Too much of everything

The Worst Film Ever

Powerful

How sad is this?

When you read more than 1/2 dozen reviews of an obscure TV series, and they are all positive, it kind of makes you take notice. And notice should be taken of this little gem. It stacks up respectfully with Nick and Nora, Mr & Mrs North and just about any amateur sleuth~husband/wife teaming. It does raise 2 questions - why are they so much better at making quality, entertaining television series in Australia, New Zealand and the UK then we are in the states? The other question - why do the shows in Australia stop before their time? Mr & Mrs Murder ran 13 episodes. Unlike American series, each episode stands alone, and can be enjoyed (no recurring bad guy or sinister underlying subplot ie Red John from the mentalist or Jack from The Profiler). But then it just went away - no 2nd season (series). can't figure that one out. More confusing was the end of the Dr Blake Mysteries. Ratings were great, fan base was strong - but they cancelled (or didn't renew) it at the top of it's form. My recommendation; track down Mr & Mrs Murder but don't binge watch it, take it one episode at a time. Just about the perfect blend of mystery and comedy.

Half-way through the DVD set I had to stop and sing the praises of Mr. & Mrs. Murder. It's a big shame this series is one-season show. I'm a big fan of "who dun its" and find myself much more entertained by mysteries and crime dramas produced in countries other than the U.S. This show is a delight, from its two lead characters to its unique murder cases to its location shots of Australia.Thank goodness I have the DVDs as I've been able to pause them to recover from laughing out loud and not miss any of the story or other lines. In the tradition of The Thin Man movies, we have a devoted Mr. & Mrs. who have a great relationship, so we're not subjected to season after season of that boring formula of "will they or won't they" when you know they always will. It's a relief to be spared this malarkey and, instead, see a couple who already have got it right. The murder cases revolve around unusual methods and atypical victims and suspects, bringing a fresh challenge to the viewer.One might think a rating of 9 out of 10 is excessive for a lighthearted show, but the humor, mysteries, and stellar crafting of the lead roles makes this fantastic escapist TV. It's such a disappointment that there's only one season of it.

I generally dislike most Australian television series, however, some excellent hidden gems occasionally appear, as Mr and Mrs Murder has shown. Shaun Micallef has never been one of my favourite TV personalities, so it was a pleasant surprise when I tuned in to find him playing an interesting, funny and unique role as crime scene cleaner, Charlie Buchanan. He brings something special to the role, as does Kat Stewart as his on-screen wife, Nicola, an equally quirky and funny character. Additionally, Lucy Honigman plays their frequently long-suffering niece, Jess, who is roped in to help them solve their cases and be an unwilling participant in garage crime scene re-enactments. Jonny Pasvolsky also plays a great role as police detective, Peter Vinetti, his dead-pan and occasionally confused character adding value as a foil for Micallef and Stewart's characters.There are twists and turns in every episode, leaving the viewer completely baffled on occasion as to the culprit, and the scriptwriters have used exceptional humour throughout. Some of the one-liners left me laughing to the point of crying. I definitely give this show a thumbs-up.

As a fan of the 'who dun it 'genre I love this show , from the groovy credits and music to the locations and story lines. Shaun is a genius. I love how they play the characters and how the stories unfold . Especially the quirky humor in the 1st episode with their mate in the wheelchair who seemed to know a lot more about murder than was healthy to know. Melbourne seems to be a great location for these plots to play out. I do hope the characters will have to travel for work and more cases so we can see more of Victoria. By and large I haven't liked any other Australia productions since the 80's comedy scene. Keep 'em coming' I say !