Grundoon59

@trey - will do. I am very lucky to not only have a good local library but to have discovered there is a great system in Michigan (and maybe all other states/countries for all I know) that allows me to borrow from any other participating library in the state. This has helped a lot with things like mystery series that you read book 6 or 7 and want to go back to the beginning plus of course, no one library can own everything.

4/5 with some very lucky guesses. Only one I was 100% sure on was Helen of Troy and that is probably because I just got a book about here from my library - it is in my to be read pile. Had never heard of Friday's book but just put in a request for it at the library.

I get Acorn via my Xfinity account and it is showing Episode 1 - Sometimes They Come Back (Part 1} and Episode 3 - The Write Stuff. Both are showing as available for a couple of weeks and then usually they pop back up as sort of permanently available. Oddly enough, I didn't always have access to the after shows on every device - had to move around a bit to finally get to see them all (which was worth it because I really enjoyed them}.

I think a couple of this season's episodes are already available on Acorn. I missed the first episode of the season due to not realizing CBC had started airing it already and I think last time I checked, it was available.

16/19 Whatever Happened to Abigail Prescott February 27, 2023 I did find this week's episode more engaging than last week's but still probably not going to be high on my rewatch list. I did like Miss Hart and the other coroner working together (and basically ignoring the audience), good police work by George and Henry and the reactions of non series regulars like the hotel owner being indignant about the cost of the phone call and Abigail's mother realizing what her phone call set in motion. To be fair, I probably should give it a rewatch- I was somewhat loopy due to recovering from a 72-hour power outage due to the ice storm which significantly interrupted my sleep for several nights. So, my reaction may have been way off.

5/5 with a couple of wild guesses on my part but will take the win where I can find it after ice storm week. Not offering up any food this week since I don't want anyone else to have to play refrigerator/freezer roulette with me after a 3-day power outage.

@peacheslatour- if a Frankie Drake web series can serve as any indication, Watts and Brackenreid were still around in the 20s to tell her about a case they had worked. Also from the series itself, George was around having made some sound investments that allowed him to retire early. All this sounds like a good idea for continuing things.

16/18 - Virtue and Vice - I have to admit that I wasn't posting about this episode because I was really not a fan and was trying to find something positive to say about it. Both plotlines left me blah. Then the ice storm struck and my energy/enthusiasm waned further - plus lost power at home late yesterday.) Was pleased to read your perspectives @cardigirl and @Trey - maybe I can be persuaded to feel more positively upon a rewatch. It does look like the Julia plot line will be going on for a while (maybe the rest of the season) so I will try to put on my big girl britches and give it a fair shake on Monday. I haven't reached the point of being ready to let go of these characters yet but know it will not be my decision/control. Will continue to enjoy it as long as I can but recognize that I may have episodes/story line that I like more than others.

Went 3/5 with Halley's Comet (thank you Murdoch Mysteries!!!!!!), the Globetrotters (totally a guess) and Yellowstone (long ago French classes to the rescue). Saw my new doctor today - overall a good visit but as usual stepping on the office scales renewed my intention to diet. Unfortunately I had already stopped to buy some paczki for tomorrow so I will happily share with everyone - as if that will stop me from eating them (🤣). I got the raspberry variety- dang are they good - only about 12,000 calories per serving.

16/17 Ballad of Gentleman Jones February 13, 2023 I also enjoyed the episode - after the Watts/Henry episode, it was nice to see George & Watts working together. Glad to see Watts finally realizing that he has a place in Toronto. Got a very big laugh out of George walking into the station insisting that he would use his own pillow or he wouldn't be able to sleep followed by him taking first watch because he couldn't sleep leading to him so sound asleep that someone was able to steal the coin. I must admit I lost mental track of Gert Dotson as a character but the reveal fit well into the story. Did anyone else think the scene by the tracks when she was arrested really looked like not great CGI? It hit a nerve with me.

