You know that feeling when a long-running show finally tries a holiday special and it just feels... forced? Like they’re just checking a box because it’s December? Yeah, Once Upon a Murdoch Christmas isn't that. It’s actually one of those rare moments where the writers of Murdoch Mysteries leaned into the whimsy of the Edwardian era without losing the grit of a 1900s crime drama.
It's been years since it first aired as a standalone TV movie, but honestly, it holds up better than most of the procedural fluff you see today.
The plot is basically a Dickensian fever dream mixed with a heist movie. We’re in Toronto, the snow is thick, and someone is literally stealing Christmas. Not in a metaphorical "capitalism is ruining the holidays" way, but in a very literal "all your presents are gone" way. Detective William Murdoch, played with that signature stiff-collared brilliance by Yannick Bisson, has to figure out how a series of impossible robberies is happening right under the noses of the constabulary.
It’s fun. It’s smart. And it handles the balance between "magic" and "science" better than almost any other episode in the franchise.
The Mystery That Actually Makes Sense
Most Christmas specials rely on some kind of "Christmas miracle" to solve the plot. Murdoch doesn't do that. Even when things look supernatural—and they definitely do when toys start disappearing into thin air—Murdoch looks for the gears and pulleys.
The story kicks off with a series of brazen robberies targeting Toronto’s wealthiest estates. The twist? The thief is dressed as Krampus, or at least a very terrifying version of a folklore villain. While the rest of the city is panicking about demons and curses, Murdoch is busy looking at footprints and structural vulnerabilities.
What’s cool about Once Upon a Murdoch Christmas is how it utilizes the supporting cast. We get Inspector Brackenreid (Thomas Craig) being his usual blustery self, but with a palpable layer of seasonal stress. He’s under pressure from the higher-ups to keep the city’s elite happy. Then you have George Crabtree, played by Jonny Harris, who is the heartbeat of the episode. George's obsession with the fantastical provides the perfect foil to Murdoch’s cold, hard logic.
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If you’ve watched the series from the start, you know that George is often right for the wrong reasons. In this special, his theories about "The Christmas Beast" actually lead the team toward the truth, even if the truth involves human greed rather than ancient spirits.
Why the Production Design Matters So Much
Let's talk about the look of this thing.
Toronto in the early 20th century was a place of massive inequality. You had these sprawling mansions on Jarvis Street and absolute squalor in the Ward. The special doesn't shy away from that. The contrast between the sparkling, over-the-top decorations in the wealthy homes and the stark reality of the orphanage is where the emotional weight lives.
The costume department really went for it here. The Krampus outfit is genuinely unsettling for a family-friendly show. It’s not a cheap plastic mask; it looks like something stitched together from nightmares and old rugs. This visual grit keeps the episode from feeling like a Hallmark card. It feels like Murdoch.
Historical Context You Might Have Missed
The episode heavily features the concept of the "department store" as a new cultural phenomenon. In the early 1900s, places like Eaton’s and Simpson’s were changing how people experienced the holidays.
- The Rise of Commercialism: The special touches on the shift from handmade gifts to mass-produced toys.
- The Krampus Myth: While we think of Krampus as a modern "indie" Christmas trend, the show correctly identifies it as a deep-rooted European tradition that would have been brought over by immigrants to Toronto.
- Forensics of 1905: Murdoch uses early fingerprinting and trace evidence analysis, which was still considered "voodoo science" by many in the real Toronto Police Department at the time.
Honestly, the way they integrate the Jumping Jack toys into the plot is brilliant. It’s a plot device that is both period-accurate and essential to the "impossible" nature of the crimes.
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Brackenreid and the Spirit of the Season
Thomas Craig’s performance as Brackenreid in Once Upon a Murdoch Christmas is arguably his best "soft" moment. Usually, he’s shouting or threatening to throw someone in the cells. Here, we see a man who genuinely cares about the morale of his men and the city.
There’s a subplot involving a local orphanage that could have been incredibly cheesy. In lesser hands, it would have been. But because the show has spent seasons building Brackenreid as a tough-but-fair father figure, his dedication to ensuring those kids have a "proper" Christmas feels earned. It doesn't feel like a script requirement; it feels like the character.
Julia Ogden (Hélène Joy) also gets a chance to shine, moving away from the morgue and into the social fabric of the city. Her chemistry with Murdoch is at an all-time high here, specifically because they are navigating the "magic" of the season through the lens of two scientists who love each other.
Is It Better Than "A Merry Murdoch Christmas"?
Fans often debate this. The previous special, A Merry Murdoch Christmas, featured Ed Asner and had a very "prestige" feel. But Once Upon a Murdoch Christmas feels more like a cohesive part of the Murdoch mythos. It’s tighter. The stakes feel more personal to the streets of Toronto rather than just a guest star showcase.
The pacing is also superior. In a 90-minute format, procedural shows often struggle with "padding"—those scenes where characters just walk around talking to fill time. This special uses every minute to either build the mystery or deepen the character relationships. By the time we get to the rooftop confrontation, you’re actually invested in the outcome, not just waiting for the credits to roll so you can go eat more cookies.
What Most People Get Wrong About This Special
A lot of casual viewers think this is just a "non-canon" fun episode. It’s not.
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There are subtle character developments here—especially regarding George’s writing career and Murdoch’s acceptance of "wonder"—that ripple through the following seasons. If you skip it because you aren't "into holiday episodes," you’re actually missing out on some of the best world-building the show has ever done.
Also, some people complain that the mystery is "too easy." I'd argue they're missing the point. The mystery isn't just "who did it," it's "why are they doing it in such a theatrical way?" The psychology of the thief is much more interesting than the identity of the thief. It’s a study in how people use folklore to mask very modern crimes.
How to Watch It Today
If you're looking to catch up, it's usually streaming on Acorn TV or CBC Gem depending on where you live. It’s also a staple of the Ovation channel's holiday lineup in the US.
Don't just watch it as a background show while you wrap presents. Actually sit down for the first twenty minutes. The cinematography in the opening heist is surprisingly cinematic for Canadian television from that era. The use of shadows and the muffled sound of snow creates an atmosphere that most modern shows trade for high-contrast HDR lighting that looks fake.
Taking Action: How to Enjoy the Murdoch Experience
If you're a fan of the show or just someone who loves a good historical mystery, here is how you can actually dive deeper into the world of Once Upon a Murdoch Christmas this year:
- Check the Historical Sites: If you're in Toronto, visit the Distillery District. While the show is filmed across Ontario (Guelph, Cambridge, and Hamilton), the Distillery District captures the exact aesthetic of the "Murdoch" era during their Christmas Market.
- Read the Source Material: Maureen Jennings wrote the original novels. They are much darker than the TV show, but they provide the DNA for Murdoch’s analytical mind.
- Host a Period-Accurate Viewing: Skip the microwave popcorn. Make some Victorian-era snacks like roasted chestnuts or a simplified plum pudding. It sounds pretentious, but it actually makes the viewing experience of a period piece way more immersive.
- Analyze the Inventions: After watching, look up the "innovations" Murdoch uses. Most of them are based on real prototypes that existed in 1905, even if they weren't in widespread use by police yet.
The legacy of this special isn't just that it's a good "Christmas episode." It's that it proved Murdoch Mysteries could expand its scope without losing its soul. It took the most cliché trope in television—the holiday special—and turned it into a masterclass in period-accurate storytelling.
Go watch the scene where Murdoch explains the physics of the "disappearing" presents. It’s a perfect reminder that even in a world of holiday myths, there’s always a logical explanation if you’re smart enough to find it.