The Brokenwood Mysteries is an entertaining detective series set in New Zealand that has considerable similarities to Midsomer Murders which is set in Britain and also quite good, the two series are rightly compared but Brokenwood is also a uniquely New Zealand series.
Both series have the small community/rural settings which provides a great backdrop and an assortment of unique and eccentric characters. They also have if not a light heartened tone then certainly a less grim tone than is normal when dealing with murders, and the detectives aren't the brilliant Sherlock Holmes types but take a more workmanlike like approach. This allows for lots of interviews and interrogations with the many suspects.
Both make interesting use of music as well. Midsommer is known for its eerie Theremin theme music which sets an interesting mood, while Brokenwood employs country music largely from New Zealand which is the preference of the lead character Mike Shepherd.
Amongst those things that set Brokenwood apart are the unique culture and landscape of New Zealand and certainly the unique humor. Another thing that Brokenwood does differently and I quite enjoy is the number of regularly recurring background and supporting characters, witnesses or suspects from one episode might come back any number of times in later episodes as regular inhabitants to populate the community
Both series have the small community/rural settings which provides a great backdrop and an assortment of unique and eccentric characters. They also have if not a light heartened tone then certainly a less grim tone than is normal when dealing with murders, and the detectives aren't the brilliant Sherlock Holmes types but take a more workmanlike like approach. This allows for lots of interviews and interrogations with the many suspects.
Both make interesting use of music as well. Midsommer is known for its eerie Theremin theme music which sets an interesting mood, while Brokenwood employs country music largely from New Zealand which is the preference of the lead character Mike Shepherd.
Amongst those things that set Brokenwood apart are the unique culture and landscape of New Zealand and certainly the unique humor. Another thing that Brokenwood does differently and I quite enjoy is the number of regularly recurring background and supporting characters, witnesses or suspects from one episode might come back any number of times in later episodes as regular inhabitants to populate the community