The new television spin-off series based on the acclaimed Mystery Roads films premiered on ABC TV last Sunday. Extending Mystery Road’s neo-noir format to the small screen, the story follows detective Jay Swan (Aaron Pederson) as he investigates the mysterious disappearance of a couple of farmhands.
Swan is accompanied by the older and wearier Emma James (Judy Davis) who is one of those ‘been there done that’ style cops. The cast includes Pedersen, Davis, Wayne Blair, Colin Friels, Ernie Dingo, Deborah Mailman, Madeleine Madden, Ningali Lawford-Wolf, Meyne Wyatt and John Waters.
The first two episodes premiered back to back last Sunday night. They faced stiff competition, in the form of Channel Seven’s much-hyped interview with Barnaby Joyce and Vikki Campion. However, when given the option of watching Barnaby and Vikki or Jay Swan, Australians resounding voted in favour of the outback detective.
Just caught up with the ratings for Sunday night. Fabulous to see #MysteryRoad not just beat the Barnaby & Vikki interview, but thrashed it – 786,000 viewers compared to 631,000 https://t.co/kphKCgbtSo
— Luke Buckmaster (@lukebuckmaster) June 4, 2018
All six of the Mystery Road episodes are available to binge watch on ABCiview.
The critical response to the program has been very strong. The reviewers seem to be united in saying that the TV series, directed by Rachel Perkins, does a fine job living up to the excellent reputation of the films: the 2013 original and its sequel, Goldstone.
Here is a snapshot of what the critics have to say.
Larissa Behrendt at The Guardian:
“Between the landscape as a protagonist and the explorations of community relations in small towns, Mystery Road reminds us of the distinct voice Indigenous creatives can bring to visual storytelling.”
Bridget McManus & Melinda Houston at The Sydney Morning Herald
“If Fargo were to swap the snow for red dirt, it might look something like this six-part spin-off series of Ivan Sen’s 2013 feature film.”
Graeme Blundell at The Australian:
“Pedersen’s Swan is a great character…like a classic western hero, his violence is primarily an expression of his capacity for individual moral judgment and action, a capacity that separates him from society as much as it makes him a part of it.”
“Rachel Perkins brings a slow-burn Scandinavian style to the piece, but it is punctuated by a rock & roll and bluegrass soundtrack…Mystery Road reminds us that the land and uniquely cultural experiences are where our voice is best served.”
Luke Buckmaster at Daily Review:
“The director and her producers, David Jowsey and Greer Simpkin, address the question: how can you possibly match the ground-rattling impact of Pederson’s performance? And the answer is: you fly in Judy Davis.”
Rebecca Harkins-Cross at The Monthly:
Rachel Perkins is a sure directorial hand, who proved her chops way back in Radiance (1998), but the show cleans up the messier edges that held the power in the original film and in Goldstone.
“Mystery Road is ultimately one tense police drama that will leave you on the edge of your seat.”
