The Doctor Blake Mysteries is a television series which premiered on Australian television in 2013.
Season two premiered in 2014.
This review is about season three which premiered in 2015 and season four which premiered in 2016.
Dr Lucien Blake is a fictional character created by George Adams and Tony Wright. The main role as Dr Blake is played by Craig McLachlan who was born in 1965.
The story is set in the Australian town Ballarat.
Season one is set in the year 1959.
Dr Lucien Blake has returned to the town where he was
born and raised. He has taken over his father's medical practice and his
father's job as the local police surgeon.
Lucien lived abroad for more many years. He left Australia around 1925, when he was around 20 years old, to study medicine in Scotland.
Later, he moved to Singapore where he worked as a doctor and married a Chinese woman. Together they had a daughter who was born around 1936.
In 1942, when Singapore was captured by the Japanese army, Lucien became a prisoner of war (POW) and therefore he lost contact with his wife and daughter.
After the war - when he was released - he tried to find out what had happened to them. He did not even know if they were dead or alive. For years his efforts were in vain.
Lucien does not talk much about his past, but as the story moves from one episode to the next, details about his past are revealed occasionally.
We also learn some details about his mother who passed away around 1920, when Lucien was only 15 years old.
Season two is also set in the year 1959.
Lucien returns to Ballarat after a trip to China where he had hoped to be re-united with his daughter. Sadly, this did not happen. She did not want to meet him.
Season three is set in the year 1960.
In this season, there are more references to Lucien’s mother who died around 1920 and to his daughter who lives in China (Shanghai).
Season four is also set in 1960.
A poster for a golf tournament in episode 6 reads:
“The Ballarat Open 1960.”
In this season, there is more information about Lucien’s Chinese wife Mei Lin. But I cannot offer any details without revealing too much.
What do reviewers say about this crime drama?
Here are some results:
On IMDb it has a rating of 80 percent.
On Amazon Australia there are at the moment more than 200 ratings of this product, more than 50 with reviews.
The average rating is 4.5 stars which corresponds to a rating of 90 percent.
If you ask me, the rating on IMDb is too low, while the rating on Amazon is more appropriate.
Why do I say this?
I have three reasons:
# 1. In each episode the script is well written and the actors play their roles well.
# 2. In each episode the story is captivating, dramatic and emotional.
# 3. While fictional, the story is always placed in a
historical context which seems realistic - except for the high murder rate!
The Doctor Blake Mysteries is a historical crime drama.
It is done very well.
It looks like Australia in 1960.
Season one was a great beginning.
Season two was a compelling continuation.
Seasons three and four keep up the high standard.
PS # 1. Here is an overview of the series:
** Season 1 (2013) = 10 episodes
** Season 2 (2014) = 10 episodes
** Season 3 (2015) = 8 episodes
** Season 4 (2016) = 8 episodes
** Season 5 (2017) = 8 episodes
In November 2017, The Doctor Blake Mysteries ended with a television movie which is
available on YouTube:
Family Portrait
** Director: Ian Barry
** Writer: Paul Jenner
** Run time: 109 minutes
PS # 2. In 2018, the life and career of Craig McLachlan was disturbed when Australian media reported that he had been accused of sexual harassment by several actresses during his performing career.
McLachlan denied the charges. An investigation was conducted and the case was tried in a court of law.
The trial ended in December 2020 when McLachlan was acquitted on all charges.
*****
The Doctor Blake Mysteries
Season Four
(2016)
*****
In November 2017,
The Doctor Blake Mysteries
ended with a television movie:
Family Portrait
*****
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