While I’m generally not a fan of the western genre, William Murdoch never looks more dashing than when he is on horseback. And since Devil in the Saddle mainly seems an excuse to show off Yannick Bisson’s roping and riding skills, I’ll gladly make an exception when Cowboy Murdoch rides again. That said, what a waste of an opportunity not to put him in a cowboy hat.

Not that there’s a shortage of cowboy hats – or chaps, leather vests, or riding boots, for that matter. There’s plenty of cowboy paraphernalia on display as Detective Murdoch and Chief Constable Brackenreid (Thomas Craig) visit the historic 1912 Calgary Stampede, the first edition of The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth. Filmed on location in the hills of Cowboy Trail, director Laurie Lynd makes the most of the majestic Alberta landscape with sweeping aerial shots. Rodeo-themed set dressing and background shots of people riding horses, steer wrestling, horseshoeing, and stunt riding add authenticity to the western atmosphere.

Deep Cuts

Though the scenic backdrop may be far removed from Toronto, at its core, this episode is still very Murdoch Mysteries. There’s a solid murder mystery, of course – Remind me never to come on holiday with you again, says Brackenreid, as he, like Julia and George before him, finds there’s murder and mayhem everywhere Murdoch goes. Noelle Girard’s script delights with some deep cuts, including esoteric references to Season 2’s episode Mild Mild West. That episode also featured Annie Oakley, albeit played by Sarah Strange rather than Heartland star Amber Marshall, and what may well be my all-time favourite Murdoch scene: Murdoch, on a horse, lassoing a fleeing suspect. There’s even a nod to Yannick Bisson’s role in Nothing Too Good for a Cowboy – Oh, I paid my dues on a ranch a long time ago.

As I wrote in my review of the previous episode, Sugar Plum Murdoch, Noelle Girard has great insight into the show’s characters, and that insight is on full display here again. Right from the start, she contrasts Brackenreid’s and Murdoch’s traits, with Brackenreid being grumpy about Murdoch’s frugality: I can’t believe I let you talk me into a second-class sleeper – It saved the department a considerable amount of money.

Gentleman Among Cowboys

Mr. Tidy Detective Murdoch sticks out like a sore thumb amid all these cowboys, with his spruce beer and his reputation of being a bit of a stickler. Apparently, he even carries some litmus paper with him on his travels; you never know when you might need to test for opiates. The gentlemen among cowboys concept explains why Murdoch doesn’t get to wear a cowboy hat – still, such a shame – and makes for a nice contrast with his considerable roping and riding skills and his ability to vault onto a bareback horse. He’s got some skill for a city boy.

In addition to the main cast, some of the guest roles are worth mentioning as well. Annie Oakley, of course, who in Amber Marshall’s portrayal is less flirty with Brackenreid and a lot more boastful about her sharpshooting skills. Although the real Annie Oakley was never at the Calgary Stampede, using her in this episode works quite well, as she’s helpful and Brackenreid and Murdoch trust her. Having a female character also serves as an antidote to the macho bravado of people like Ethan Tripp (Ivan Cermak), who even though he’s obviously a lousy shot, still thinks he can best Annie Oakley: That’s impressive. For a lady.

Unlike Oakley, bronc rider Tom Three Persons (Owen Crow Shoe) really was at the inaugural Stampede. He gets a nice tribute at the end of the episode, but even though he’s in quite a few scenes, we really don’t learn much about him. The same goes for Guy Weadick (Damir Kovic), the American rodeo promoter who conceived the idea and organized the first Calgary Stampede in 1912.

Bumbling Waiter Watts

Meanwhile, back in Toronto – and I never quite know where to place these B-plot discussions in my reviews – Detective Watts (Daniel Maslany) goes undercover as a waiter when restaurant owner Mr. Sands (Jorge Molina) is being threatened by butchers trying to monopolize the meat supply business. Anyone who’s read my reviews knows I’m not a fan of the A/B story format, but I will say that the Watts subplot is wonderful. It’s a small story, but Maslany makes the most of it with his physical comedy and dramatic range, and the story itself is quite dense. We find out that Serge (Leighton Alexander Williams), who we remember from this season’s opening episode The Boys Are Back in Town, has been on a date with Watts but never called him back. We see Watts as a bumbling waiter, a good copper, a wine connoisseur, and a shy lover. He has the funniest line of the episode: If poor palates were a crime, I’d charge you both with that, too. And he has the most poignant line of the episode, the incredibly sad I’ve gotten quite adept at playing a role.

Devil in the Saddle reminds me why I’m generally not a fan of westerns. As Ethan Tripp puts it: All those cowboys, they all look the same to me. It’s easy for characters to blur together in the genre’s visual uniformity. That said, this episode largely avoids that pitfall through strong character work and an entertaining mystery. The pacing is deliberate – more canter than gallop – which suits the episode’s focus on atmosphere and character. My main complaint is actually about the setup: the episode makes a point of establishing that police from across Canada were invited to the Stampede, yet when murders occur, Murdoch and Brackenreid are the only officers we see investigating. It’s a small inconsistency in an otherwise engaging episode. My only other gripe? That Murdoch never wore a cowboy hat. I may never let that go.