The Doctor Blake Mysteries: episode guide


Series 3

Things have changed for Doctor Lucien Blake. His co-conspirator Lawson has been sacked from Ballarat, and Blake's emotional embrace with Jean has changed life in the house. Doctor Blake finds his tenure under threat by a new arrival. But that's the least of his troubles when he uncovers a dark story behind his mother's death.

In this eight-part series return, the wonderfully maverick Doctor Blake is pushed to his limits to find the truth behind a range of intriguing murders in 1950s rural Australia. They include the inexplicable death of a young champion rower; the murder of one of the town's elite who is found with a mysterious object in his stomach; the apparent trampling death by cattle of a well-loved farmer; and the murder of a respected surgeon whose bloodless body is discovered on the operating table.

Also featuring John Wood, Cate Wolfe and Charlie Cousins, with guest stars including Alison Whyte, Martin Sacks, Sara Wiseman and Jane Allsop. Written by Stuart Page, Chelsea Cassio, Michael Miller, Michael Harvey and Jeff Truman. Directed by Pino Amenta, Fiona Banks, Declan Eames and Karl Zwicky. Produced by George Adams; Executive Producer Tony Wright. A December Media Production in association with ABC TV and Film Victoria.

Note: Series 3 was filmed from September 08 to December 16, 2014

King of the Lake

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Episode 3.01 (21)
Fri, February 13, 2015
1.008 million viewers (1st)
Written by Michael Harvey
Directed by Pino Amenta

When a Ballarat College schoolboy-rower wins a race on Lake Wendouree, only to drown after being ceremonially tossed in the lake, his mother asks Doctor Blake to find the truth behind her son's death. But Blake discovers that the truth is murkier, and that the boy was not the small-town sporting hero everyone (his mother included) thinks he is.

Starring: Craig McLachlan as Doctor Lucien Blake, Nadine Garner as Jean Beazley, Charlie Cousins as Senior Constable Charlie Davis, Cate Wolfe as Mattie O'Brien

With: John Wood as Patrick Tyneman, John Stanton as Doug Ashby, Belinda McClory as Alice Harvey, Alison Whyte as Monika Goodman, Jeremy Stanford as Herbert Goodman, Nicole Nabout as Grace Darius, Ned Napier as Tim Webb, Emily Renalson O'Kane as Rachel Darius, Harry Borland as Arnie Ross, Jacob Machin as Les Bates; uncredited as Dennis Goodman, Lucas Goodman, Beth Webb

My Brother's Keeper

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Episode 3.02 (22)
Fri, February 20, 2015
888,000 viewers (5th)
Written by Chelsea Cassio
Directed by Pino Amenta

The whole town is in preparation for the annual Ballarat Agricultural Fair. But tragedy strikes when a farmer is found dead at the bottom of the cow pen. Locals blame livestock for trampling the man but Doctor Blake isn't convinced. While Jean deals with the anniversary of her husband's death, Blake investigates the murder of the farmer and soon opens the door to the complex world of agriculture, gambling and emotional entanglements.

Starring: Craig McLachlan as Doctor Lucien Blake, Nadine Garner as Jean Beazley, Charlie Cousins as Senior Constable Charlie Davis, Cate Wolfe as Mattie O'Brien, Craig Hall as Chief Superintendent William Munro

With: John Wood as Patrick Tyneman, John Stanton as Doug Ashby, Belinda McClory as Alice Harvey, Jane Allsop as Ruth Dempster, Michael Robinson as Mark Dempster, Annie Stanford as Barbara Dempster, Keir Saltmarsh as Peter Muir, Cameron MacDonald as Nathan Eaton, Peter Rowley as Leo Gilmore, Guy Greenstone as Ben Dempster, Emily Jenkins as Helen Patten, Fergus McLaren as Evan Sanders, uncredited as Janet Patten

This Time and This Place

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Episode 3.03 (23)
Fri, February 27, 2015
960,000 viewers (1st)
Written by Michael Miller
Directed by Fiona Banks

When social worker Emma Keneally is shot on Bonfire Night, and Aboriginal teen Winston Cummings is caught holding a smoking gun, it seems an open and shut case. But when Blake investigates further he'll find that not only does Winston seem innocent, but that Emma may not even have been the murderer's target. To discover more he and the police will need to dig deeper into Ballarat's notorious Aboriginal orphanage, and into the racism buried at the heart of the community.

With: Belinda McClory as Alice Harvey, Aaron McGrath as Winston Cummings, Sarah Wiseman as Olivia Goldsmith, Paul Leyden as Ian Goldsmith, Jane Clifton as Sister Josephine, Andy McPhee as Kevin Van Der Heyden, Sarah Morrison as Emma Kenneally, Brandi Nelson as Mary Jackson, Liam Erck as Tommy Van Der Heyden, Abbey Rose Leed as Sister Francis, Jayda Bhalla as Gracie, Thomas Hayden as Tommy's Brother, David Whiteley as Bill Hobart [uncredited],

FYI: new series regular Craig Hall (C/Supt William Munro) and guest star Sara Wiseman are married in real life and also appear together in A Place To Call Home

By the Southern Cross

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Episode 3.04 (24)
Fri, March 06, 2015
890,000 viewers (2nd)
Written by Roger Monk
Directed by Fiona Banks

Tensions are stirred when police break up students celebrating the Eureka stockade anniversary. Emotions then spill over at the local pub that night. When student leader Des Sommerville is found dead suspicion falls on a local. But after Dr Blake finds Des' body was moved post mortem, suspicion shifts to the students and communist party members. Minister for Industry and Commerce, Martin O'Brien is in town to launch an initiative, and has an ultimatum for his daughter, Mattie.

