Mystery Road (TV series)

Mystery Road is an Australian television crime mystery series whose first series screened on ABC TV from 3 June 2018. The series is a spin-off from Ivan Sen's feature films Mystery Road and Goldstone, taking place in between the two. Aboriginal Australian detective Jay Swan, played by Aaron Pedersen, is the main character and actor in both the films and in the first two TV series, each of six episodes.

Mystery Road
Promotional poster featuring Aaron Pedersen and Judy Davis
Genre
Written by
Directed by
Starring
Series 1
Series 2
Series 3
Country of originAustralia
Original languageEnglish
No. of series3
No. of episodes18
Production
Executive producers
Producers
Production locationsWyndham, Kununurra, Western Australia
Running time57 minutes
Production companies
Release
Original networkABC
Original release3 June 2018 (2018-06-03)[1] –
present

Series 1 was directed by Rachel Perkins. Swan is brought in to solve a murder, with the local police officer played by Judy Davis. In Series 2, directed by Warwick Thornton and Wayne Blair, which began airing on ABC on 19 April 2020, Swan is brought in to solve a murder in a different location, with the "local copper" this time played by Jada Alberts. Both series were shot in northern Western Australia.

Series 3, directed by Dylan River, is a prequel set in 1999, titled Mystery Road: Origin. Mark Coles Smith plays a younger version of Swan.[2][3]

In June 2023, it was announced that the Mystery Road has been renewed for a fourth series, set to broadcast in 2024. It will serve as another prequel series under the "Origin" title.[4]

Plot

Series 1

Taking place between the events of the films Mystery Road and Goldstone,[5] Mystery Road Series 1 tells the story of Detective Jay Swan (Aaron Pedersen), assigned to investigate the mysterious disappearance of two young farmhands on an outback cattle station, one a local Indigenous football hero and the other a white backpacker. Working together with local police sergeant Emma James (Judy Davis), the investigation uncovers drug trafficking in the town, and a past injustice that threatens the fabric of the whole community.[6]

Series 2

Jay Swan has to unravel the mystery of a decapitated body which turns up in the mangroves, outside the town of Broome. The plot involves drug trafficking and an archaeological dig which discovered the dead body.[7][8] Swan's ex Mary is involved with an undercover drug runner, placing her in extreme danger.

Series 3

The year is 1999, and a young Jay Swan moves back to his home town of Jardine to join the local police force. He must cope with his estranged father Jack and his feelings for local girl Mary Allen, as well as contending with a mysterious gang of robbers.

Cast

Series 1

Series 2

Series 3: Mystery Road: Origin

Episodes
SeriesEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
163 June 2018 (2018-06-03)1 July 2018 (2018-07-01)
26[7]19 April 2020 (2020-04-19)24 May 2020 (2020-05-24)
363 July 2022 (2022-07-03)7 August 2022 (2022-08-07)

Series 1 (2018)
No.
overall		No. in
season		Title [9]Directed by [9]Written byOriginal air date [9]Australian viewers
11"Gone"Rachel PerkinsMichaeley O'Brien3 June 2018 (2018-06-03)786,000[10]
22"Blood Ties"Rachel PerkinsKodie Bedford3 June 2018 (2018-06-03)786,000[10]
33"Chasing Ghosts"Rachel PerkinsMichaeley O'Brien10 June 2018 (2018-06-10)600,000[11]
44"Silence"Rachel PerkinsSteven McGregor17 June 2018 (2018-06-17)604,000[12]
55"The Waterhole"Rachel PerkinsTimothy Lee24 June 2018 (2018-06-24)525,000[13]
66"The Truth"Rachel PerkinsSteven McGregor1 July 2018 (2018-07-01)572,000[14]

Series 2 (2020)

Series 2 began screening on ABC in April 2020.[15] It had its world premiere at the 70th Berlin International Film Festival in late February, in the new Series section devoted to longform television series, along with another ABC series, Stateless.[16][17]

