The Dr. Blake Mysteries (2013-2017)

THE DR. BLAKE MYSTERIES

Notwithstanding the controversies involving the lead actor, this is a very good thinkers' television series set in the 1950s.  The equipment might be dated, but the solutions are very relevant up to today, except for certain beliefs and of course, the things that weren't discovered yet until later.

#perioddrama

The main character does not believe in heaven and hell, but his partner, Jean, does.

Since it is set in the 1950s, even the religious beliefs are antiquated, especially the stand of the Catholic Faith about suicide, etc.

So far there are forty-four episodes during the five seasons it was aired by ABC Australia.   The forty-fifth episode was a Telemovie.

When Craig McLachlan's sexual harassment issues were magnified, the show morphed into The Blake Mysteries.  Dr. Blake mysteriously vanishes, so his bride and the original cast are the ones left solving the mysteries.

Craig McLachlan sues ex-Rocky Horror Show co-star over sexual harassment claims

Dr. Blake is not included in the 2018 episodes because of the allegations of his co-stars.  At least, not yet.  After all, the future is not set in stone.  

In this blog entry I will talk about three of those forty-five episodes/telemovie.  These three are:

1. First Dance(2017);

2. Measure Twice(2017) and

3. All She Leaves Behind(2017)

FIRST DANCE 

Despite being housebound as he recovers from his injuries, Blake investigates the death of a teenage girl at her Debutante Ball.

Directed by 

Daina Reid

Written by 

Eloise Healey

 

Created by

George Adams and

Tony Wright

THE EPISODE

There are times when the sinner does not have any remorse whatsoever.  When caught redhanded, that same person would even justify his or her fault.  That's what happened in this episode.  

The one who killed the Principal's daughter justified his or her actions, even lying about where he or she was the night of the murder.

I like the way Dr. Lucien Blake researched about the case, not being immediately conclusive, but he looked at every angle, just like how any investigator should be.

This story is not just about a murder mystery.  It's about greed, jealousy, bullying, relationships etc.

It is well acted.  Believable indeed.

MEASURE TWICE

When Blake is called to investigate the murder of a retired carpenter, his only real suspect is a teenage boy(Matt Testro) discovered praying over the body and covered in blood.

Directed by 

Daina Reid

Written by

Paul Jenner

Created by

George Adams and

Tony Wright

The Episode

There is more to this story than meets the eye.  I know, I know.  All whodunnits are like that, but still, you would keep on guessing until towards the edge of the story.

Whether Dr. Blake is Agnostic or an atheist or whatever else, what's good about him is that he respects every creed.  I am glad he didn't malign the Jehovah's Witnesses and since they do not believe in blood transfusion, he found another solution to the problem.


ALL SHE LEAVES BEHIND

When a controversial writer is found dead and her sister is found unconscious from a suspected suicide, Blake has to search out some truths about Ballarat in order to understand how and why the woman died.

Directed by 

Alister Grierson

Written by

Stuart Page

Created by

George Adams  and Tony Wright

THE EPISODE

For me, among the three, this is the most controversial.  It talks about suicide, cancer, beliefs, etc.


The official Catechism of the Catholic Church indicated that the person who committed suicide may not always be fully right in their mind; and thus not one-hundred-percent morally culpable: "Grave psychological disturbances, anguish, or grave fear of hardship, suffering, or torture can diminish the responsibility of the one committing suicide." The Catholic Church prays for those who have committed suicide, knowing that Christ shall judge the deceased fairly and justly. The Church also prays for the close relations of the deceased, that the loving and healing touch of God will comfort those torn apart by the impact of the suicide.---This is applicable nowadays, but not in the fifties.  In the 1950s, as well as before that era, those who commit suicide are not given a Roman Catholic Burial.

THE SIN OF SUICIDE


CAST:

• Craig McLachlan as Doctor Lucien Blake
• Nadine Garner as Jean Beazley
• Cate Wolfe as Matilda "Mattie" O'Brien (Series 1–4.2)
• Joel Tobeck as Chief Superintendent (later Chief Inspector) Matthew Lawson (Series 1–4.1, 5.1–)
• Rick Donald as Constable (later Sergeant) Daniel Parks (Series 1, 5)
• Sara Gleeson as Joy McDonald (Series 1–2.1)
• Charlie Cousins as Constable (later Sergeant) Charlie Davis (Series 2–)
• Belinda McClory as Alice Harvey (Series 2–)
• John Wood as Patrick Tyneman (Series 1–5)
• Craig Hall as Chief Supt William Munro (Series 3, 5)
• John Stanton as Douglas Ashby (Series 1–3)
• Neil Pigot as Major Derek Alderton (Series 1, 4)
• David Whiteley as Sergeant Bill Hobart
• Ian Rooney as Cec Drury
• Lee Beckhurst as Edward Tyneman (Series 1–5)
• Rodger Corser as Chief Supt Frank Carlyle (Series 4)
• Anna McGahan as Rose Anderson (Series 4–)
• Ling-Hsueh Tang as Mei Lin Blake (Series 4)

Like Perry Mason, I think it would never be the same without Lucien in The Blake Mysteries(temp title/working title), but at least Craig McLachlan is still alive, and problems could be resolved...hopefully.