The Doctor Blake Mysteries

After seeing this show wondered why we don't have more types of TV like this made in Australia.

I so love the production on this new Aussie show, which is made in Ballarat and set in the early 50s.

A worthy partner of Miss Fisher Murder Mysteries, another fabulous, beautiful looking period piece.

I really really liked this show. I was worried thinking of my memories of Craig McLachlan singing Mona in the 80s with a mullet and all those terrible shows he was in like Neighbours etc but he does a great job as Dr Blake and I really love his house set up and rather eccentric personality!

Can't wait for the next episode.

Just found this in the UK and loved it. It is a classic example of the period detective genre like 'Ripper Street' or 'Murdoch Mysteries' with a little bit of 21st century hindsight. That is par for the course. I didn't find Blake at all grumpy - quite the opposite. I get a little fed up with the short tempered detectives of the likes of Frost or DCI Banks. But Blake is anything but that. Setting the series in Ballarat rather than Melbourne also allows it to have the feel of a small town environment that the Aussies seem to love to do. Think of 'Blue Heelers', 'A Country Practice' or (dare I mention them) some of their soaps. As with most Australian dramas there is an underlying positiveness - despite the traumatic past that the characters might have had.

I just ran across this show on Netflix and just really fell in love with it. I was sadden to learn it was canceled by ABC really don't understand why. Greatly written awesome acting. Someone should surely pick it up and continue the Mysteries of Doctor Blake. I would recommend this show to any one.

I love this show more for nostalgic reasons. I use to live in Melbourne, Victoria for 4 years and loved Ballarat and Bendigo. I lived in a state that had a large Italian/Greek population and many of the characters that have appeared on the show absolutely look like that. The character is a bit withdrawn and wooden, but then that was typical back in those times. I grew up in Perth, the west coast, and most of the men back then were restrained. The housekeeper reminded me of some of my aunts keeping a stiff upper lip and all emotions to yourself. Some of the plots are very good, and some kind ah. I am looking forward to the next season.

The Doctor Blake Mysteries may not quite be among my favourite shows of all time, but it's a riveting series that keeps getting better and one of the better detective drama shows in recent years. Unfortunately, it's buried within BBC's daytime television scheduling and aired at a time where most people will be at school or work, and the show deserves better than that.

The post-war period is beautifully evoked in the sumptuous but also atmospheric settings and scenery and charming costumes and period detail. The series is beautifully shot and atmospherically lit, the dark grey-ish tinge being very appropriate and adding much to the overall feel of the series. The episodes are scored sensitively and the haunting theme tune gets embedded in the brain, while the direction is suitably restrained but the crimes and solutions sometimes have a genuine eeriness.

Writing is consistently good, with great thought-provoking dialogue that always makes the mystery elements interesting but the atmosphere doesn't ever feel too grim. The story lines, apart from moments of slow pacing in the first season, are so riveting, with suspensefully written cases that you care about getting solved, that one can't wait for the next episode. The solutions are never too obvious either, nor are they too complicated. The characters are well-written and are more than just stereotypes (although it took me a while to get used to Munro, who is the complete opposite of Lawson in a not-so-good way), Lucien is a fascinating title character.

Craig McLachlan is superb in the role as well, quite possibly his best role and certainly the best acting he's ever done. He seemed an unlikely choice at first, but the characters suits him perfectly. All the acting is very good actually, and seldom if ever any less.

All in all, a riveting series that deserves better treatment scheduling-wise. 9/10 Bethany Cox