No.
overall		No. in
season		Title [9]Directed by [9]Written by [9]Original air date [18][9]Australian viewers
71"The Road"Warwick ThorntonSteven McGregor19 April 2020 (2020-04-19)655,000[19]
82"The Flare"Wayne BlairBlake Ayshford26 April 2020 (2020-04-26)576,000[20]
93"Artefacts"Wayne BlairTimothy Lee3 May 2020 (2020-05-03)576,000[21]
104"Broken"Wayne BlairKodie Bedford10 May 2020 (2020-05-10)576,000[22]
115"To Live with the Living"Warwick ThorntonDanielle MacLean17 May 2020 (2020-05-17)572,000[23]
126"What You Do Now"Warwick ThorntonSteven McGregor, Blake Ayshford24 May 2020 (2020-05-24)583,000[24]

Series 3 (2022)

Mystery Road: Origin went to air on Sunday 3 July 2022 and runs until 7 August. All six episodes were made available on iview.[3][25] The writers include Blake Ayshford, Steven McGregor, Kodie Bedford, Timothy Lee and Dylan River.[25]

No.
overall		No. in
season		Title [9]Directed by [9]Written by [9]Original air date [18][9]Australian viewers
131"Episode 1"Dylan RiverBlake Ayshford3 July 2022 (2022-07-03)410,000[26]
Newly qualified detective Jay arrives back in his hometown hoping to reconcile with his estranged father. He witnesses a robbery. A lawyer from out of town reads the police file for an unsolved murder. Jay meets his father in a bar which is held up.
142"Episode 2"Dylan RiverSteven McGregor10 July 2022 (2022-07-10)309,000[27]
A cattle truck is stolen then dumped. Jay suspects the robberies are connected. The police raid a car scrapyard. There’s a confrontation and a gang of neo-Nazis are arrested. Jay takes Mary and her family to the ball. His father should be there but doesn’t turn up. Jay finds him dead.
153"Episode 3"Dylan RiverTimothy Lee and Dylan River17 July 2022 (2022-07-17)328,000[28]
Jay thinks Jack was murdered. He finds a cannabis farm that Jack ran. Mary tells Anousha she feels guilty for her brother’s death. Jay delivers the eulogy at Jack’s funeral. Ziggy confesses to killing Joshua.
164"Episode 4"Dylan RiverKodie Bedford and Steven McGregor24 July 2022 (2022-07-24)302,000[29]
Ziggy is held in custody. Lucas escapes. Jay thinks Jack and Sputty were involved in fraud as part of government works contracts. Xavier holds up Max. Police go to an incident at a brothel and find Lucas there.
175"Episode 5"Dylan RiverBlake Ayshford and Dylan River31 July 2022 (2022-07-31)305,000[30]
Gerry’s house is ransacked. Jay realises the gang have been protesting about a massacre of aborigines. Anousha notices a photo of Abe in police uniform. Peter tells Jay off and he resigns.
186"Episode 6"Dylan RiverBlake Ayshford and Dylan River7 August 2022 (2022-08-07)263,000[31]
Jay intervenes in another robbery. Anousha has disappeared. Mary gets a lift from Rex and he kidnaps her. Jay stops him and senses something is wrong. Rex has been killing troublemakers and dumping their bodies in an old mine. Mary finds Anousha. Peter was involved in the fraud. Jay arrests him and Paddy. Jay asks Mary if she wants to come with him on his new posting.

Productions

Filming
Series 1

The first series was made on location in and around Wyndham, a town in northern Western Australia. Other scenes were shot at Kununurra and on Aboriginal lands belonging to the Miriuwung, Gajerrong and Balanggarra in the Kimberley.[32] Location shooting took approximately 10 weeks.[5]

Series 2

The second series was filmed in Broome, and in the Kimberley in northern Western Australia, taking 10 weeks. It was Thornton's first time directing for television, and he said that Blair's experience in this medium was vital. He also said that Sen and Perkins had done the hard work creating "this unique world", which gave the directors of Series 2 a strong foundation, so they could focus on the performances.[33]

Series 3

Mystery Road: Origin was also filmed in WA, around Kalgoorlie, Boulder and Coolgardie.[34]

