Murder mystery comedies, as of late, have focused more on the comedy than the mystery. Death in Paradise, at times, grinds to a halt solely to tell a joke that lands like a lead balloon. This trend continues in shows such as Sister Boniface, where the humour becomes sickly in its presentation. Gone are the days of Monk, where comedy served the narrative. As such, Blue Murder Motel feels like a breath of fresh air, with its humour serving the mystery rather than overshadowing it. On top of that, it is simply a damn fine piece of television.
To give a brief rundown. Recently purchasing a motel in New Zealand, two married police officers from Australia have taken early retirement and embarked on a new career as business owners. However, they are dragged back into the world of crime-solving when a series of murders begins to occur.
How information is conveyed to the audience is key to any mystery, as keeping viewers engaged is essential. Reveal too much too soon, and later episodes can meander; reveal too little, and you find yourself dragging through the early episodes to reach the juicy material. This show handles its reveals brilliantly, with each layer carefully building upon the last. Just as we become accustomed to the status quo, a new character or revelation emerges, deepening the mystery and keeping us invested. A great example of this is the true identity of Saffron being a key highlight.
For dedicated Australian TV soap fans, Neighbours stars Brett Tucker and Michala Banas are truly wonderful Cole and Vinny, respectively. They are the perfect vessel for us to witness these events and also have a fiery chemistry. The rest of the supporting cast are also great, especially Jayden Daniels as Jamie, who dresses as half police officer and half surfer to great effect, as well as being a great protégé to Cole and Vinny.
The show is utterly enthralling, boasting solid production values throughout. The motel itself is a fun, lived-in location that serves as both the central base for our duo’s investigations and the scene of a crime. The series also has a great sense of humour regarding whether or not they will investigate the crime. Watching them slide down in their car seats so they are not seen is genuinely funny, yet it never detracts from the mystery.
Blue Murder Motel blew my socks off. I couldn’t stop watching the show, loading up each episode as quickly as humanly possible. When it ended, I was dying (pun intended) for more, and with Season 2 currently in production, I cannot wait to return to this world in the near future.
Out Now on DVD