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For some reason this series get compared to Midsomer Murders when it is closer to Murder She Wrote in that the killings are not in multiple towns as they are in Midsomer but in one town, Brokenwood which is more like Cabot Cove,a small town full of murderers. The series uses the same establishing shot of Brokenwood in every episode: a small downtown surrounded by farms, woods, and grape vines. The main character is DI Mike Shepherd, Neill Rea, who likes country music, his twenty year old car, and always looks rumpled. He is aided by detective Kristin Sims, Fern Sutherland. There are four minor supporting characters, the most notable is Pana Herna Taylor as Jared Morehu. who I am guessing is supposed to represent local color. And Nic Sampson plays Constable Breen, the "gofer" officer. As an American I have some challenges in trying to discern what is being said as the three leads have what I assume to be New Zealand accents. I can usually parse out about 90% of what Mike says; 60% of Kristin; but only about 30% of Jared. Subtitles would be nice even though they are speaking "English." Oddly enough the guest stars—the suspects—are easier to understand. The plots are OK but you really watch if you like the characters, which I do. I tend to guess this is being produced on the cheap as if a character isn't important to the plot they don't get lines. You may see police officers milling around a crime scene but it is only the leads who have lines. The medical office is "manned" by one doctor and her response are terse at best. Maybe the money went for the soundtrack. I gather a second series has been approved.
score 7/10
pensman 31 May 2015
Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw3248846/ |
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25-10-2020 12:22:11