Reception

Critical reception
Series 1
Series 2

The Guardian reviewer Luke Buckmaster praised the "extraordinary breadth" of the show, in the way it portrays the country "only just beginning to come to terms with its past". He praised Pedersen’s performance, which "simultaneously [projects] great strength and great sorrow", as a man "caught between traditions, between worldviews, between laws and lores".[8]

Series 3

In The Sydney Morning Herald, Kylie Northover gave Mystery Road: Origin a rating of five stars,[34] while The Guardian gave it four (out of five).[3]

Awards and nominations

Series 1-2
Award Category Nominee Result Ref
8th AACTA Awards Best Television Drama Series David Jowsey, Greer Simpkin Won [35]
Best Screenplay in Television Episode 5: The Waterhole – Timothy Lee, Kodie Bedford, Steven McGregor, Michaeley O’Brien Nominated
Best Lead Actor in a Television Drama Aaron Pedersen Nominated
Best Lead Actress in a Television Drama Judy Davis Nominated
Best Guest or Supporting Actor in a Television Drama Wayne Blair Won
Best Guest or Supporting Actress in a Television Drama Deborah Mailman Won
Tasma Walton Nominated
Best Direction in Television Rachel Perkins – Episode 4: Silence Nominated
Best Cinematography in Television Mark Wareham – Episode 4: Silence Nominated
Best Editing in Television Deborah Peart – Episode 5: The Waterhole Won
Best Original Music Score in Television Antony Partos, Matteo Zingales – Episode 4: Silence Won
The Logies 2019 Most Popular Drama Program Mystery Road Won [36]
Most Popular Actress Deborah Mailman Won
Most Popular Actor Aaron Pedersen Nominated
Most Popular New Talent Tasia Zalar Nominated
Most Outstanding Actor Aaron Pedersen Nominated
Most Outstanding Actress Judy Davis Nominated
Most Outstanding Supporting Actor Wayne Blair Nominated
Most Outstanding Drama Series Mystery Road Nominated
Australian Directors' Guild Awards Best director in a television drama series Rachel Perkins Won [37][38]
ARIA Awards Best Original Soundtrack, Cast or Show Album Mystery Road (Matteo Zingales & Antony Partos) Nominated [39]

Mystery Road: Origin
Award Category Nominee Result Ref
12th AACTA Awards Best Television Drama Series David Jowsey, Greer Simpkin Won [40]
Best Screenplay in Television Episode 3 – Timothy Lee, Dylan River Nominated
Episode 6 – Blake Ayshford, Steven McGregor, Dylan River Nominated
Best Lead Actor in a Television Drama Mark Coles Smith Won
Best Lead Actress in a Television Drama Tuuli Narkle Won
Best Guest or Supporting Actor in a Television Drama Steve Bisley Nominated
Daniel Henshall Nominated
Best Guest or Supporting Actress in a Television Drama Hayley McElhinney Nominated
Best Direction in Drama or Comedy Dylan River Won
Best Cinematography in Television Tyson Perkins – Episode 3 Won
Best Costume Design in Television Terri Lamera – Episode 3 Nominated
Best Editing in Television Nicholas Holmes – Episode 3 Won
Best Production Design in Television Herbert Pinter – Episode 3 Nominated
Best Original Music Score in Television Vincent Goodyer – Episode 3 Nominated
Best Sound in Television Luke Mynott, Wes Chew, Trevor Hope, Dylan Barfield – Episode 3 Won

Home media
Series Release date
Region 1/A
(U.S.)		 Region 2
(UK)		 Region 4
(Australia)		 Region 4
(New Zealand)
Series 1
 26 February 2019 8 October 2018[41] 15 August 2018[42] 3 October 2018[43]
Series 2
 5 January 2021 5 October 2020[44] 5 August 2020[45] TBA
Series 3 (Origin)
 13 December 2022 31 December 2022[46] 31 August 2022[47] TBA
Key
  = Indicates availability only on DVD
  = Indicates availability on both DVD & Blu-ray

