This is pretty well done. It begins with a police standoff in front of a house. A cop has been killed and a young man waves a gun at the police. He is convicted and is to be executed. On the day before that is to happen, Blake goes to see him because he is ill. You can't execute an unhealthy man, I guess. This buys some time. As Blake looks into the case there are a lot of things that just don't add up, including things involved with the wife of the deceased. This is a nice forensics effort, set in the fifties.
3 Reviews
A lot of love for this episode
TheLittleSongbird30 March 2018
'The Doctor Blake Mysteries' may not quite be among my favourite shows of all time, but it's a riveting series that keeps getting better and one of the better detective drama shows in recent years. It is always fascinating to see a mystery series from outside England and America, and 'The Doctor Blake Mysteries' is one of the better examples.
Unfortunately, 'The Doctor Blake Mysteries' tends to be buried within daytime television scheduling, both on the BBC when first getting into it three or so years ago and on not as much watched channel (i.e. Alibi). It also tends to be aired at a time where most people will be at school or work, for me it was during sporadic periods when not needing to go into music college. The series deserves much better than that when it has consistently been one of the better shows to be aired in the early afternoon.
While the previous three episodes were very good, if with a slight finding-its-feet feel, "Brotherly Love" is great. There is less of a finding-its-feet feel and it feels more settled. Everything about one of Season 1's best, most twist-filled and complex episodes engages, even if later episodes felt a touch tighter.
"Brotherly Love", like the rest of the series, is exceptionally well made. The post-war period is beautifully evoked in the sumptuous but also atmospheric settings and scenery and charming costumes and period detail. It is beautifully shot and atmospherically lit, the dark grey-ish tinge being very appropriate and adding much to the overall feel of the episode. It is scored sensitively and the haunting theme tune gets embedded in the brain, while the direction is suitably restrained.
For so early on, the writing is very good with the tone established very well. There is great thought-provoking dialogue that always makes the mystery elements interesting but the atmosphere doesn't ever feel too grim. The story is generally riveting, if at times slow, suspensefully written and you care about having it solved. The solution is not obvious nor is it too complicated. The characters are well written and more than just stereotypes, already Lucien Blake is a fascinating protagonist.
Craig McLachlan is superb in the role as well, quite possibly his best role and certainly the best acting he's ever done. He seemed an unlikely choice at first, but the character suits him perfectly. All the acting is very good actually, and seldom if ever any less. The relationships between the characters are well worth investing in and it is hard not to feel for the convicted man and his plight.
Overall, great. 9/10 Bethany Cox
Unfortunately, 'The Doctor Blake Mysteries' tends to be buried within daytime television scheduling, both on the BBC when first getting into it three or so years ago and on not as much watched channel (i.e. Alibi). It also tends to be aired at a time where most people will be at school or work, for me it was during sporadic periods when not needing to go into music college. The series deserves much better than that when it has consistently been one of the better shows to be aired in the early afternoon.
While the previous three episodes were very good, if with a slight finding-its-feet feel, "Brotherly Love" is great. There is less of a finding-its-feet feel and it feels more settled. Everything about one of Season 1's best, most twist-filled and complex episodes engages, even if later episodes felt a touch tighter.
"Brotherly Love", like the rest of the series, is exceptionally well made. The post-war period is beautifully evoked in the sumptuous but also atmospheric settings and scenery and charming costumes and period detail. It is beautifully shot and atmospherically lit, the dark grey-ish tinge being very appropriate and adding much to the overall feel of the episode. It is scored sensitively and the haunting theme tune gets embedded in the brain, while the direction is suitably restrained.
For so early on, the writing is very good with the tone established very well. There is great thought-provoking dialogue that always makes the mystery elements interesting but the atmosphere doesn't ever feel too grim. The story is generally riveting, if at times slow, suspensefully written and you care about having it solved. The solution is not obvious nor is it too complicated. The characters are well written and more than just stereotypes, already Lucien Blake is a fascinating protagonist.
Craig McLachlan is superb in the role as well, quite possibly his best role and certainly the best acting he's ever done. He seemed an unlikely choice at first, but the character suits him perfectly. All the acting is very good actually, and seldom if ever any less. The relationships between the characters are well worth investing in and it is hard not to feel for the convicted man and his plight.
Overall, great. 9/10 Bethany Cox
The best fictional Character for years.
sideshowsuzy-866-824249 December 2013
I love this series. It has been on BBC1 in the afternoons, totally wasted there as is moving on. I can't get over how Craig from neighbours has grown up. SO handsome and such a good actor now. I remember him as he was like a bouncing labrador puppy when he was younger. So full of fun and he was good at playing guitar the only thing let him down was his Scouse Perm, which we've all had or loved someone who had one!! Seriously it's so well done so forward thinking. His character is always in trouble as he has strong and modern opinions and ideas and in those stoical times you were very brave to have them. I know i'ts fiction in a way but some of the attitudes that people had and even had, unfortunately are very real. I think they are very brave the writers and have handled racism, sexism and lots of other isms extremely well, exploring and showing just how bad it was in the fifties in Australia as well as the rest of the world. They also prove that they are educated clever people with a stylish culture not some aussies in the outback.
I love the music, the artwork on the titles is amazing. Well done you Aussies, you make some amazing films and T.V now and it's about time you received some of the accolades you're due. Seriously great series completely different from other amateur sleuths, it has a raw and realistic quality that puts it ahead of the rest. My only complaint is that they have only shown ten in total and long may it continue if the networks don't pick this up then they're idiots. Here's to Craig as the lead and all the supporting actors who all have great parts and are equal in their excellence. Suzy
I love the music, the artwork on the titles is amazing. Well done you Aussies, you make some amazing films and T.V now and it's about time you received some of the accolades you're due. Seriously great series completely different from other amateur sleuths, it has a raw and realistic quality that puts it ahead of the rest. My only complaint is that they have only shown ten in total and long may it continue if the networks don't pick this up then they're idiots. Here's to Craig as the lead and all the supporting actors who all have great parts and are equal in their excellence. Suzy
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