Ep 1. Murdoch of the Klondike

In season 5 of the popular Canadian television show Murdoch Mysteries, we are introduced to the first episode of the season, titled Murdoch of the Klondike. The episode starts with Detective William Murdoch (Yannick Bisson) receiving a mysterious invitation from a wealthy business magnate, James Pendrick (Peter Stebbings), for a meeting in the remote town of Dawson City in the Yukon Territory.

Curious and intrigued, Murdoch decides to accept the offer and sets out on a long and treacherous journey to the town, which was a booming gold rush hub in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Dawson City is filled with fortune seekers, prostitutes and lawless men, where justice is often served at the end of a gun barrel. Murdoch is therefore immediately on guard as soon as he arrives in town, aware that anything could happen.

Upon arrival, Murdoch is quickly welcomed by Pendrick, who is amiable and polite, but also seems to be hiding something. As the two men set off on a tour of the gold mines, they come across the dead body of a man, who has been brutally murdered and left in the wilderness. Pendrick is shocked and calls for help, alerting the local Mounties, but Murdoch is suspicious of his new acquaintance and begins to investigate him as a possible suspect in the murder.

As Murdoch delves deeper into the mystery, more questions arise, and he discovers that there are several other suspects in town who could have committed the crime. The victim's wife, who is now left alone in the rough and tumble of the gold mining town, gives Murdoch further leads and reveals that her husband had been threatened by some of the more unsavory characters in the area.

The mystery takes a surprising turn when Murdoch discovers that Pendrick has secretly been working on a new type of explosive that could revolutionize the mining industry. His research notes and important documents have been stolen, and he believes that someone in town is responsible. As he and Pendrick set out to find the culprit, they are ambushed by a group of men who are clearly after the explosives.

The duo manage to evade their attackers and uncover the shocking truth: the murder victim was an undercover agent, working for a rival mining company, who had been sent to steal Pendrick's research. The men who had attacked them were hired by the same company, and the murder was a means to cover up their tracks. With the help of Murdoch's sharp mind and Pendrick's innovative technology, the suspects are brought to justice, and order is restored in Dawson City.

Overall, Murdoch of the Klondike is a thrilling and action-packed episode that showcases the show's signature blend of historical fiction and mystery. The wild west setting, complete with saloons, shootouts, and gold mines, provides a vivid backdrop to the murder investigation, and the characters are well-developed and engaging. The chemistry between Murdoch and Pendrick, in particular, is entertaining, and the episode leaves viewers excited for what is to come in the rest of the season.