The Brokenwood Mysteries: Series 5 Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		5.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		1.0
Overall		4.0

The Brokenwood Mysteries: Series 5 Blu-ray Movie Review

The Reassuring Comfort of Police Procedurals

Reviewed by Michael Reuben March 22, 2019

I had written a very different introduction to this review of the fifth season of New Zealand's popular Brokenwood Mysteries, but I had to junk it after the appalling massacre in Christchurch on March 15. In the aftermath of that hate crime, I have found myself thinking about the enduring appeal of police procedurals as a television format, even though they routinely revolve around, as each episode of Brokenwood does, the taking of human life. It occurred to me that, while the killings in Brokenwood initially appear mysterious and senseless, there is always ultimately a reassuringly logical explanation for the crime. The killer and the victim routinely know each other, and the perpetrator is always apprehended, usually with some recognition that he or she has done wrong. A series like Brokenwood is less about death than about justice, and its stories are satisfying because the holes that homicide tears in the social order have been stitched up by the end titles. Real life is never so simple, as recent events in New Zealand remind us, and perhaps that's why the imaginary world of Brokenwood, however dangerous it may be to its inhabitants, can be such a comforting place into which viewers can disappear for a ninety-minute respite from reality.

With those sobering reflections, let us now return to the fictional town of Brokenwood, which lies on New Zealand's coast like a precious jewel: scenic, charming, idyllic and home to an exceptional police force that can always be counted upon to apprehend the region's alarmingly high concentration of colorful criminals. You'd think that the region's killers would have learned by now that they always get caught. Brokenwood's latest four episodes provide yet another set of conundrums for the constabulary led by Det. Senior Sergeant Mike Shepherd (Neill Rea), Det. Kristin Sims (Fern Sutherland) and Constable Sam Breen (Nic Sampson). Superintendent Hughes (Colin Moy) provides occasional oversight from his distant office in the nearest (unnamed) city and makes his usual once-a-series visit to the picturesque locale. Russian medical examiner Dr. Gina Kadinsky (Cristina Ionda) contributes invaluable forensic insight and sardonic wit, while continuing to probe Mike Shepherd for the slightest hint of romantic interest. In Series 5, she even escapes the confines of her morgue, gamely venturing into the field to visit crime scenes (and other unexpected venues).

Shepherd's Maori friend, gardener and jack-of-all-trades, Jared Morehu (Pana Hema Taylor), makes an unexpected mid-series return, and of course he turns out to be distantly related to the multi-talented plumber, Kahu Taylor (Rawiri Jobe), who pops up in the least likely places and in whose direction Sims keeps casting longing glances. Brokenwood remains a small town, and all the familiar faces return at some point in Series 5. (If you think you've missed one of them, keep watching, because they all appear in Episode 4.) Most frequently seen are the town gossip, Mrs. Marlowe (Elizabeth McRae), whose encyclopedic knowledge of local secrets continues to prove an invaluable resource, and the hapless Frankie "Frodo" Oades" (Karl Willetts), who is still failing at one business venture after another. Publican Ray Neilson's (Jason Hoyte) new establishment, the Toad & Lion, seems to have replaced the Frog & Cheetah as Brokenwood's pub of choice.

Perhaps the most noteworthy element in Series 5 is the evolution of the working relationship among Brokenwood's chief law enforcement trio, who have developed an easy and familiar rapport as Shepherd, initially an outsider, has slowly blended into his adopted home. Some of Mike's eccentric edges have been smoothed away—he no longer talks to dead bodies—but much of his past remains a mystery.

The Brokenwood Mysteries remains a popular New Zealand export. The show's distinctive mix of deadpan humor, criminal skullduggery and country music has won it an international following that includes the U.S., the U.K., Australia, France, Denmark, Finland, Italy and Bulgaria. In the brief "Behind the Scenes" featurette included with Acorn Media's Blu-ray set, the cast and crew can't believe that the show has reached its twentieth feature-length episode. (More are on the way. A sixth series has already been announced for later this year.)

The following episode summaries have been derived (with edits and additions) from Brokenwood's official website. The dates indicate the original New Zealand broadcasts.


Scared to Death (disc 1), Oct. 28, 2018

It's the annual Brokenwood A&P show, that special variety of Kiwi carnival showcasing local agriculture. Amidst the shearing displays, the "Calf Day" competition and the wood chopping, is the usual assortment of amusement park rides and fairground attractions. The sun is shining on happy family entertainment, and ever popular this year is the familiar Ghost Train.

But when the surly A&P boss, Harold Wilbury (Greg Johnson), takes the minute-long ride as a safety check, he gets the fright of his life. Shunted in his carriage through the final curtain, Harold greets daylight wide-eyed and dead. He is literally gone in 60 seconds. When a man dies of fright, surely there is no question of murder—it's just a case of bad luck. Then again, how scary could the Ghost Train ride really be?

Curiously, Madame Magdalena (Nancy Brunning) in the Fortune Teller's tent predicted the tragedy. Was that coincidence or an effort to enhance her credibility by criminal means? The Ghost Train operator, who just happens to be our old friend "Frodo", swears he did nothing out of the ordinary, but there are questions over falsified health and safety checks. And why is Daisy Rose (Olivia Tennet), the fairy princess, so unhappy?


Bride Not to Be (disc 1), Nov. 4, 2018

The Cream Boat is a charming vessel that chugs its way up the scenic Brokenwood waterways. It carries sightseers and Christmas parties and often hen parties for brides-to-be. Professional tennis player, Ophelia "Fee" Marley (Anna-Maree Thomas), is one such lucky hen. Her bridesmaids have organized a big day migrating from the township via the Cream Boat to the Tidal View Lodge, where some of them will stay overnight.

