Darby and Joan Series 2 – Review
First Reaction – Darby and Joan Series 2 is a delightful mystery series.
Where to Watch
Darby and Joan Series 2 arrives on DVD and digital on 28 July, alongside the bumper Series 1 & 2 Box Set.
Director: Jovita O’Shaughnessy, Grant Brown, Rachel Ward
Writer: David Hannam, Andrew Anastasios, Stephen Vagg, Sarah Smith (Screenplay)
Writer: Phillip Gwynne, Glenys Rowe (Creators)
Cast
- Bryan Brown (Cocktail)
- Greta Scacchi (Waiting for the Barbarians)
- Jolene Anderson (The Dustwalker)
- Anna McGahan (100 Bloody Acres)
Plot: Two lone strangers trekking on the road – a retired Australian policeman with a dog as his only company and widowed English nurse – meet each other and embark on an epic odyssey in the outback of northern Australia.
Runtime: 45 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Verdict on Darby and Joan Series 2
Episode 1
We return with former detective Jack Darby (Brown) and widowed nurse Joan Kirkhope (Scacchi) return on to their travels. Jack is still trying to prove his innocence in the death on the job and goes in search for the only person who can clear his name. However, on route, the pair stumble into a new mystery surrounding two brothers.
This returns with the bigger story having a few more hints to where things will go. It shows Jack needing to discover the truth before it is too late. However, the mystery the pair find themselves in feels a little lacklustre. The main focus storyline is the best part of the returning episode and keeps us wanting to return to the next episode. (3/5)
Episode 2
Jack and Joan go in search of a missing person who can clear his name. However, a rival cop has followed him. On their journey they discover a woman involved in car crash and investigate the accident. However, they discover a reputation she has and must understand who might have attack her. It takes them through the hospital staff and locals who spread a rumour about the victim.
This gives a new mystery which has plenty of suspects and keeps things about incidents, rather than a murder. It keeps us guessing and most importantly we keep the bigger story about Jack and his past. (4/5)
Episode 3
Joan arranges to meet up with her estranged sister Maxine. The pair travel to a luxury island for a getaway but things take a drastic turn. Elsewhere, Lizzy (Anderson) continues investigate the case against her father, as she notices a bigger cover up in play. Meanwhile, when one of the hosts is kidnaped, Jack and Joan investigate the case and make a discover about the other guests.
This gives us another fun mystery to solve and the building romantic tension between the two continues to grow. It shows more personal growth for Joan as each episode continues to offer this. As well as the bigger story around Jack’s case. It is coming together nicely with light-hearted mystery, that continue to step away from murder mystery. (4/5)
Episode 4
In the aftermath of the shocking events in the last episode, Jack and Joan face a difficult decision on where to go next. The pair visit a local vineyard for an event. However, an unexpected fire breaks out in the vines leading the pair to investigate what caused it. Jack begins investigating the bigger case, as the vines crime creates a bigger mystery.
We continue the bigger mystery about Jack’s former case. It has opened to a new direction which keeps us wanting to know how this will unfold. Meanwhile, the episode case is interesting and has a few twists and turns to make things click together nicely. Even if it isn’t the biggest one in the series. (3/5)
Episode 5
Joan receives an unexpected call from Maxine who reveals she has got engaged. However, her new fiancée is unknown to most and he collapses. Joan and Jack investigate what could have caused it and discover Maxine’s new life is more complicated.
This slows down the bigger story and puts more focus on Joan’s journey. We only get a small glimpse into Jack’s bigger case. However, the mystery has plenty of twists and turns along the way to keep us full invested. (3/5)
Episode 6
This episode begins with the location of the person who can clear Jack’s name. However, she reveals the bigger truth about how she survived and avoided capture. Only for the case to begin hitting closer to home, but the new clue could finally clear Jack’s name.
This brings the biggest case full circle as the clues could finally solve the bigger mystery. It intensifies the suspect pool, as Jack is more known to the potential killer or killers. This is a great conclusion to the series, which has kept us wanting more through every episode. (4/5)
Overall
The series maintains the quirky friendship between Jack and Joan as they travel around Australia. It does something different than most mysteries shows, where we rarely touch a murder case outside of the biggest one around Jack’s case. This keeps it refreshing for a mystery show. The chemistry between Bryan Brown and Greta Scacchi is excellent and it keeps us wanting to return for more.
Final Thoughts – Darby and Joan Series 2 is a delightful road trip mysteries series.
