When a drunken, philandering wastrel is found dead in his room, having had varnish forced down in his throat, his estranged disturbed ventriloquist son is found in a wardrobe.
Tropes:
- Ambiguous Situation: We never learn how Harcourt Grimes died, but Murdoch speculates that Mycroft killed their father not only for all the wrongs their father inflicted on him, but also to avenge Harcourt. The fact that the father hid Harcourt's body suggests that he had something to do with the boy's death.
- Asshole Victim: The victim of the week is a violent, adulterous drunkard who gave one of his twin sons away and likely killed the second when he was just ten years old.
- The Bad Guy Wins: The killer gets completely away and hasn't been seen since.
- Demonic Dummy: Mycroft creeps out several people. Subverted in that he turns out to be the voice of the conscience side of the ventriloquist.
- The Dutiful Son: Harcourt Grimes seems to be a responsible man who cares for his wretched father. He's actually bitter and resentful over being abandoned, and finally murders him when it comes too much to bear.
- Halloween Episode: Despite airing in March, it very much has the feel of one from the possibility of a Demonic Dummy to the appearance of a ghost at the end.
- Roaring Rampage of Revenge: Mycroft Grimes killed his father to avenge the wrongs the father inflicted on both Mycroft and likely his brother Harcourt.
- Split Personality: Heavily implied with the ventriloquist. Although the ventriloquist's brother is dead, the ventriloquist seems to use the dummy as an outlet for a second personality based on his brother.
- Twin Switch: This is how the killer evades Murdoch. Mycroft Grimes pretends to be his own dead twin brother Harcourt, tricking the police into thinking that "Mycroft" is still out there and the real killer.
- Ventriloquism: The prime suspect is a ventriloquist who is extremely attached to his dummy. This turns out to be an act and Mycroft disposes of his namesake readily when he makes his getaway.
