Mystery Road

Authentic acting. Not overstated at all if you've spent any time in the country. Enjoyable twists and turns and magnificent cinematography.

This six part Australian drama is set in a remote corner of Western Australia. Two young men have gone missing from a cattle station, one an indigenous man who was expected to become a football star, the other a back-backer. There is some evidence that they were victims of a crime. Local police officer Emma James calls in Detective Jay Swan, himself a Native Australian to assist with the investigation. As the case progresses things are learnt about the missing boys as well as various local secrets coming to light. Swan's task isn't made any easier when his wayward daughter and his ex-wife turn up in town.

This was a really gripping series set in a part of the world I don't think I've seen used in such a series before. It may be set in the vastness of West Australia but the community still feels claustrophobic. The central mystery is intriguing and the characters are interesting. Aaron Pedersen is great in the lead role and Judy Davis is impressive as Officer James. The fate of the boys is revealed sooner than I expected but that didn't matter. We still need to discover who did what and why. There are numerous possible motives and the identity of the guilty is far from obvious. Overall I'd certainly this to fans of crime dramas who are looking for something a little different.

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.

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.

As a retired lawyer I'm pretty hard to please when it comes to police shows. I had heard about the movie Mystery Road and it sequel. I therefore watched this series. It has the right amount of tension and intrigue.This series live up to the prior 2 films. There are plenty of believable plot and sub-plots. It really made this series awesome. I didn't want the series to end its that good. I look forward to future Mystery Road series. All the actors gave award winning performance. The photography was amazing. Told a story with an accurate, believable Aboriginal sub-plot.