With: John Wood as Patrick Tyneman, Belinda McClory as Alice Harvey, Martin Sacks as Martin O'Brien, Helen Morse as Agnes Clasby, Pip Mushin as Ken Farmer, Hugh Sexton as Colin Doyle, Haydan Hawkins as Des Somerville, Scott Smart as Georgie Bromley, Carter Doyle as Joseph Beville, David Whiteley as Bill Hobart, Anna Samson as Wendy Smith, Ian Rooney as Cec [uncredited], Wayne Tunks as Roy Quinn [uncredited]

Note: I believe this episode marks the first time Martin Sacks and John Wood have been in a scene together (image 10) since Martin Sacks' final episode of Blue Heelers in 2005. They were both in episode 1.06 of Offspring but their characters did not interact.

A Night to Remember

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Episode 3.05 (25)
Fri, March 13, 2015
948,000 viewers (2nd)
Written by Jeff Truman
Directed by Karl Zwickey

Actress Jacqueline Maddern collapses after a charity performance at the Colonist's Club and Blake suspects she's been poisoned. He suggests to Superintendent Munro that the club be locked down to prevent the murderer leaving. Munro obliges but includes Blake in the lock-down. Blake has to find the killer with little to help him but his wits and his knowledge of human nature.

With: John Wood as Patrick Tyneman, John Stanton as Doug Ashby, Belinda McClory as Alice Harvey, David Whiteley as Bill Hobart, Nell Feeney as Pamela Gilchrist, Jenny Seedsman as Susan Tyneman, Benjamin Hoetjes as Christopher Beazley, Tottie Goldsmith as Jacqueline Maddern, Peter Hardy as Sgt Murray Nelson, Travis Jeffrey as Stuart Whyte, Tamblyn Lord as Warwick Simpson, Laurence Breuls as Terry Reynolds, Ian Rooney as Cec Drury

Dedicated to the memory of our friend
JEFF TRUMAN
1957 – 2014

Women and Children

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Episode 3.06 (26)
Fri, March 20, 2015
820,000 viewers (5th)
Written by Stuart Page
Directed by Karl Zwicky

When a surgeon is found dead on the operating table at Ballarat Hospital, Blake is drawn into a maze of sexual politics and revenge. But as the clues mount up, Blake finds himself undermined by Chief Superintendent Munro, who has an agenda of his own. Meanwhile, Jean faces her own dilemma. The consequences of her decision will be far-reaching, but Blake is too busy fighting his many battles to notice.

Starring: Craig McLachlan as Doctor Lucien Blake, Nadine Garner as Jean Beazley, Charlie Cousins as Senior Constable Charlie Davis, Cate Wolfe as Mattie O'Brien, Joel Tobeck as Chief Inspector Matthew Lawson, Craig Hall as Chief Superintendent William Munro

With: John Wood as Patrick Tyneman, John Stanton as Doug Ashby, Belinda McClory as Alice Harvey, Ken Radley as Ronald Caxton, Simon Davey as Rowley Grant, Andre DeVanny as Lachlan Kennedy, Kieran King as Malcolm Beaufort, Garielle Scawthorn as Glenda Lambert, Vince Gill as Clarnece 'Clarrie' Porter, Jana Wikes as May Orton, David Winton as Gareth Orton, Amanda Grillini as Ida

Room without a View

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Episode 3.07 (27)
Fri, March 27, 2015
869,000 viewers (2nd)
Written by Chelsea Cassio
Directed by Declan Eames

When local hardware store owner Henry King dies in suspicious circumstances at the Royal Hotel, Blake is on the case. Suspicions are raised as to how someone entered the locked hotel room. Blake decides to spend the night in the same hotel room only to discover that the key to the mystery is buried in a large painting on the wall. Meanwhile, Jean has a big announcement for the household that will affect her relationship with Blake for good. And while Lawson's return is a happy event for Blake, Chief Superintendent Munro continues to come down hard on both he and Lawson.

With: John Stanton as Doug Ashby, Belinda McClory as Alice Harvey, Gary Sweet as Norman Baker, Adrienne Pickering as Catherine Lewis, Axle Whitehead as Len Webster, Alexandra Keddie as Jessie/Annie, Eugene Gilfedder as Errol, Gregory Quinn as Henry, Ian Rooney as Cec, Drew Tingwell as AA Moderator

Darkness Visible

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Episode 3.08 (28)
Fri, April 03, 2015
1,013,000 viewers (3rd)
Written by Stuart Page
Directed by Declan Eames

When a magistrate is found poisoned the clues point towards various pillars of the town, all of them associated with the Masonic Lodge. But as Blake digs deeper, he finds disturbing echoes in the death of his own mother, forty years earlier. And while Blake inches towards an answer, Jean prepares to say goodbye, in preparation for moving to Adelaide and her own family, and out of Blake's life.

With: John Wood as Patrick Tyneman, John Stanton as Doug Ashby, Belinda McClory as Alice Harvey, Rod Mullinar as Clement, Marg Downey as Evelyn, Ian Rooney as Cec, David Whiteley as Hobart, Lee Beckhurst as Edward Tyneman, Jacqui Maloney as Clare Llewellyn, Dylan Watson as Wallace Llewellyn, Phil Lenhart as Neville Franklin, Danny Ellerton as Hotel Guest, Bruce Barnes as Mason #1, Roy Edmunds as Stunt Performer