@Welshman in Ca- I discovered QI during pandemic times and have watched all past season episodes available on Britbox. I am trying to prevent myself from racing through the new season to savor the "new car smell" of watching each episode for the first time. But they are delightful on rewatch as well - kind of my go to show for laughs/enlightenment.

4/5 - couldn't get anywhere near mantra in my brain - maybe more meditation would help? Got barbed wire, Peter Pan and HRE quickly - Aachen took longer but got there in the nick of time. Once more, weird television habits to the rescue - a rewatched QI episode discussed the barbed wire museum, history & travel programs helped and I spent a bit of time recently unsuccessfully trying to find a way to stream a show called Peter Pan Goes Wrong. I made Swedish meatballs with egg noodles over the weekend - happy to share.

@peacheslatour- I agree - that has sort of been his demeanor since his religious conversion. I can't tell if it's an acting choice or directing decision. I understand new convert enthusiasm/zeal but it seems a bit much. I haven't even been 100% sure it is the same actor who played Bobby before he went to prison.

Season 16, Episode 16 - An Avoidable Hinder I enjoyed the episode - maybe I was a little distracted, but I clearly got who done it (in fact had sort of pre-guessed) but not entirely clear on what the motive for the original killing was. Was it an accident that led to a cover up? Was it all to get the girl? Or was there some other motive I missed? Favorite part was the Brackenreids & George. I know nothing about handball but learned enough through the episode to follow the match. George as coach was wonderful and it is always fun to see Margaret. I was very glad Thomas reached the conclusion he did - also happy that the priest was not written in a too heavy-handed manner. It was a good balance of people concerned about Bobby's future.

@30Helens - Happy Belated Birthday! @j5cochran- Greenbrier is still on my to-do list but the soup looks yummy. @M. Darcyafter congratulating myself for remembering the book/tv show, I thought of you. 4/5 with one * - again my Monday brain let me down. I was most surprised with how quickly I got Tuesday and then realized I have been playing a silly but fun hidden object game on my computer and it starts every session with a map of the western US (hurrah for time wasting!).

4/5 with one * - although Friday's guess was a Hail Mary since it was the only French bio pic I could think of and I am amazed I got the name to the correct part of my brain in time. Not sure I would have spelled Nabokov correctly if I had to but I definitely knew who he was. I didn't get Capricorn - long day at work Monday and as I mentioned in the Murdoch Mysteries forum, I barely got home in time to eat a bite before FJ and Murdoch. Not sure what to contribute food-wise so will bring some Sangria to warm our souls!

Breaking Ranks Season 16 Episode 15 January 23 2023 I also liked this episode - the mystery was enjoyable, I guessed part of the who but not the why and liked the journey of getting to the result. It was good to see Miss Hart and Murdoch working together successfully. The secondary plot with the IQ tests was delightful to me - the right balance of lightness and the crime plus a good way to involve several characters not working on the primary investigation. I registered the preview but not the two weeks part (probably due to a long Monday at work - made it home with just time for a bite to eat before the show started). Thanks for the warning - saves me sitting at my television next Monday wondering what is going on.

@Clanstarling- thanks for the list and the updates on @saber5055and @PBnJay. I can't quite believe it but I went 5/5 with 2*. For the Model T, I have lived all but the first couple of days of my life in Dearborn, MI - if I had gotten that wrong, I would have had to turn in my trivia license. The States and witches were more educated guesses than knowing for sure. Again, recent tv habits to the rescue for the Tower (although Tudor History is a long-term favorite area anyway) and Law & Order. The pasta and charcuterie look yummy - I will add a green salad with a favorite sweet Vidalia onion dressing which should go well with them.

@Prevailing Wind Hasn't he missed stretches of episodes before, for e.g., when he was on his book tour, visiting the aunts back home, etc...? I would also guess any given season it might depend on actual filming schedules of the two shows and how much he was doing new shows during Covid. Often the best parts of Still Standing for me are the audience reactions when he does his summary of his visit and they are usually packed into a relatively small venue which probably wasn't easy to do these last couple of years. Don't get me wrong, Crabtree is one of my favorite characters and I miss him when he isn't there, but I also enjoy watching others step up to the plate - a good example was the Higgins/Watts pairing recently. It would have been good with George but I really enjoyed the two of them bouncing off each other.

