The city is bubbling with anticipation, excitement, and merriment as festivities are planned, decorations are begun, and gift purchasing is seriously underway. That includes Murdoch's wife, Dr. Julia Ogden (Hélène Joy) and Inspector Thomas Brackenreid's (Thomas Craig) wife Margaret (Arwen Humphreys) pressing their busy husbands for hints as to their presents under the tree. The Station House Choir is headed by Jackson who solicits help from Dr. Ogden's assistant, Rebecca James (Mouna Traoré). And, everyone's anxious for a white Christmas and the attending of the Christmas ball.
But just a few days before Christmas, a blatant train robbery occurs in Toronto leaving a gentlemen's party helpless and abandoned in their train-car as the train scurries away. Detective Murdoch gets the call to find this fiendish thief and restore stolen belongings. To further insult the holiday spirit, store-bought and wrapped Christmas presents are being snatched out of buyer's hands as the exclusive Eaton Department Store's unique wrapping gives way to the expensive gifts inside, thus leaving patrons helpless on the streets of Toronto.
With interviews pointing to a masked man jumping and flying through the air in his retreat, Murdoch and Crabtree realize that this fiendish robber resembles Crabtree's recent fiction novel's main character Jumping Jack! Expensive gifts like diamond bracelets, cuff links, watches and fur coats have been stolen and wealthy businessmen like Messrs. Henderson and Edwards are outraged and demand immediate action in returning stolen goods. The crew is on the prowl to apprehend this thief quickly, and turn to inventions used in Crabtree's book to lead the way in solving this city-wide crime.
In Murdoch Mysteries: Once Upon A Murdoch Christmas, viewers will notice the Christmas appearance of The Salvation Army's collection kettle, Inspector Brackenreid's turn-about attitude with Christmas and wanting the Station House to sponsor the Christmas Choir. Also, you'll watch Jackson as he accompanies the Choir with his trumpet playing. Julia is mistaken for a fairy tale character, while Crabtree is enticed by an expensive self-filling fountain pen. Murdoch uses his night goggles to find missing children and Julia is surprised with a splendid Christmas gift from William that they will both enjoy. And, an Ice King melts into generosity at his Winter Banquet to comfort all at Christmas!
There's all kinds of adventure in this upcoming Special – Crabtree meets his first fan, Canada's $4 bill appears, the first person is cured from diphtheria, there's mention of a cooling system from "The Ice King," The Snow Queen fairy tale by Hans Christian Anderson was first published, and the episode features the luxurious Eaton's Department Store.
Murdoch Mysteries: Once Upon A Murdoch Christmas also includes a seven minute Behind-the-Scenes featurette with some additional info on the making of this special. This Blu-Ray episode would be delightful for anyone receiving it as a Christmas present, and will bring family entertainment and mystery during this welcomed Season. So add this to your Murdoch collection and you will not be disappointed, plus you'll bring Christmas cheer to those you love!
