The Brokenwood Mysteries Series 9 – TV Review
Director: Katie Wolfe, David de Lautour, Sima Urale, Mike Smith, Jacqueline Nairn
Writer: Timothy Balme, Roy Ward, Sarah-Kate Lynch, Mike Smith, Kathryn Burnett (Screenplay)
Cast
- Neill Rea (The Warrior’s Way)
- Fern Sutherland (The Almighty Johnsons)
- Jarod Rawiri (Boy)
Runtime: 1 Hour 37 Minutes (An Episode)
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Verdict on The Brokenwood Mysteries Series 9
Brokenwood: The Musical (D. Katie Wolfe)
Brokenwood: The Musical follows Mike Shepherd (Rea) attending a local theatre production. However, a tragic event occurs when a performer has a light fall on his head killing him. Kristin Sims (Sutherland) and D.C. Daniel Chalmers (Rawiri) join the investigation. Despite this looking like an accident, it seems to be a perfect landing to finish the way it did.
This is an entertaining first case. It helps recreate the small-town feeling between the community and shows the locals’ ambition. While the case is interesting with the freak accident look behind the murder. We get plenty of potential suspects, each with their own motivation for the musical to go wrong. This is a great start to the series, showing the charm involved in the series. (4/5)
Old Blood Money (D. David de Lautour)
Old Blood Money starts when a lady drives home from a 90th birthday party, and has an accident on the way home. D.C. Chalmers discovers the wreck, however, there is a secret in the boot of the car. Now, the team must figure out what happened at the party to leave a young woman dead in the boot of a car. Although, mixing with the high society has its own downside for the detectives.
This case is about a family with personal secrets that could see them all having motivation for the murder. It has a ‘Knives Out’ vibe about it with entitled members of a family believing they deserve more. We get plenty of twists and turns as expected. Along with a previous connection to the family helps make everyone feel connected. It has a good story and a surprise reveal, but one thing is starting to become noticeable in the series, they are feeling longer than they need to be. (3/5)
Nun of the Above (D. Sima Urale)
Nun of the Above starts when a nun at a local convent is found murdered. The detectives head in to look into the case which sees them meeting the other nuns and other residents around the church. As the investigation unfolds, we get to learn the secrets from within. However, the connection between the nuns and the residents comes to light.
This is another interesting case that shows the bigger secrets within a nun convent. It continues to use recurring characters to help with the investigation. Like most of the episodes, we get plenty of twists and turns along the way. Along with the concept of bringing together another big secret within the community. It is one of the stronger and more comical styles than the recent previous ones. (4/5)
Going to the Dogs (D. Mike Smith)
Going to the Dogs when a veteran nurse is found murdered in a dog park. The detectives are called in with another connection to the person who was murdered. This time they must dive into the animal lovers in the community. It sees them meeting people who could have clashed with the vet and have a motivation to murder her.
This is one of the slower episodes in the series, seeing a case that doesn’t hit as hard as it could. It also shows the series tends to follow the same strict formula that can feel repetitive at times. However, this one does continue to use the supporting community members for an extra laugh or two along the way. (3/5)
Shot of Love (D. Jacqueline Nairn)
Shot of Love sees Kristin and Daniel needing to deal with a mysterious death in a hotel room. Meanwhile, Mike must travel across the country to get his divorce papers signed so he can finally move on with his life. What looks like it could been natural causes starts to show a much darker reality. Without their boss, Kristin and Daniel get to solve the murder together, which has many more twists along the way.
This is easily the weakest case in the series. It has a smaller pool of suspects and puts too much focus on the ex-wife of Mike. With this taking us away from the main case, it doesn’t give us enough time to see the truth unfold in a clear style. Even if it ends up becoming a close-knit group with a secret. (2/5)
Motorcycle Mamas (D. Mike Smith)
Motorcycle Mamas sees the detectives needing to investigate a biker’s death on the way to his wedding. This sees the detectives meeting the rest of the all-female biker gang who all have previous criminal records. To make matters worse one of the locals becomes a prime suspect in the case.
This gives us an entertaining conclusion to the series, bringing a group of bikers to the community. It shows that strangers coming to the community have a change on the locals while diving into the past of the local community. This brings back the longer suspect pool as mystery lies around every corner. I feel this is a great ending to show, well the series, hopefully, we will return for more. (4/5)
Overall
The Brokenwood Mysteries Series 9 is an entertaining murder mystery series. We get 6 cases revolving around different groups of people, all while connected to the local community. By giving us members of the local community around the series, it helps make us feel like welcome members of the community too. There is a mixture of quality between the cases, even if they all have the same feeling when watching them getting investigated.
The supporting characters help add comedy to the shows. Cristina Serban Ionda is the medical examiner who fits in perfectly in the selection of scene stealers in this role in TV shows. The main three detectives played by Neill Rea, Fern Sutherland and Jarod Rawiri show great chemistry together.
Where to Watch: The Brokenwood Mysteries Series 9 is coming to DVD on the 9th of October 2023.
Final Thoughts – The Brokenwood Mysteries Series 9 is an entertaining set of murder mysteries.
