Why is Everybody Singing?

The emphasis on singing was very well laid out in the plot where Murdochs injury was the factor. More than that was how it played into the solution of who was the true suspect. I was somewhat surprised about how good the singing was. Being a long time fan of the show I was very pleased at this exceptional episode.

The story did not take away from what makes Murdoch mysteries entertaining which is the logical thinking and meticulous attention to details that Murdoch uses in finding the criminal.

Granted some folks may not like singing in what is considered a serious character driven crime solving show and in the past some of the "halloweenish" episodes tended to diminish the integrity of the show but definitely not this time. Well done!!

I imagine, keeping a television show fresh for 17 years challenges the best of filmmakers. Devoting one episode per season to diverge into a 180° change of pace highlights the team's talents, breaks monotony, stretches creative juices, and keeps a freshness enjoyed by cast and crew. IMHO, It should be embraced by critics and consumers alike. This year's off-label effort: the Murdoch crew did a musical.

The score and book should be mentioned first. The songs skillfully suited the actors' range and singing talent. Some of the cast have more natural singing chops than others, yet a few were surprisingly delightful. Hats off to Paul Aitken, Jono Grant, and, of course, Robert Carli -weaving the spirit of the characters, telling the tale through lyric, style, and employing all tenets of musicals' song types (opening/production, expo/narrative, charm/comedy, comment song, "I want," "I am," reprise/finale etc.) into this episode. To the naysayers, I say, "chill"-just sit back and enjoy the show-Bloody 'Ell, Why Not!

As I write this, 5 of the 7 posted reviews are either 9-10 or 1-2. I find those extremes amusing. When Murdoch strays from its normal tenor, it tends to trigger strong fan responses in both directions. Getting folks to care that much is a tribute to the series. I'm usually in the plus camp on these novelties.

This one is a mixed bag. I was pleasantly surprised by most of the musical performances, with Julia's voice leading the pack. The choreography was also admirable. But the quality of the songs was not up to snuff in terms of melody or relevance to the story. The opening production number came out of nowhere, and did nothing to introduce the plot.

Other light series have tossed in an outlier musical episode. A couple that come to mind are Psych and Scrubs. The former was pretty good, but the latter set the gold standard, with several Broadway-worthy melodies, and lyrics that were spot-on for the characters and the story, rewarding those who'd come to know them best. Perhaps if I hadn't seen than one (several times by now), my score for this one would have been higher.

I have to admit being of two minds about the prospect of a musical episode of "Murdoch Mysteries"--frankly, it wasn't something I had ever imagined watching in the seventeen seasons that I have been following the series. Having seen it tonight, however, it is clear to me that "Why Is Everybody Singing?" is one of the cleverest and best executed ones the production team have ever put together. It was a wise decision on their part to frame the musical numbers within a fairly standard mystery plot rather than creating an all-singing-all-dancing episode; that said, all the main characters--as well as one returning guest villain!--had an opportunity to display their talents in a way that fans of the show won't soon forget.

Such a joy - it's what I love about Murdoch, and this from the start, always daring to expand the narrow confines of storytelling to include horror, music, sci-fi, noir, and all manner of genres.

I feel bad for those who cannot expand their minds and tastes to dare to try something different. "Normal" Murdoch is not a thing and I for one am so grateful the team isn't limited in their thinking, or in the cast's abilities.

The interweaving of what is happening inside Murdoch's mind and the investigation is such a clever way to tell the story. The musical numbers are amusing, touching and well produced.

This episode is the kind of thing that keeps the series fresh and engaging. Pity the person who cannot enjoy such creativity.