- Network
- CBC (Citytv for seasons 1-5)
- Based on
- Maureen Jennings's Detective Murdoch novels
- Star
- Yannick Bisson
- Setting
- Toronto, 1895 onward
- Seasons
- 20
- Episodes
- 330+
Watch Order
0 / 6 watchedPremiere order, films first as optional, then seasons straight through.
Citytv era
CBC era
About Murdoch Mysteries
Murdoch Mysteries is a Canadian period mystery produced by Shaftesbury Films, based on Maureen Jennings's novels about William Murdoch, a Toronto detective who applies fingerprinting, blood testing and other new forensic science to cases in the 1890s and 1900s. Yannick Bisson has played him since 2008, with Hélène Joy as coroner Julia Ogden, Thomas Craig as Inspector Brackenreid and Jonny Harris as Constable Crabtree.
The franchise started with three Bravo television films in 2004 and 2005 starring Peter Outerbridge, then restarted with Bisson for a 2008 series. It ran five seasons on Citytv before CBC picked it up from season 6. By the end of season 19 in April 2026 the show had passed 330 episodes, which makes it one of the longest-running Canadian dramas.
Season 20 opened on CBC on October 5, 2026 with "The Maltese Falconer", a case that takes Murdoch to Malta. Episodes follow weekly into 2027, with "Arcana Dei", "The Big Smoke" and "A Date with Fate" already aired. In the United States the early seasons aired as The Artful Detective on Ovation, and the Canadian title came back at season 12. There is no spin-off or prequel to slot in, so release order is the whole answer.
Good to know
Start with season 1 rather than the 2004 films. The recast and the warmer tone make the films a curiosity, not a setup, though they are worth a look once you know the characters. The films use a different Murdoch, Ogden, Crabtree and Brackenreid, so do not expect continuity.
The show is episodic enough that you can sample a late season without being lost, but the running threads (Ogden and Murdoch's marriage, Crabtree's writing career, Brackenreid's family) reward straight viewing. Season 14 dropped to 11 episodes because of COVID, which is why that year looks short in episode lists.
Season 20 is airing as this is written, so the finale date will move. Check CBC Gem for the current episode before planning a binge. The three films and the web shorts are extras, not required viewing.
