Wednesday, May 4, 2016

THE BROKENWOOD MYSTERIES, Series



THE BROKENWOOD MYSTERIES, Series 2 (DVD/Blu-ray Debut) - “Must-see TV…Awesome… Mike Shepherd is an immensely likable guy…
easygoing, intelligent, and depending on the situation, funny or downright witty.” (British TV Place) - Filmed amid the beautiful landscape of New Zealand’s North Island, Acorn TV’s detective series returns with four feature-length, standalone mysteries featuring compelling characters, dry humor, and piquant wit. After transferring from a big city to the small town of Brokenwood, Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Shepherd (Neill ReaGo Girls) has settled into the relaxed rhythms of country life. His methodical young assistant, Detective Kristin Sims (Fern SutherlandThe Almighty Johnsons), has adapted to Shepherd’s unconventional ways—and even tolerates listening to country music in his 1971 “classic” car. Despite the growing accord between the mismatched pair, all is not well in Brokenwood, where passions simmering beneath the sleepy surface regularly erupt into gruesome crimes. In Series 2, Shepherd and Sims contend with a potential serial killer, a group of egocentric thespians, a family of territorial fishermen, and the mysterious death of Shepherd’s favorite singer(DVD 4-disc, Blu-ray 2-disc, $59.99 each).

My Thoughts

The Brokenwood Mysteries is a fast-paced series set in New Zealand. It revolves around Mike Shepard, a homicide detective. He sets out to solve some grisly murders along with his partner Kriston Sims. This season includes four exciting episodes including:

Leather and Lace - A coach that everyone loves is killed and  tied to the goalpost. 

To Die or Not to Die -An actor is killed on stage after a rendition of Hamlet. It seems one of the grieving cast may still be acting. 

Catch of the Day - A local fisherman reels in a human hand. Could it be the result of a fisherman's feud?

Blood Pink - A county music singer dies in Brokenwood, and it's unclear at first if it's murder of suicide and if one of the band members right be the victim. 

I really enjoyed this season, just as much as the first one. The stories were all exciting, though definitely gruesome at times. The New Zealand scenery was lovely and all the actors did a great job. Each show has a little backstory, but can still be watched stand-alone.  If you'd like to grab this awesome box set for yourself, you can find it online at Acorn Media or on Amazon.