Ep 5. The Green Muse

In “The Green Muse,” the fifth episode of the second season of “Murdoch Mysteries,” Detective William Murdoch and his colleagues at Station House No. 4 investigate the death of a young woman whose body is found in a park. The victim’s death is initially thought to have been caused by a fall, but further investigation reveals that she was poisoned. The detectives discover that the woman was a model for a controversial artist who painted portraits of her in a drugged state.

The case takes on a new level of complexity when a second young woman is found dead in similar circumstances. This victim was an aspiring artist herself, and had visited the same coffeehouse as the first victim. Murdoch and his team learn that the coffeehouse serves absinthe, a controversial and highly addictive drink that was popular among the bohemian artists in Paris. The detectives begin to suspect that the absinthe may be responsible for the deaths.

Murdoch meets with the owner of the coffeehouse, a man named Henri Gaston. Gaston admits to serving absinthe, but denies that it is responsible for the deaths. He tells Murdoch that absinthe “breaks down the walls of convention,” and that it is a drink for “the creative and the free.” Murdoch is skeptical, but his interest is piqued when he discovers that his own father, a strict Methodist, has been frequenting the coffeehouse and drinking absinthe.

The detectives continue to investigate the deaths, and their suspects begin to pile up. They interview the controversial artist who painted the portraits of the first victim, as well as the art patron who commissioned the paintings. They also speak to a young man who was seen arguing with the second victim shortly before her death. Murdoch and his team work to untangle the web of relationships and motivations that led to the deaths of the two young women.

As the investigation progresses, Murdoch becomes increasingly concerned about the influence of absinthe. He questions whether the drink has contributed to the deaths, and whether it is even legal to serve in Toronto. He seeks the advice of a medical expert, who tells him that absinthe contains a chemical called thujone that can cause hallucinations and psychological problems.

Eventually, Murdoch and his team uncover the truth behind the deaths. They discover that the first victim was accidentally killed by the controversial artist, who was trying to use her as a model for a painting while she was under the influence of absinthe. The second victim was killed by her own boyfriend, who had become paranoid and delusional after drinking absinthe.

“The Green Muse” is a fascinating episode of “Murdoch Mysteries” that explores the subculture of bohemian artists and their love of absinthe. The episode is full of historical detail, and offers a nuanced look at a controversial drink that was once beloved by some of the most creative minds of the era. With its complex characters, intricate plot, and careful attention to historical accuracy, “The Green Muse” is a standout episode of this beloved series.