The three principal characters on the show are Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Shepherd (Neill Rea), Detective Kristin Sims (Fern Sutherland), and Detective Constable Sam Breen (Nic Sampson).
Mike Shepherd and Kristin Sims are the most rounded and fully defined, while Sam Breen's personality is coming into view more as the series progresses.
Shepherd is low key and observant. Sims is more tightly wound, smart and persistent. Breen, who was originally somewhat flakey, has grown into smarter detective, while still learning the craft. Breen's respect, curiosity, and sometimes puzzlement over his two superiors often mirrors our own.
The cases are always complex and multidimensional. But this case is particularly noteworthy, due to the gruesome nature of the found body--tied up like a scarecrow on a pole.
Also, one of Kristin's personal friends is connected to the case, first as a love interest for the dead man, and eventually as a possible suspect (the "suspect aspect" is handled with a minimum of melodrama--which was appreciated by this viewer).
One unusual aspect of Brokenwood Mysteries is the large number of recurring characters, which makes some sense since it is a relatively small and contained cosmopolitan/rural area that is the jurisdiction for the department. Many of these recurring characters are not particularly friendly, can be witnesses, informants, or suspects and add a peculiar familiarity that most mysteries do not have.
The departure of one of these recurring characters in this episode, Trudy Nielson-Randall, was especially sad, I thought. Trudy was one of the more enjoyably belligerent residents of Brokenwood!
The solution to the case was surprising and emotionally moving, which is often the case with this show.
Mike Shepherd and Kristin Sims are the most rounded and fully defined, while Sam Breen's personality is coming into view more as the series progresses.
Shepherd is low key and observant. Sims is more tightly wound, smart and persistent. Breen, who was originally somewhat flakey, has grown into smarter detective, while still learning the craft. Breen's respect, curiosity, and sometimes puzzlement over his two superiors often mirrors our own.
The cases are always complex and multidimensional. But this case is particularly noteworthy, due to the gruesome nature of the found body--tied up like a scarecrow on a pole.
Also, one of Kristin's personal friends is connected to the case, first as a love interest for the dead man, and eventually as a possible suspect (the "suspect aspect" is handled with a minimum of melodrama--which was appreciated by this viewer).
One unusual aspect of Brokenwood Mysteries is the large number of recurring characters, which makes some sense since it is a relatively small and contained cosmopolitan/rural area that is the jurisdiction for the department. Many of these recurring characters are not particularly friendly, can be witnesses, informants, or suspects and add a peculiar familiarity that most mysteries do not have.
The departure of one of these recurring characters in this episode, Trudy Nielson-Randall, was especially sad, I thought. Trudy was one of the more enjoyably belligerent residents of Brokenwood!
The solution to the case was surprising and emotionally moving, which is often the case with this show.