@meira.handAs a non-Canadian lucky enough to get to watch on CBC Windsor, I put together from context that he must be space related but only able to look him up later. I too liked George and Effie just nodding along to "humor" him. That sort of thing makes Murdoch Mysteries even more fun than your average show. @cardigirl I too like it better when there is a full cast but with so many interesting part-time characters as well, I try to bide my time when regular cast is missing. Anyone know if they are doing the Murdoch after show again this year? I was only able to see all of last season's episodes after the full season aired on Acorn but truly enjoyed the behind-the-scenes peaks at a cast that seems to get along quite well in real life.

Season 16, Episode 14 - Murdoch at the End of the World I am not a big fan of Pendrick (ducking to avoid the wrath of Pendrickians) but I thought he was well used in this episode. I was very pleased to see Miss Struthers again as I had really liked her in her prior episode. She worked wonderfully with Effie and Julia to solve the puzzle and then with George and Murdoch to take action. This show does a very good job with female characters as individuals, not required to be tethered to a man. Generally, I enjoyed the episode. Good to see George and Effie back in town. @cardigirl- I think George has been in more than one episode this season but I do miss him also - my guess would be the absences are partially due to Jonny Harris filming Still Standing which I also enjoy so I don't mind it quite as much as I might otherwise. Admired William's adherence to duty and Brackenreid's willingness to let him join his family if he chose (was there any mention of Julia stopping to pick up the baby on her way to the bunker?). Sort of fun to see the general public's reaction to the comet - enjoyed the music but especially at the end when the Murdoch family was viewing it, I was singing Mary Chapin Carpenter's "When Halley Came to Jackson in 1910".

3/5 due mainly to a couple of lucky guesses. I was sure on the Tapestry (again travel/history show streaming to my rescue) and guessed on Jack and Madonna. For the others, I couldn't focus enough on the clue to get the 1000 nights part right and somehow got fixated on Robert Ludlum and couldn't move it out of my brain to guess anything else. I am in the doldrums cooking-wise these days but I did rouse myself enough to make a tortellini and walnut dish that should sustain me this week - happy to share it.

Season 16, Episode 13 - Vengeance Makes the Man I missed the very beginning of the episode - did anything happen other than Station House 1 busting in on Thomas and Margaret? I enjoyed the episode and will be glad to not see Mrs. Hart's father for awhile. Thought the actor did a good job with the role but as written, he seems pretty irredeemable . Since I like both Mrs. Hart and Brackenreid, I suppose I am glad at the outcomes from their events but it seems like there should be some consequences (other than many more people knowing what they have done). I will be interested in what the writers do now with Mrs. Hart given the change in her circumstances. I know it is in Murdoch's character to be morally upright but he crossed over in to being a little bit too sanctimonious for me. Dude, you have done some really questionable things when you thought it was right. Granted it was not the same outcome as that which occurred from Thomas' actions but I was definitely on Julia's side when she was talking down from his high perch.

3/5 with Godfather, Bligh and Mona Lisa (I can again thank Britbox/Acorn viewing for the latter two - Islands of the Pacific and World's Greatest Paintings if I am not mistaken). I couldn't get my brain to summon up Allende and South American geography is a weak point although I was 85% sure it was the correct continent. If the table for 2 will allow an interloper, I will happily bring a Caesar salad and garlic bread to the feast.

Porcelain Maiden January 2, 2023 Ep. 12, Season 16 - I agree @Trey, it was a most enjoyable way to start the New Year. Loved how all the plot lines were interwoven without anyone really catching on until near the end. Like the Watts/Higgins working relationship and there were lots of moments for each to shine. Daniel Maslany is so good with the physical stuff and this was a showcase for him. Also agree him being a private detective makes sense. Good to see Brackenreid & Murdoch working together and to see Julia whiz by on her motorcycle from time to time.