Small and quirky communities dealing with a sudden murder is a tale as old as time. It’s a quick way to introduce interesting characters from different walks of life in minimal time. The new Prime Video series Deadloch has a similar approach, but changes up the formula to differentiate itself from anything audiences have seen before.
Deadloch is the first global project for the Kates — Kate McCartney and Kate McLennan — who are the Australian comedy duo that made the comedic cooking series The Katering Show. Their pedigree with comedy explains why the new Prime Video series is able to remain incredibly funny while tackling heavier topics like murder and discrimination. This project is sure to get their names on the map internationally, as it serves as a great vehicle for showing off their comedic talent in a way that is accessible to audiences worldwide.
Deadloch’s greatest strength is in how it deftly weaves together both dark and lighter comedy with its intriguing mystery. Comedy and tragedy are famously similar and the series genuinely understands this, interspersing snappy jokes and heavier moments in equal measure. The tone is established immediately in the Red Band trailer, which shows a dead body alongside somber music, followed by a relative of the deceased saying he “loved him like a brother,” despite being his actual brother.
Beyond the creative force of Kates, the ensemble cast does an excellent job of delivering the show’s many major moments. Kate Box and Madeleine Sami give exceptional performances as the leads — Dulcie Collins and Eddie Redcliffe — investigating this unnerving case while juggling their clashing personalities and personal lives. Alicia Gardiner is also brilliant as Dulcie’s more upbeat significant other who wants nothing more than to have a pleasant daily life. The whole cast shines and sells their characters as quirky, flawed, but real people, which goes a long way in making the mystery worth investing in.
Another unique aspect of Deadloch is that unlike in many crime stories, marginalized people are not delegated to being a victim of the violent act portrayed in the story. Rather, these individuals are at the forefront of the series, serving both the dramatic and comedic sides of the show perfectly.
Finally, there’s the idea of the future being intrinsically and unrelentingly connected to past. This is a big part of many crime series, as mistakes of the past often haunt both the perpetrators and investigators alike. In the series, the past is a force to be reckoned with — just as it is in real life. Deadloch understands that you can’t embrace the future if you’re still stuck in the past, making it easy to relate to no matter which walk of life you come from.
Is Deadloch worth watching?
Whether you live in Australia or anywhere else abroad, I highly recommend that you get some brekkie and watch the new hit Australian Original Prime Video series, Deadloch. If you’re looking for a pleasant mix of laughs and winces with some strong intrigue, you’ll love the Kates’ new series.
