I don't think some of the men watching this episode realises how absolutely terrifying this was to watch as a woman.
So I saw the comments here before I watched the episode, and found it rather amusing how the only commentators complaining that it was too focused on misogyny and too "obvious" etc. were all men. I still decided to give them the benefit of the doubt and watched it with an open mind.
I'm going to give a minor spoiler outside of a tag here since one of the other commenters failed to use a tag and I feel their comment needs to be explained as it had absolutely no context. Dana did not suddenly have a personality change and decide to break the law. The FBI can hold a suspect for a certain time and she chose to keep one in holding, not because he was an ass, because she felt it warranted it. As the episode summary explains "a serial bomber appears to be targeting Wall Street’s elite" and the suspect is one of those elite with a connection to at least one of the victims. It's not a huge leap in logic to realise that it's safer to keep him in custody - and oh what do you know? He was the last victim. But of course, if you see things from a 'femnazi' perspective the female supervisor must be abusing her power rather than trying to protect a male who makes her skin crawl.
Yes the theme of misogyny is strong from the beginning; the first suspect is a complete misogynist and it isn't toned down at all. I wouldn't say it's overdone or too obvious, because in my experience there are actual men like that in the world, especially in business. They do actually speak like that. Then Dana is immediately usurped from her position as profiler (she's a former profiler but always acts as the team's profiler until now) by her bosses who bring in a special profiler for this case; there's absolutely no need for it and yet this type of thing happens to women every day. It could be argued that this was an important case, but there's been plenty of those and they've not pulled in another profile until now.
I do think that this was sloppy writing. If they had built up a reason for Dana to be replaced on this case as profiler rather than just wanting to have a male character to question her actions by profiling her and assuming that she is treating a misogynist a certain way just because she's been treated that way through her career. The male profiler is not badly written; he's a man who considers himself more qualified than his female boss and chaffs at it and attempts to undermine women at any turn. The problem is that Dana is confident enough in her position to put him in his place - I'm sure some people would say she got angry, but let's be honest, so would any male character if their authority was questioned by a guy who literally walked in the door 2 minutes ago.
At the end of the episode, Maggie saves the misogynist's life by moving a bomb and the male profiler apologises to Dana, she doesn't make a fuss. She doesn't laud it over him how he was a complete ass the entire time, how he needs to change his attitude etc. He just offers his hand (something she pulled him up on previously) and she takes it, shakes it and walks away.
The FBI agents, men and women, all acted professionally as usual.
Dana remained on target, profiling the perpetrator and did not focus just on the one person. She used the guy in custody for information but did not have tunnel vision at all. Maggie and OA also have a conversation about how gender politics in the workplace aren't clear cut and I think that sums it up pretty well.
TLDR: A bit of sloppy writing regarding the introduction of the other profiler but basically the previous commenters here just didn't like seeing themselves mirrored on TV.
It has been so hard watching the last two seasons, knowing that this episode was inevitable. I'm glad that Jerry Orbach got the chance to say goodbye to a role that he clearly loved.
As someone with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS/ME) the thought of a doctor infecting someone with CFS/ME with any virus, especially one that exacerbates the symptoms they're already suffering from, makes me sick to my stomach. It's a form of torture.
I have no idea why this episode is voted so low. As with everything they do, the cast and writers put everything into this episode, and it was wonderful! Usually with musical episodes, there are clearly one or two cast members who can't sing, and it's very obvious, but in this episode every effort was made to give a spectacular performance. Even if it's not your normal type of thing, props should be given to how well it was woven into the normal Murdoch Mysteries scientific universe.
Lewin is a badass. She is such a refreshing change from Adam.
I was crying during Harvey's interview. The writers perfectly put into words how neurodivergent and/or people with anxiety feel.
As a disabled person this was a hard episode to watch, but it was very well written, and it was good to see Skoda mention that various disabled people live full lives.
I'd like to think we've moved on from the attitudes displayed in this episode from 1998, but sadly, we haven't at all.
Damn, the writers really made us work for that.
In a way, I didn't like this episode and in another I did. It was too obvious to go the traditional get-them-together straight away romance, and let's be honest, that is not in character with Neville. The writers also did well in reminding us with the flashbacks that Florence had given him reason to worry that she was going to hurt him. I was sitting there silently screaming at him for being a complete numpty as he did it, but I understood why he turned her down at first. And so many people play it safe, never taking a chance, so it was very realistic writing.
The only thing I'm disappointed about is that we normally get to meet the new lead and as far as I'm aware we've not had any possibilities? It's completely unknown at this point, and I was expecting one to be introduced in this episode at least.
The sad part is that Hugo's explanation for why he bullied Abigail is how many bullies excuse their actions; "poor me, something was happening to me, so I took it out on someone else". As if that makes it ok and no one else was struggling.
This episode was extremely disturbing to watch.
They dubbed the voices of main cast actors over the actors playing their younger counterparts instead of finding actors that fit the part properly. It was so off-putting hearing Stuart Martin's deep voice coming from a much younger man.
A very powerful episode.
As for the people complaining about the subplots; this is only episode three of a new series! If the plots moved too quickly, you would be complaining about that too, of course.
"Be right back?!"
Ryan finally found someone as unpredictable as him in Chavez :D
Not the worst episode I've seen about Wicca, but Father Brown's writers cared to push the correct information more, whereas the emphasis here was more on Satanism that has nothing to do with Wicca. One day writers will work that out...
As someone who grew up watching shows like this, I cringed and laughed in equal measure. The final scene was spot on and the writers clearly had fun with this one.
If you can't laugh at something like that, then this show isn't for you, and you need to learn to stop watching it.
Such a powerful episode with a fantastic cast.
That cockney accent made me wince every time he spoke.
Someone give Smitty a promotion for taking Jubal down a few pegs. Also, well played to the writers because what she said was so on point. It is also so obvious that he's drinking again, when is someone going to call him out on it?
If you have people staying over at any point, why on earth don't you have a lock on the bathroom door?!
Such a powerful episode about a dark time in European history.
TV writers never get Wiccan or Paganism right, but the depiction in this episode is particularly ridiculous. In their ritual the witches call on Lilith, a mythical figure in Hebrew mythology, Diana, a Roman Goddess and then Hecate, a Greek Goddess. Later one of them calls upon Baphomet and Azazel, demons which are as far from Paganism as you can get! Did the writer just google random phrases to find these names?
Brilliant episode that juxtaposes humour with the serious scenes of the accident. Watching William Murdoch getting outsmarted by a baby is one of the funniest things ever.
Absolutely disgusted by the ignorant sub-plot that becoming disabled is worse than death. Plenty of people who become quadriplegic go on to live wonderful lives full of love, joy and family.
It was great to see that they got a Deaf actor to play the famous Deaf and Blind disabled rights advocate Helen Keller!
Why did she plug her headphones in to listen to the interviews when they were locked in the basement? She could have just put it on speaker.
Fantastic to have Varada Sethu as Harper officially join the team!
I think I just fell in love with Smitty after that door takedown.
I enjoyed the face off between Kristen and Sister Andrea that led to mutual respect by the end of the episode.