Mystery Road: Origin

I've been a big admirer of this set of films and series since the start and have avidly kept an eye out for it future series. However I was very surprised to find this side step with an origins series, so losing us our main lead. These prequel shows can be just milking the original, but I'm happy to say this is not the case here.

We have here our main man heading home to see you his father in the cutoff town in the Aussie desert lands. He is taking up his first steps as a detective and finds himself caught up in the dark arts of life. Racism, bribery, corruption and corporate greed are still the same ingredients as in the other series.

Truthfully there is no genuine drop in quality! It amazed me, and our lead is just perfect. He's a fine actor and is brilliantly assisted by a variety of characters in this dark series.

If you've watched the other series and wondering if this is worth a viewing, then I can assure you that this is still great. Beautifully shot, dark and intriguing storylines and captivating at its very best. Highly recommended and I look forward to the next season whether it is back to the present day or sticking to the origins timeline.

Mystery Road - Origin

This prequel got off to a slow and lumbering start, it was just insufficient to start the show with "soap" like issues.

However, as the show progressed, at a very decided pace, it started to establish a crime and potential suspects, they couldn't help themselves with the woke inserts and predictable indigenous issues that lacked heft. We had some terrible stereotyping and really there was little new here.

Mark Coles Smith made a fine Jay Swan and he did look uncannily like a young Aaron Pedersen. Overall the acting was crisp but the story lacked narrative impetus, as this rate they would get through a couple of cases a year in this hick town.

I'm giving this a 6 outta 10 meaning worth watching but it could have been so much better!

First, the camera work is amazing. I will not mention any scenes that I find amazing, because I do not want to spoil the feeling, but... this series is worthy for just that.

Acting is really good. I really believed the actor was a young Swan.

Directing is probably the best part. I loved the Killing (first series) and the True Detective (first series) and this Mystery Road: Origin is there, right there with these two. Really good.

Screenplay is probably the weakest part, but it is still fairly good.

Having seen all the other Mystery Roads and Goldstone with the great Aaron, I was anxious about how his younger self would act, he has achieved total mind-meld with Aaron and put his own stamp to perfection on the character, if you like the series you will be amazed at how good this mini series is, brilliant and totally Australian in every way, just awesome.

Having just watched the movie and both seasons of the show I was very skeptical about how Mark would portray a young Jay Swan but I have to say he does absolute wonders as an actor, his mannerisms and approach to the character are phenomenal and remind me so much of Pedersen's Swan. It really does feel like we've take a step back in time with this show and character, highly recommend!