'The Doctor Blake Mysteries' may not quite be among my favourite shows of all time, but it's a riveting series that keeps getting better and one of the better detective drama shows in recent years. It is always fascinating to see a mystery series from outside England and America, and 'The Doctor Blake Mysteries' is one of the better examples.
Unfortunately, 'The Doctor Blake Mysteries' tends to be buried within daytime television scheduling, both on the BBC when first getting into it three or so years ago and on not as much watched channel (i.e. Alibi). It also tends to be aired at a time where most people will be at school or work, for me it was during sporadic periods when not needing to go into music college. The series deserves much better than that when it has consistently been one of the better shows to be aired in the early afternoon.
Season 4's previous episodes were very good to great, though the quality dipped slightly with "Against the Odds", solely though to do with the character of Blake's wife and the marriage subplot.
Which brings me to my only complaint for "The Visible World", otherwise one of the season's, and series' even, better episodes. Am still not a fan of Blake's wife, she is not particularly interesting and doesn't generate much warmth. Will say though that she and her role here don't distract as much as they did in "Against the Odds". That is it for the problems had for the episode.
It doesn't matter at all that it's not a new idea for a story in detective/mystery series or that Blake's innocence is never in doubt, because everything is handled so compellingly.
Am glad to see the back of Munro. His combative relationship with Blake did get finally more interesting in the last two episodes of the previous season, but the character with his cold fish nature never did it for me. The new superior is a far more appealing character, and while he has not quite settled fully there is a good deal of promise, there is authority but there is more warmth.
By now, 'The Doctor Blake Mysteries' felt like it had found its feet and had established things well by this point. Relationships and characters continue to deepen, the mysteries are even twistier and the pace has more lustre.
Like the rest of 'The Doctor Blake Mysteries', "The Visible World" is exceptionally well made. The post-war period is beautifully evoked in the sumptuous but also atmospheric settings and scenery and charming costumes and period detail. It is beautifully shot and atmospherically lit, the dark grey-ish tinge being very appropriate and adding much to the overall feel of the episode. It is scored sensitively and the haunting theme tune gets embedded in the brain, while the direction is suitably restrained.
Writing continues to be very good with the tone established very well. There is great thought-provoking dialogue that always makes the mystery elements interesting but the atmosphere doesn't ever feel too grim. The story is riveting, suspensefully written and you care about having it solved. The solution is not obvious nor is it too complicated, very neat without being too pat. The characters are well written and more than just stereotypes, Lucien Blake still has it in how fascinating a character he is.
Craig McLachlan is superb in the role as well, quite possibly his best role and certainly the best acting he's ever done. He seemed an unlikely choice at first, but the character suits him perfectly. All the acting is very good actually, apart from that for Blake's wife, and seldom if ever any less otherwise. The relationships between the characters are well worth investing in.
In conclusion, excellent and one of the better episodes of Season 4. 9/10 Bethany Cox
