Very light comfort style mystery TV ala Murder She Wrote. Pretty slow and boring with mediocre mysteries at best but production value is quite good.

This show taught me that Brokenwood is not just simply the deadliest place to be in all of New Zealand, but it's the deadliest place in the world! I mean, this small town has constant murders and quite often the townspeople are part of it - it's like they are all homicidal maniacs. That being said, this is a show where you can predict how every episode will play out but will still be sort of guessing who did it by the end, it's never crystal clear - and in that it makes it an interesting bit of entertainment. The acting is mediocre, the plots are often beyond silly, the actual detective work is laughable but the people are likable and the whodunit part does keep you watching until the end. Overall, it's a good show to have on in the background as you do other things.

Move over, Midsomer—Brokenwood has arrived! As a total mystery buff who has seen every season, I can confidently say this is New Zealand’s finest export. It takes that classic "small town with a high body count" trope and adds a layer of dry, sarcastic humor that makes it so easy to watch. It’s the perfect blend of clever puzzles and genuine laughs.