The Doctor Blake Mysteries (TV Series) The Sky Is Empty (2014) User Reviews

Complex Mystery Set in and Around the Church

[l_rawjalaurence · 7/10 · 14 December 2014]

One of the satisfying aspects of this series is the way in which the various writers offer social critiques even while structuring the script around the traditional mystery form. In previous episodes they have looked at institutions such as private schools; in this episode they look at the church - specifically the demise of a priest (Ron Falk) with a penchant for rubbing people up the wrong way. As the drama unfolds, we discover that he suffers from an incurable illness that affects the way he speaks: many of the confidences spoken to him in confessions end up being revealed in his Sunday sermons.

As Blake's investigation unfolds, so we discover the hypocrisies lurking behind such apparently innocuous rituals as church-going. Celia and Ben Lloyd (Sheridan Harbridge, Lyall Brooks) attend weekly, but their apparent piety conceals dark secrets - especially concerning Celia. Dorothy Turner (Petula Clark) is the deceased priest's devoted housekeeper, yet has spent most of her life being ignored by him, which quite obviously provokes her into resentment of his behavior. Add to that an over-ambitious younger priest (Nick Farnell), and there are plenty of motives for wanting to murder the unfortunate priest.

This episode also contains an interesting sideline involving Lawson (Joel Tobeck). Despite his efforts in trying to maintain a firm yet benevolent rule over his unruly force, as well as the doctor (Craig McLachlan) he is summoned to Head Office for a dressing-down. One wonders what will happen next.

Blake and the Cloth

[Hitchcoc · 8/10 · 16 December 2017]

A priest who is lapsing into dementia due to damage to his prefrontal cortex begins to sermonize about things he has heard in the confessional. This begins to do considerable damage. He appears fixated on the Ten Commandments, making it obvious who the adulterers are, or the thieves, or even the murderers. This breaks with canonical law. One day the priest is found in the confessional, dead from bee stings (for which he has a serious allergy). It appears that someone trapped him in there and he never recovered from the stings. This is an interesting episode. Charlie begins to be a real force and less of a spy.

Nothing empty here

[TheLittleSongbird · 9/10 · 20 April 2018]

'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.

With "The Sky is Empty", 'The Doctor Blake Mysteries' continues its excellent streak with not a misfire yet. It for me is one of a very, very good Season 2's best episodes and one of my favourites of the show up to this point. It is interesting for the character and writing of Lawson, always a great character but this is one of his most intriguing episodes in how he is written, and Charlie is showing some growth too as a character.

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 Sky is Empty" 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, and seldom if ever any less. The relationships between the characters are well worth investing in.

In summary, great episode yet again. 9/10 Bethany Cox