods to iconic horror and science fiction films in the mix.

All hands on deck!
This special episode features all of our main and recurring characters involved in the story. A sweet treat for sure. Additionally, look for veteran comedian Darren Frost in a memorable guest role.

For once, George was right about something
However, this landmark event isn’t welcome news.

Murdoch Mysteries airs Mondays at 8 p.m. on CBC.

Images courtesy of CBC.

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16 thoughts on “Preview: Murdoch Mysteries gets spooky with “Sir. Sir? Sir!!!””

  1. I think the episode sir,sir,sir sucked. It made no sense and it never had an ending to explain all is well. I love this show, but if it is starting to go sci fi . Then you have lost a fan of the show. What did it have to do with Halloween?

    1. I completely agree. Terrible.
      At least, if it had been a 2-part episode, they could have returned things to normal. Personally I take issue with such lazy writing. If they wanted it standalone, they could have just make it George Crabtree’s nightmare on Halloween or something.
      For a two-part episode, since he’d had 2 drinks, prior to being infected, maybe the bug died and he could have mobilized all the drunkards of Toronto to save the place.
      In any event, if you give even one iota about verisimilitude, you can’t just return to the storyline as if this episode never happened! It did happen, so in theory, that’s the end of Murdoch (and the planet, for that matter, in the Murdoch universe).

    2. I was waiting for it to reveal that the entire story was a book that George was writing. It would certainly make sense as he becomes the main character half way through and he starts spouting one liners at that point as well.

  2. I have been an MM fan since its inception and continue to view it because it depicts Canadiana at its best.
    Well spoken Canadian language, period costumes along with period sets, interior and exterior along with precise lighting are exceptional.

    The Sir Sir Sir! episode was hilarious and used the talents of all of the main cast members to the Max.
    I hope that there will be a Christmas episode that will offer a feel-good message as our world needs that right now.
    Perhaps something based on memories of our Eaton’s store and all of the dreams that Eaton’s offered many of us?

    As a Winnipeger, I would like to see our city depicted in a more positive light in future episodes.
    Until then, I still remain a faithful viewer and wish everyone at MM the best always. Yvonne

  3. I agree somewhat with Curtis, though the episode was a fun omage to the old sci-fi moves, it had no ending and left me wondering if the writers got lazy or were unsure how old sci-fi moves ended. Other the the end the shows was fun to watch and it’s nice to see a show take a risk, good or bad.

    1. I respectfully disagree. The show definitely had an ending. It effectively ends when the aliens explain to Crabtree that they’ve come to destroy humankind because humans are destroying the rest of the planet. At this moment, old sci-fi movies collide with 21st century environmental realities. Maybe having the humans win isn’t the “happy ending” the 1950s thought it was.

      There are a couple of moments that set this up. One is Watts asking Crabtree what humans would look like to aliens. Another is Murdoch and Crabtree chortling over the prospect of communicating with an alien species – implying that the species is intelligent – while keeping a member of said species trapped in a bell jar without food or water.

      The show was good, scary fun *and* it made me think. Can’t ask for more than that!

  4. This was the stupidest episode. My husband said he may give up watching. I would much rather have a xmas show. The one last year was horrible too tho.

  5. This was a weird episode.. very “Body Snatchers”… we thought it would have ended with George getting everyone to take a drink, or it would have been a nightmare, or his latest story. I will consider it a parallel universe story…

    1. I was certain that it was going to be revealed that it was a book George was writing, but it never happened.

  6. Wow, people need to relax a little, so they had a little fun and did a one-off episode that was a standalone and not part of the Murdoch Mysteries continuity/canon. The horror.

    I mean seriously, if you didn’t like it, then that’s fine (though I feel a little bad for you as it was clever, fun, and exciting). But to accuse the writers of being lazy because they didn’t tie it up to the storyline…I suggest you get over yourselves a little and let the writers who have delivered a consistently fun and entertaining show have a little fun of their own with this. Lots of shows have done Halloween themed episodes that don’t have any bearing on the main story.

    And those of you who can’t get past that miss the fact that they did it damn well. Solid nods to classic horror/sci-fi and still utilizing the charisma and solid acting chops of all the main cast.

    If you can’t get over yourselves long enough to have a little fun and indulge in a Halloween episode, then just skip it and move right on to the next episode. But don’t take it out on the writers. it’s not them, it’s you.

    1. No one argues that the episode was fun and well done. However, they could have had all the fun they wanted, and still tied it back to the main storyline. There were many ways to do that. Instead they threw verisimilitude out the window, completely unnecessarily – that’s just a fact, no matter how you try to cut it.

  7. I think it should not been part of the Murdoch series as there is no where to go if the aliens have now taken over the planet. There should be no more episodes. If it was billed as a special episode then it would make more sense. It was well done and thought provoking – just not fitting in to the series.

  8. Like many others a simple ending with George setting there at a desk writing would have completed the episode. If it were a stand alone, why not make it a 2 hour movie. Interesting story, just left me hanging.

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