Brokenwood

At first I was skeptical of Brokenwood mysteries. I enjoy murder mysteries, I'm quite fussy. Yes it seems to have some similarities with Midsommer murders, however this show has a distinctively kiwi feel to it. The writers and actors have managed to incorporate a good amount of humor without overshadowing the mysteries. I thought it might put me off as there are a lot of ex shortland street actors in this show, it hasn't.

Worth a watch if you enjoy murder mysteries. This show is a breath of fresh air for NZ TV, amongst some very stale offerings. A worthy recipient of NZ on air funding. I hope this show will be a good spring board for emerging actors. Great choice of characters and actors.

Midsommer murders can sometimes get confusing and require a lot of concentration to follow. The 3 episodes I have seen on Brokenwood have been very well put together, kept me guessing and taken me along for the ride with out loosing me on the way.

I have read some scathing unfair reviews online. I have talked to several people of various ages who have had nothing but positive comments about this show. I am keen to see more of this show and really hope there will be many more seasons. I would like to see it get a good following overseas also.

I like this show because it isn't the shoot 'em up, everyone is having an affair with someone on the Force type of show, like almost all US cop shows are nowadays.

Every other episode isn't about some terrorist plot (in fact none, so far).

It DOES bear comparing to Midsommer, in the sense that it doesn't take itself too seriously. Good mysteries, without the ridiculous twists and turns. I like the shows where at the end, you can say "yep, that's the bad guy, and looking back, it makes sense how they got there and why he/she did it"

I detest the ones where I end up instead with "WTF?"

It's better than the new Midsommer, with what's his face and what's his name, but I think not as good as the old Midsommers, and not up there with Lewis either. Much better than the old Morse though.

But I like it, and I'm a huge copper show fan (except US ones, though I live here).

Foyle, Lewis, Midsommer, Gently, Frost, Vera

I hope they keep it running. A unique setting, well acted, well written.

Really enjoyed seeing a program in NZ that wasn't trying to portray either Auckland as "Little Sydney" all glam and international or South Auckland as "Little Harlem", for the 1.5mil that live in Auckland, there are stories from the other 3 million outside of the city.

The settings were real without LOTR CGI, the characters were not over the top, the stories had their twists and turns without relying on overnight DNA tests.

Similar to other cop shows, probably, different and standing on its own, yes it does that too.

Really though, how many police shows are all that unique nowadays anyway (CSI and NCIS franchises) or the formulaic UK shows: Two unusual surnames for the title, a male/female lead, one of the two has some disturbing past that troubles them.......doesn't make them bad watching.

It's perfectly fine to watch TV for entertainment and not to be educated or enlightened, that's what real life is for. Brokenwood does that from an NZ viewpoint with a bit of brain engagement and if you don't think this sort of thing happens, you haven't read the papers for 40 years.

I don't know why people are comparing this to Midsomer Murders. It is not trying to be anything other than what it is. I love the characters especially the lead and his sidekick. The thing that I really enjoy about this show is that each episode shows an aspect that is typically Kiwi. Golfing, Hunting, and Wine are part of everyday life in New Zealand , so I think this makes Brokenwood Mysteries quite unique. I even prefer it to Top of the Lake which tended to be a little out there at times. Yes, the plot is generally straightforward and not mind bending, but it doesn't need to be. I just liked the Kiwi slant and was really impressed with the acting and cinematography. We are a small country, and I think it was a job well done. Maybe I feel like this because I am an expat living abroad, so this reminds me of home and makes me rather sentimental. Anyway, I loved every moment of it.

Nicely produced, lighthearted detective murder show from New Zealand. The principal actors are really good and funny and the plots, although uneven from show to show, are usually very engaging. They run out of top acting talent pretty quickly as you move down the credits, but the show has a charm and look that carries it along. Great scenery and, for us Northern Hemisphere viewers, a fun look into how folks in the Antipodes do it.

The photography, in particular, is really nice and gives the show a great sense of place. The two principal actors, Neill Rea and Fern Sutherland, are very good and the supporting cast, if a bit one dimension, are fun to watch as well.

A fun 90 minutes of engaging Kiwi cops.