The Great Detective (1979)

Crime · Mystery

The Great Detective is a Canadian television drama, which aired on CBC from 1979 to 1982. It starred Douglas Campbell and James Dugan.

IMDb rating: 7.5 (63 votes)
Episode average: 6.6 -0.9 vs IMDb
Seasons: 4
Language: EN
Type: TV series

Rating trend: this show's seasons do not settle into one shape. Rising Shows ranks whole shows by the shape of their rating trend rather than one average score, which is how you find a show that got better rather than a show that started well.

Browse shows by rating shape → Open in Rising Shows app → View on IMDb

Ratings refreshed Oct 3, 2026 · 4 seasons indexed

Cast

Seasons

Season 1 (1979)

6.40 avg 10 episodes 6.6 → 5.9

Season 1 episodes - IMDb ratings
#	Title	Rating	Votes
1	The Case of the Magic Mandarin	6.6	11
2	The Black Curse	6.6	8
3	Death Takes a Curtain Call	6.7	7
4	Murder at Blenheim Swamp	7.2	9
5	Bloodhounds Can't Fly	6.2	9
6	Nightwalker of the Wards	6.7	7
7	Pretty Mary Mitchell	6.2	6
8	The Curious Death of a Maiden Lady	6.1	8
9	Song of the Hemp	5.8	9
10	Fire at Fenroy	5.9	9

Season 2 (1980)

6.68 avg 8 episodes 7.1 → 6.1

Front-loaded

Season 2 episodes - IMDb ratings
#	Title	Rating	Votes
1	Train of Events	7.1	9
2	The Eye of Clarkie Blackburn	7.6	9
3	A Family Business	7.2	6
4	Murder in Sepia	6.5	8
5	A Watery Grave	6.3	6
6	Spirit Guide	5.7	6
7	The Man Who Died Twice	6.9	8
8	Too Many Cooks	6.1	7

Season 3 (1981)

6.67 avg 9 episodes 6.7 → 6.3

Season 3 episodes - IMDb ratings
#	Title	Rating	Votes
1	A Question of Loyalties	6.7	9
2	Death Visit	6.0	9
3	Sins of the Fathers	6.8	8
4	Scull-Duggery	6.9	10
5	Murder by Proxy: Part 1	6.8	12
6	Murder by Proxy: Part 2	6.8	12
7	Horror in the Wax Museum	7.1	9
8	Murder in Motion	6.6	7
9	If Looks Could Kill	6.3	10

Season 4 (1982)

6.58 avg 4 episodes 6.3 → 6.3

Season 4 episodes - IMDb ratings
#	Title	Rating	Votes
1	Death Circuit	6.3	9
2	Damned Indenture	6.4	7
4	Star of Bengal	7.3	7
5	Death on Delivery	6.3	7