Ep 1. Mild Mild West

In "Mild Mild West," the first episode of season two of Murdoch Mysteries, Detective William Murdoch returns to solve a new case in 1895 Toronto. While investigating the murder of a member of a traveling Wild West show, Murdoch must navigate a complicated web of suspects, including the show's manager, performers, and even a wealthy investor.

As the investigation unfolds, Murdoch and his colleagues encounter a colorful cast of characters, from a sharpshooter and a trick rider to a snake oil salesman and a Native American performer. Each person they speak to provides new clues and insights into the case, but none can be fully trusted.

Complicating matters for Murdoch is the fact that the Wild West show is being staged at the same time as a highly controversial school of eugenics exhibition, which seeks to promote a selective breeding program for "improving the human race." The school's founder, Dr. Roger Newsome, is a close friend of Murdoch's, but as the case progresses, Murdoch begins to suspect that the doctor may be involved in the murder.

Meanwhile, Murdoch's personal life is no less complicated. His romantic feelings for coroner Dr. Julia Ogden are growing stronger, but their professional relationship is put to the test when Ogden takes issue with the eugenics exhibit and its questionable practices.

As the case comes to a close, Murdoch must rely on his wits and his instincts to solve the murder and bring the culprit to justice. But even as he does so, he realizes that the case has raised serious questions about the ethics and morality of the time, and that the Wild West show and the eugenics exhibit are symptoms of a larger societal problem.

"Mid Mild West" is a riveting episode of Murdoch Mysteries that combines elements of detective work, historical drama, and social commentary. With its richly drawn characters, intricate plot, and complex themes, it serves as a powerful reminder of the challenges and contradictions of life in the late 19th century.