The following morning the Cream Boat returns to pick up the ladies for the wedding, but as the captain is about to dock, he is greeted by a macabre and ethereal sight. Fee is floating lifeless in her wedding dress and veil. At first it may seem a tragic drowning, perhaps a result of too much revelry. But Gina, ever the thorough M.E., discovers that Fee was killed before being dropped into the river.

Where was Fee's fiancé the night of the murder? And why is best man Darryn (Leon Wadham) so reluctant to cooperate? Is he covering for his mate, or is it something else entirely? Darryn's reticence is partially explained by the fact that he is deaf, and Kristin's knowledge of signing comes in handy as the team works to solve this mystery.


Tontine (disc 2), Nov. 11, 2018

Cycling is popular around the globe and no less so in Brokenwood. When a typical MAMIL (Middle-Aged Man In Lycra), Lester Nyman (Paul Glover), reaches the top of a local mountain after a grueling ride and suffers a massive coronary, it doesn't initially seem suspicious. But then Gina discovers that Nyman's blood contained astronomical levels of caffeine, probably from a spiked energy drink, and the death is ruled a homicide.

Investigation reveals that Lester was one of ten people inheriting shares in a substantial local farm. The terms of the will, left by Lester's father, Karl (Craig Walsh-Wrightson, in flashbacks), create what is legally known as a "tontine", in which the share of anyone who dies is distributed equally among the survivors. The last to survive will own the entire property. Curiously, four members of this particular tontine have died recently, apparently from natural causes or unfortunate accidents.

Lester's brother, Trevor (Will Hall), appears willing to assist in the inquiries, but not so much his lawyer, Madison Mathers (Debbie Newby-Ward), whose chief concern is executing her professional responsibility to administer the Nyman estate according to its terms. In an unexpected twist, Brokenwood's familiar pastor, Reverend Greene (Roy Ward, in a recurring role), is discovered to be a member of the tontine, but why? The late Karl Nyman didn't believe in the church. Was he trying to goad the good Reverend into elevating greed above service to the Lord? The further Mike and his team delve into the case, the more it appears the tontine was a grand and malevolent plan by Karl Nyman to let his friends and family tear each other apart in a feeding frenzy of avarice—and the plan is working.


The Dark Angel (disc 2), Nov. 18, 2018

On the edge of Brokenwood sits an abandoned mental health facility, an asylum named Brokenwood Downes. Now derelict, the spooky buildings provide a great retreat for local teenagers gripped by hormones.

But one young couple freak out when they stumble upon the body of an elderly man in the old hospital wing strapped to a gurney with electrodes attached to his temples. He seems to have been a victim of electrocution by ECT ("electro-convulsive therapy").

The deceased is Jakob Deschler (Nick Blake), formerly superintendent of the asylum until it closed in 2011. Recently released from jail after being convicted on charges of torture, Deschler appears to have been murdered in revenge for the cruelty of his eccentric approach to psychotherapy. Mike and the team focus on a group of ex-patients from Brokenwood Downes. The few that have remained in the area are an eclectic bunch of misfits still struggling to reintegrate into society.

Several of Deschler's former patients are under the care of a local therapist, Amy Curnow (Aidee Walker), whose expertise enables Mike to gain greater insight into the minds of these unique characters. Dr. Curnow also succeeds in getting Mike to reveal tales from his past that have so far eluded the inquiries of his colleagues. Has Det. Shepherd actually found a soul mate in the midst of a murder investigation?

The Brokenwood Mysteries: Series 5 Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Brokenwood Mysteries continues to be shot digitally. Acorn Media's two 1080p, AVC-encoded Blu-rays for the fifth series are comparable to the previous discs for Series 1, 2, 3 and 4, with a clean and noiseless image, sharp focus and plenty of fine detail. The show continues to take advantage of the verdant New Zealand countryside, balancing apparently pristine open spaces with the intrusions of civilization. (Note that Series 5 contains a selection of new exterior establishing shots of the town, which is a refreshing change.)

Dr. Gina's morgue has warmed up considerably, perhaps reflecting her blossoming emotional attachment to Mike Shepherd. Night scenes occur infrequently, but when they appear, they continue to feature deep blacks. The bitrate on these four episodes has returned to the slightly lower average seen in Series 3, hovering around 26.00 Mbps, but the image quality hasn't suffered. Overall, Acorn Media has maintained the superlative video quality that has characterized its Brokenwood discs from the outset.

The Brokenwood Mysteries: Series 5 Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The soundtrack for Series 5 of Brokenwood Mysteries continues the show's love affair with country music, with each episode featuring multiple credits for songs by New Zealand singer-songwriter Delaney Davidson, Canadian transplant Tami Neilson and assorted other artists. All of the gentle country sounds are soulfully rendered in lossless DTS-HD MA 2.0. The remainder of the sound mix is comparable to that of previous series. The dialogue is always clear, but for American ears the native New Zealand intonation may be a challenge. Use the optional subtitles as needed.

The Brokenwood Mysteries: Series 5 Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Behind the Scenes Featurette (disc 2) (1080p; 1.78:1; 3:52): This collection of interview snippets includes all of the principal cast, plus head writer Tim Balme.



• Trailers: At startup, disc 1 plays trailers for Acorn TV, Mystery Road, Series 1 and Murdoch Mysteries.

The Brokenwood Mysteries: Series 5 Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

As with Series 4 before it, Acorn TV subscribers have had access to Series 5 for some time, but Acorn's streaming versions, as good as they are, can't match the quality of this Blu-ray presentation. Fans who haven't yet seen the series can buy with confidence that the discs are excellent and the series has lost none of the distinctively appealing qualities that have garnered it a global audience. Highly recommended.