Mystery Road

ABC you've screened another terrific Aussie Series Very impressed as always with Aaron Pedersen Yes to more Aussie content on our screens

I'm pretty hard to please when it comes to crime shows. Most are over the top and unrealistic with plots that are tired and done to death. Mystery Road has the right amount of tension and intrigue. It's not fast paced but it doesn't need to be. There is enough going on behind the scenes with great little sub-plots to keep you interested. What about the actors? I've always been a fan of Aaron Pedersen and he doesn't let me down. A wonderful performance. The rest of the cast was solid and believable. I didn't want the series to end its that good.

I get the points made by other reviewers about the shortcomings of this series. Yes, there are holes in the details of the script, and some of the dialogue could be better, and we all could find improvement in the acting. And yes, it's an Australian production, so it's a slow burner, it's a cultural thing. But when was the last time the ABC (or anybody else?) put out a watchable drama series located in the WA outback? The scenery and locations alone are atmospheric. We should welcome good drama that comes from a different place and perspective. Not all police procedurals should be based in the USA. So this one ain't perfect, but it's certainly worth a watch.

Starts off good, with characters you are starting to get to know. It is a slow build up with a good story line, but it starts to drag after episode 3. The performance by two actors is a standout Wayne Blair who plays Larry Dime and Crystal Swan (Madeleine Madden). Both actors are a slow fuse, they start off as insecure and irresponsible slowly progressing to be vulnerable and conditioned by circumstances and the people who have let them down. Both actors use silence as a force to communicate more than words could. Especially Madeleine Madden, she brings complexity to her character. The only performance that was a let down was that of the actress playing Shevorne Shields, she had one look in the entire series with no range at all. A few tears shed and violent outbursts and that was it, she had a lackluster performance, she couldn't use her eyes or body language to communicate her characters vulnerability. It was unfortunate as she is one of the key characters and she made the series hard to watch. Her acting should have been stronger, and her line delivery was horrible. The rest of the cast were good especially Judy Davis. Give the show a shot, the story line is done before it is some of the actors performances which are why it should be watched and of course for the beautiful landscapes and natural beauty.

Loved the mini-series, and the music, and want to mention that I watched it on Acorn with closed captions on and it provides the name and singer of every song, so that's one way you can track down most of the music. I must add that I don't agree with those who opined that Judy Davis was too old to play the police chief. She was near the end of her career, obviously, but you'd want someone experienced, mature, forceful, decisive, etc., and those qualities increase with age and experience. It ain't a beauty contest (though I love her expressive face). I thought she played it just right, very real, flaws intact. Extremely good acting by all concerned. Enjoyed this mini-series very much, watched it straight through.