Mystery Road: Origin

I've been a big admirer of this set of films and series since the start and have avidly kept an eye out for it future series. However I was very surprised to find this side step with an origins series, so losing us our main lead. These prequel shows can be just milking the original, but I'm happy to say this is not the case here.

We have here our main man heading home to see you his father in the cutoff town in the Aussie desert lands. He is taking up his first steps as a detective and finds himself caught up in the dark arts of life. Racism, bribery, corruption and corporate greed are still the same ingredients as in the other series.

Truthfully there is no genuine drop in quality! It amazed me, and our lead is just perfect. He's a fine actor and is brilliantly assisted by a variety of characters in this dark series.

If you've watched the other series and wondering if this is worth a viewing, then I can assure you that this is still great. Beautifully shot, dark and intriguing storylines and captivating at its very best. Highly recommended and I look forward to the next season whether it is back to the present day or sticking to the origins timeline.

It would be hard to step into the shoes of the brilliant Aaron Pedersen, but as we enjoyed all the Mystery Road's, including Goldstone, before were prepared to take the risk. We were worried about the character development and if an authentic young version of Jay Swan would come across but no matter bc Mark Coles Smith didn't disappoint. You can see the likeness in the brooding temperament, the thinking man's scowl and then once or twice, that dazzling smile breaks through. The series delivered complexity and depth and our lead was matched with an equally strong cast.

Didn't see that twist though.

We hope ABC continues to write this series eventually linking the stories of young Jay to the older version.

Mystery Road - Origin

This prequel got off to a slow and lumbering start, it was just insufficient to start the show with "soap" like issues.

However, as the show progressed, at a very decided pace, it started to establish a crime and potential suspects, they couldn't help themselves with the woke inserts and predictable indigenous issues that lacked heft. We had some terrible stereotyping and really there was little new here.

Mark Coles Smith made a fine Jay Swan and he did look uncannily like a young Aaron Pedersen. Overall the acting was crisp but the story lacked narrative impetus, as this rate they would get through a couple of cases a year in this hick town.

I'm giving this a 6 outta 10 meaning worth watching but it could have been so much better!

Physical resemblances to the Jay and Mary characters from the previous movies and series is remarkable and it has the same slow, depressing atmosphere as well. You can count the smiles on two fingers. Not one of the characters has any joy on their lives. Ultimately a very depressing addition to the Jay Swan saga. I am a huge Aaron Pederson fan but the series is just slow moving and leaves me feeling a bit empty. Virtually everyone is depressed and has a gloomy outlook on life. Granted, these are poor people with little or no future but the bleakness just about outweighs the story. I was hoping young Jay would have been a bit more upbeat. Even after his first night with Mary he didn't crack a smile.

Amazing. I was dreading this being a bad prequel with sub standard acting compared to the original Mystery Road with the amazing Arron Pederson. But...wow. This is stunning. Phenomenal acting, brilliant cinematography and photography that just stuns you. Have you ever seen the outback? Yeah I have. I live here and this is it - bang on accurate: feel the dust.

This is the outback writ large on film. Seriously congratulations to everyone involved in this, it's a creative credit to the original, and a new and impressive addition to the Mystery Road series and movies. 10/10.

Look me up, see my reviews, I hate almost everything. I bloody loved this. Gold star folks. If you haven't watched the original series, do yourself a favour and get into that. Then, watch this and thank me. I can't recommend this highly enough. Aussie TV at its best: