If you follow TV, eh? on Twitter you know that Murdoch Mysteries is gone from this site and that I won’t be posting further on it, but I thought I should explain on the website as well. And then I’ll shut up about it.
The husband of the author of the original books reacted badly to a lukewarm review I wrote of the show when it premiered in January 2008. Since that time he’s been sniping at me in comments and by private emails, and at commenters who post even slightly negative remarks about the show.
I have over the years tried to convince him of the value of criticism in getting the word out, and that it’s impossible to opt out of only the negative. I told him I would pull Murdoch from the site if he didn’t want it subjected to the negative. I’d like to believe his assurances that he will leave me alone now, but I thought he understood before.
I run this site for fun, putting my time and money into an effort to promote Canadian television because I believe so strongly in the value of publicity and criticism: people need to KNOW about these shows. And I believe strongly that critics and fans should be allowed to talk about these shows as if they are worthy of critical assessment – not delicate flowers that will wither in strong daylight – without being attacked by people with a vested interest in the show.
For three years he’s been sniping at me for my negativity while I’ve tried to grit my teeth and put up with his, and I’ve simply had enough. It’s not one big event that lead to this but three years of feeling harassed. A new season of the show is coming up and I can’t face it any more.
I am reacting from anger but it’s a long period of cumulative anger. I should have banned the man in question from the site and blocked his emails long ago, and that would have been the end. But after all our arguments about the value of criticism and his position that he’s protecting his wife’s work, I am going to both honour his intention and show by spiteful example what I’ve been saying for three years: being ignored is worse than being subjected to the occasional negative remark.
Murdoch Mysteries will go on nicely without TV, eh? and TV, eh? will go on nicely without Murdoch Mysteries. The official website is here and if there are fansites, feel free to post them in the comments.
