'Murdoch Mysteries' Returns to Acorn TV for Season 17

Most of the time, when people think of a "long-running weekly mystery series," the first things that come to mind are British shows. That's not an unfair reaction; between the launch of the government-funded BBC network and the plethora of Shakepearean-trained talent, the tiny island that once conquered most of the planet's biggest export nowadays is culture, so of course, it has series that run a very long time. Midsomer Murders is heading into Season 25, Vera is currently airing Season 13, Father Brown is debuting Season 11, and Death in Paradise is readying Season 14. However, Canada is no slouch either, with Murdoch Mysteries now in Season 17 and heading south across the border to American streaming.

A period piece mystery that began set in the late 19th century, 1895 to be specific, but after nearly two decades is now firmly entrenched in the Edwardian era, Murdoch Mysteries is one of the most stable mystery series on television, with an ensemble quartet of characters who have starred in all seventeen seasons without fail. Yannick Bisson stars as the titular William Murdoch, a police detective working in Toronto, Ontario, during the turn of the century, using methods of detection that were incredibly forward-thinking, to the point of sometimes being anachronistic. The series has sometimes been labeled science fiction due to its steampunk-esque elements.

The series initially ran on Ovation in the U.S. under the title The Artful Detective, but when Acorn TV picked it up under its original title starting in Season 12, Ovation switched over to the actual title to eliminate confusion. Both still have the rights to the series, with Ovation airing it on the wilds of linear cable and Acorn TV with exclusive streaming rights. Check out this video from Ovation for last year's Season 16 milestone, when the series hit 250 episodes.

Here's the new season's synopsis:

The new season begins with William Murdoch and Julia Ogden racing to discover the true intentions of their mysterious captors in order to escape and resume their lives in Toronto. Constable Crabtree and Effie will find their domestic bliss interrupted by an urgent mission that emerges from Crabtree’s past, and Station House #4 will be in a state of tension as Brackenreid’s place in the constabulary remains in question. Llewellyn Watts resumes work as a detective, determined to live his truth and pursue happiness on his own terms, while Violet Hart will thrive in her new romance with Isaiah Buchanan -- but the future of the Star Bright Club hangs by a thread, as does Violet’s fortune when she is brought to court by the family of her dead husband.

As always, the main cast of Murdoch Mysteries features Bisson, Hélène Joy as Dr. Julia Ogden, Thomas Craig as Inspector Thomas Brackenreid, and Jonny Harris as Constable George Crabtree. Other recurring cast includes Lachlan Murdoch as Constable Henry Higgins, Arwen Humphreys as Margaret Brackenreid, Daniel Maslany as Det. Llewellyn Watts, Shanice Banton as Violet Hart, Clare McConnell as Effie Newsome, Bea Santos as Louise Cherry, Samantha Walkes as Cassiopeia Bright, Mark Taylor as Isaiah Buchanan, and Kenzie Delo as Constable Tucker. Former recurring actor Michael Seater as James Gillies guest stars this season.

Writers this season include author Maureen Jennings, upon whose Detective Murdoch novels the series is based, along with regular returning writers Peter Mitchell, Noelle Girard, Simon McNabb, Caleigh Bacchus, Jenny Lee, and Andrea Scott. Writer Keri Ferencz also joins the team for the first time. Bisson once again gets a chance to direct an episode, with regular helmers Laurie Lynd, Gloria Ui Young Kim, Yuri Yakubiw, Sharon Lewis, and Katie Boland, with director Elenore Lindo joining the lineup. As always, the series is executive-produced by Bisson, Joy, Mitchell, Christina Jennings, Scott Garvie, Noel Hedges, and the CBC.

Murdoch Mysteries Season 17 will premiere on Ovation's linear channel on Saturday, February 10, and air weekly, and follow on streaming on Acorn TV starting Monday, February 26, with a two-part premiere and then one episode a week to follow through the end of July 2024.