References
  1. "Airdate: Mystery Road". TV Tonight. 3 May 2018. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  2. Knox, David (21 August 2021). "Mark Coles Smith to star in Mystery Road: Origin". TV Tonight. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  3. Buckmaster, Luke (3 July 2022). "Mystery Road: Origin review – Jay Swan is back and as great as ever". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
  4. Knox, David (10 June 2023). "Mystery Road: Origin to return in 2024". TV Tonight. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  5. Pederson, Aaron; Davis, Judy (2018). "Bonus: Cast interviews". Mystery Road. Series 1. Episode 7. Acorn TV. Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
  6. Mystery Road: press kit: A film by Ivan Sen
  7. Ghosh, Joydeep (22 April 2020). "Index of Mystery Road Season 2 and Episode Schedule". OtakuKart News. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  8. Buckmaster, Luke (15 April 2020). "Mystery Road season two review – a new riddle for Aaron Pedersen's troubled detective". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  9. "Mystery Road Episode Guide". Australian Television Information Archive. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
  10. "Sunday 3 June 2018". TV Tonight. 4 June 2018. Archived from the original on 10 May 2019. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  11. "Sunday 10 June 2018". TV Tonight. 11 June 2018. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  12. "Sunday 17 June 2018". TV Tonight. 18 June 2018. Archived from the original on 18 June 2018. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  13. "Sunday 24 June 2018". TV Tonight. 25 June 2018. Archived from the original on 25 June 2018. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  14. "Sunday 1 July 2018". TV Tonight. 2 July 2018. Archived from the original on 2 July 2018. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  15. "Mystery Road series 2: 2020". Screen Australia. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  16. Zhou, Debbie (27 February 2020). "'People are starting to wake up': Berlin film festival spotlights Australia's 'unfinished business'". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  17. "World premieres for Stateless and Mystery Road at Berlin International Film Festival". ABC. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 15 January 2020. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  18. "Mystery Road – Listings". Next Episode. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  19. "Sunday 19 April 2020". TV Tonight. 20 April 2020. Archived from the original on 20 April 2020. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  20. "Sunday 26 April 2020". TV Tonight. 27 April 2020. Archived from the original on 2 May 2020. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  21. "Sunday 3 May 2020". TV Tonight. 4 May 2020. Archived from the original on 6 May 2020. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  22. "Sunday 10 May 2020". TV Tonight. 11 May 2020. Archived from the original on 13 May 2020. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  23. "Sunday 17 May 2020". TV Tonight. 18 May 2020. Archived from the original on 23 May 2020. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  24. "Sunday 24 May 2020". TV Tonight. 25 May 2020. Archived from the original on 2 June 2020. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  25. "Mystery Road: Origin premieres in July. Every mystery starts somewhere". ABC. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 3 June 2022. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
  26. Knox, David (4 July 2022). "Sunday 3 July 2022". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 4 July 2022. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  27. Knox, David (11 July 2022). "Sunday 10 July 2022". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 11 July 2022. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  28. Knox, David (18 July 2022). "Sunday 17 July 2022". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 18 July 2022. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  29. Knox, David (25 July 2022). "Sunday 24 July 2022". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 25 July 2022. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  30. Knox, David (1 August 2022). "Sunday 31 July 2022". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 1 August 2022. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  31. Knox, David (8 August 2022). "Sunday 7 August 2022". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 8 August 2022. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  32. Credits/Acknowledgments: 'Mystery Road' Episode 6
  33. Russell, Stephen A. (15 April 2020). "Mystery Road season 2: Warwick Thornton on Australia's outback 007". The New Daily. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  34. Northover, Kylie (30 June 2022). "Five stars: ABC's new Mystery Road crime series is as cinematic as TV gets". The Sydney Morning Herald. Nine Network. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  35. "Winners & Nominees". www.aacta.org. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
  36. "Logie Awards 2019: winners". TV Tonight. 30 June 2019. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
  37. Maddox, Garry (6 May 2019). "Sweet Country wins top prize at the Directors Guild Awards". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
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  39. ARIA Award previous winners. "History Best Original Soundtrack, Cast or Show Album". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 16 July 2022.
  40. "Winners & Nominees". www.aacta.org. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
  41. "Mystery Road [DVD]". amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  42. "Mystery Road (2018)". booktopia.com.au. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
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  47. "Mystery Road - Origin". sanity.com.au. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
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