The Doctor Blake Mysteries (2013 TV Series Review)
- Jan 27
- 5 min read
The landscape of television is often crowded with detectives, yet few series manage to capture the specific blend of post-war melancholy and small-town intrigue as successfully as The Doctor Blake Mysteries. Premiering in 2013, this Australian crime drama transported viewers to the late 1950s, a time of transition and buried secrets. Centered on the enigmatic Dr. Lucien Blake, the show became a staple of Australian television, praised for its historical accuracy and compelling mysteries set in the gold rush city of Ballarat. As we delve into this review, we explore how the series redefined the period procedural and left a lasting mark on audiences worldwide.
Series Profile
• Director/Creators: George Adams and Tony Wright
• First Release Date: 1 February 2013
• Number of Seasons: 5 series plus a concluding telemovie
• Rating: 8.0/10 on IMDb
• Country of Origin: Australia
• Original Release Network: ABC (2013–2017); Seven Network (2018)
• Distribution: ITV Studios Global Entertainment
Synopsis and Plot
The narrative begins in 1959, when Dr. Lucien Blake returns to his hometown of Ballarat, Victoria, after an absence of 33 years. Having left his home in his 20s to study medicine in Scotland, Blake’s life was shaped by the trauma of World War II. He served as a medical officer in the British Army, with postings at a London hospital and in the Far East. It was during his service in the Far East that he married a Chinese woman and fathered a child, only to lose sight of them during the fall of Singapore. This unresolved search for his family haunts him throughout the Ballarat series.
Upon his return, Blake inherits his late father’s general medical practice and, more pivotally, the role of police surgeon. His modern, often eccentric, medical techniques frequently clash with the traditional police procedures of the era. Living in his father’s old house with the shrewd housekeeper Jean Beazley, Blake navigates a community where he is viewed as both a necessary expert and an outsider marked by his wartime experiences and unconventional habits.
Critics’ Response and Accolades
The Doctor Blake Mysteries has been a critical darling and a commercial success for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. With a strong IMDb rating of 8.0/10, critics and fans alike have lauded its atmospheric suspense and historical depth. The series is officially recognized as an APRA Award winner, highlighting its technical and creative quality.
The lead performance by Craig McLachlan was a particular highlight for many years, earning him multiple prestigious award nominations. His portrayal of the complex doctor resulted in Logie Award nominations for Most Outstanding Actor in 2014, Most Popular Actor in 2015, and Best Actor in 2016. The show’s ability to weave personal trauma with intricate criminal investigations has ensured its place as one of the most respected entries in the Australian crime drama genre.
Cast and characters:
• Dr. Lucien Blake: Craig McLachlan
• Jean Beazley: Nadine Garner
• Matilda "Mattie" O'Brien: Cate Wolfe
• Chief Superintendent Matthew Lawson: Joel Tobeck
• Constable Daniel Parks: Rick Donald
• Sergeant Charlie Davis: Charlie Cousins
• Alice Harvey: Belinda McClory
• Patrick Tyneman: John Wood
• Chief Supt William Munro: Craig Hall
• Douglas Ashby: John Stanton
• Major Derek Alderton: Neil Pigot
• Sergeant Bill Hobart: David Whiteley
• Cec Drury: Ian Rooney
Main characters description
• Dr. Lucien Blake: An observant, eccentric doctor and police surgeon who is haunted by his time in a Thailand POW camp and the loss of his wife and child.
• Jean Beazley: Blake's housekeeper and receptionist; she is a shrewd and maternal figure who often challenges Blake's obliviousness while managing the social expectations of 1950s Ballarat.
• Matthew Lawson: A Chief Superintendent of the police who frequently relies on Blake’s medical insights to solve difficult cases.
• Mattie O'Brien: An outgoing nursing student and lodger in the Blake house whose modern attitude sometimes puzzles the more traditional Jean.
• Charlie Davis: A dedicated police sergeant who eventually moves into the Blake household as a lodger.
Production
The production of The Doctor Blake Mysteries is a collaboration between Melbourne-based December Media, Film Victoria, and ABC Television. To maintain an authentic 1950s feel, the series is largely filmed on location in the city of Ballarat. Key locations include Lydiard Street and the Colonists Club. For the exterior of the Blake residence, the production used the historic house of muralist Napier Waller in Melbourne, providing a distinct architectural backdrop that reinforces the show’s period aesthetic.
Seasons
The show consists of five core series and a transition into a sequel era.
• Series 1 (2013): 10 episodes. Covers Blake’s initial return to Ballarat and the resumption of his father’s practice.
• Series 2 (2014): 10 episodes. Deepens the relationship between the household members and the local police.
• Series 3 (2015): 8 episodes. Continues to explore the dark underbelly of the local community.
• Series 4 (2016): 8 episodes. Features significant developments regarding Blake’s past, including the appearance of Mei Lin Blake.
• Series 5 (2017): 8 episodes. The final full series featuring the character of Dr. Lucien Blake, concluding with a feature-length telemovie.
• Telemovie (2017): The Family Portrait. A movie-length finale intended to close the program on ABC.
Spin-offs and Adaptations
The history of the show took a dramatic turn in late 2017 when the Seven Network acquired the rights. However, following sexual assault allegations against Craig McLachlan, production was suspended. This led to the creation of a sequel series, The Blake Mysteries, which proceeded without the lead actor.
In the new chronology, Dr. Lucien Blake was written out as missing and presumed dead, occurring three years after the original finale. This shift allowed Jean Beazley to step into a more central role as a mystery solver. This era resulted in a single telemovie titled The Blake Mysteries: A New Beginning, which aired on 30 November 2018. Despite initial plans for more, further telemovies were ruled out in 2019.
Ratings and Review
The Doctor Blake Mysteries is widely considered one of the most successful Australian television exports. It has maintained an impressive 8.0/10 rating on IMDb, signifying high viewer satisfaction. The show's success extended far beyond Australia; it premiered in the UK on BBC One in 2013 and has been broadcast on PBS stations in the United States. For modern audiences, the series remains highly accessible via streaming platforms like BritBox and Amazon Prime Video. Fans praise the show for its "cozy" yet gritty atmosphere, its exploration of 1950s social issues, and the complex, slow-burn relationship between Lucien and Jean.
🔖 Key Takeaways
🗝️ Authentic Period Setting: The series is a meticulously crafted Australian crime drama set in the late 1950s.
🗝️ Complex Protagonist: Dr. Lucien Blake is a deeply layered character defined by wartime service and personal loss.
🗝️ Victorian Heritage: The Ballarat series makes excellent use of local Victorian landmarks for production.
🗝️ Global Popularity: The series achieved international acclaim, airing in the UK, USA, and New Zealand.
🗝️ Sequel Shift: Following legal controversies, the show evolved into The Blake Mysteries, focusing on Jean Beazley.
🌐 External sources
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Keywords: The Doctor Blake Mysteries
The Doctor Blake Mysteries
