Murdoch Mysteries uses humor effectively in many of their episodes. In this episode however, it seemed to switch regularly from mysterious, to humorous, to disturbing.
The mysterious for instance is: Why/how did the convicted man sentenced to die by hanging not actually die? And, if the escaped condemned man was actually innocent who was guilty.
The humorous are the usually enjoyable Constable Crabtree, but also almost all of the secondary characters in this episode.
Myrtle Smith, the condemned man's failed prostitute alibi, who is presented as a brassy tart that has Inspector Murdoch blinking, speechless, by the time his interview is over.
Theodore Pleasant, the titular hangman, is, early on especially, presented as a sotted, harmless oaf who can't imagine why the condemned man didn't die!
The prosecutor and the original detective on the condemned man's case are presented as mostly pompous buffoons, that we smile at more than detest.
But humor leads to some genuinely disturbing moments. Particularly when the details of hanging are investigated by Detective Murdoch.. How it must be methodically done to avoid unnecessary pain, and gruesome effects--such as a head snapping off after the body drops!
This fairly lengthy description and demonstration of hanging were more effective than the ethical discussion of the morality of the practice, or of capital punishment in general.
But the effect of these various moods was to create a whipsaw effect on the viewer,, it seems to me.
I assume the screenwriters felt that the aspects of hanging were too "heavy" to present on their own, and had to leaven it somewhat amusing secondary characters.
I enjoyed this episode a lot, even if it did leave me with a feeling of whiplash!
The mysterious for instance is: Why/how did the convicted man sentenced to die by hanging not actually die? And, if the escaped condemned man was actually innocent who was guilty.
The humorous are the usually enjoyable Constable Crabtree, but also almost all of the secondary characters in this episode.
Myrtle Smith, the condemned man's failed prostitute alibi, who is presented as a brassy tart that has Inspector Murdoch blinking, speechless, by the time his interview is over.
Theodore Pleasant, the titular hangman, is, early on especially, presented as a sotted, harmless oaf who can't imagine why the condemned man didn't die!
The prosecutor and the original detective on the condemned man's case are presented as mostly pompous buffoons, that we smile at more than detest.
But humor leads to some genuinely disturbing moments. Particularly when the details of hanging are investigated by Detective Murdoch.. How it must be methodically done to avoid unnecessary pain, and gruesome effects--such as a head snapping off after the body drops!
This fairly lengthy description and demonstration of hanging were more effective than the ethical discussion of the morality of the practice, or of capital punishment in general.
But the effect of these various moods was to create a whipsaw effect on the viewer,, it seems to me.
I assume the screenwriters felt that the aspects of hanging were too "heavy" to present on their own, and had to leaven it somewhat amusing secondary characters.
I enjoyed this episode a lot, even if it did leave me with a feeling of whiplash!