User Reviews

I wanted to add a review from someone who doesn't live in New Zealand or the southern hemisphere. I thought this show was very good, lots of twists in the plot which kept me guessing throughout. It came together for me just before the guilty person confessed and I think that is due to the writing not because I was slow! There was definitely a lot of connections to to various characters that made them a good suspect for the murder. I know nothing about Maori beliefs but from a spectator's viewpoint it came together and seemed plausible. I thought all of the actors were believable in their roles and I liked the unanswered questions at the end because that leaves it wide open for season 2. So I look forward to another season of trying to solving "who done it?"

Thoroughly enjoy this show. It was a departure from what I've seen recently. Kept me guessing until the end. Not sure why there are so many haters. I did not find it slow, boring or confusing.

It's disappointing there's no second season announced (pandemic pause or insufficient interest?) as I'm not quite sure what just happened at the end of the 6th and final episode of season 1. I enjoyed the ride so much, however, I'm not going to nit pick over not having all the questions answered.

I actually enjoyed how little time the series spent on explanation. We are inserted into events and situations pretty much just as the lead character is and we're left with the same confusion he is. I like the important hint from one of the characters near the end about the final surprising scene: "It isn't always what you think."

I really tried hard to get very enthusiastic about this show because it has some great redeeming features but ultimately it is let down by some torturous plot lines.

So the good: as an expat Kiwi who has been to Queenstown a lot, One Lane Bridge is a very faithful re-creation of life for the small established elite of this world famous alpine tourist resort town almost to the point that only NZ audiences would understand. The breathtaking scenery is a given and makes for an incredible backdrop. Life on legacy South Island high country sheep stations has become difficult as these operations are asset rich and cash poor and the ever present Chinese or foreign cash buyer is a common occurrence.

Also faithfully detailed is the hard drinking, rugby-centric, rugged outdoors lifestyle of the locals and the hard to watch homophobic incident is a demonstration of how mores from a bygone era live on in small town NZ. It is always nice to hear the full suite of kiwi slang, the accent and traditions on display (e.g. Deer and rabbit shooting). The acting across the board was solid and believable.

Having a young Maori (Cook Islander in this instance) cop come down from Auckland fitting in with very white Central Otago locals gives a good window into racial integration issues in modern NZ. What was less appealing was weaving into regular policing some Maori spiritual practices that neither did justice to how they are actually done nor to modern NZ policing. It led to a series of hard to comprehend flashbacks and the manner in which Detective Ariki Davis (Dominic Ona-Ariki) actually used his spiritual powers overlayed the whole purpose of the series (trying to determine the killer of local farmer Andrew 'Grub' Ryder - Dean O'Gorman) with surreal and awkward plot lines.

That said, it's always great to New Zealand scenery and culture on display.

The show was a bit confusing I am all for cliffhangers at the end of a series, but this just left questions with only a few answers and doesn't really seem to tie up anything. The characters aren't that likely either. Hope the next season clears things up. The filming location was beautiful and the acting well done.

This is a great series, just 2 episodes in and I'm hooked. This series unwinds at a good immersive pace and has a supernatural element to it.

Scenery is amazing, I want to live there :) You may recognize a few actors, all of them very good.

This is series is rather slow paced, and I think that it could have been just as interesting. If it had been one or two episodes shorter. The acting is good, as is the plot. There's not a lot of violence and I would say that it is for the most part, family friendly. Obviously it is not for really young children because it is a murder mystery after all. I would watch a second season if they decided to produce one.

I really enjoyed this,loved the Queenstown setting,the portrayal of the old guard and their lives in this almost idylic part of NZ. I liked the storyline, some original moments, strong twisty who done it plot. It you enjoy NZ movies, this is worth a snuggle up ,on a cold night time slot. The acting was fine, a truthful portrayal of some issues,showing NZ people also need to involve themselves in upping their game. Such as the homophobic and the prickling answer to the question, 'but where are you from'...actually that is a very valid and intelligent question.Especially in New Zealand.not all brown people are Maori, To just assume that ,to me is a racist thought process. who would have picked the Cook Island Maori heritage. .... Our Pacifica peoples all have their own rich culture, different to native Maori.

Why give an officer a gift that at every opportunity can speak about it, encouraged to speak about his gift but no not until the 6th episode does he say anything. No speaking up to clear his blanks, missing times, etc. Ya cause I want my co-workers to think I'm crazy, lazy, rude and a poor officer.

The seer who sees random sequences to help misdirect us. I think I know who the killer is but will wait until the end to find out. Same person I thought it was in the first couple minutes of the show?

I am a kiwi and I find in general what we produce is a mixed bag but this show is undoubtedly top shelf. I love a good psychological thriller and this is show keeps you on the edge of your seat. The fantasy element adds a twist to your usual crime drama and the combo of quality writing, great actors and camerawork, as well as suspenseful soundtrack has me hanging on every moment.

This is just one audience members view. I understand there has been mixed reviews but I honestly think that's largely down to personal preference. If you love a good thriller or crime drama, this is the show for you.

... going in you know ghosts are going to be a very big part of the story line-production... they are, and first two seasons more of an annoyance than the third... characters-acting-locations keep interest up in making it through all three seasons, sixteen episodes to date... one critic writing... "an engrossing, evocative, supernatural-tinged detective drama, a Kiwi answer to Sandi-Noir complete with terrific performances from a well-assembled-ensemble"

... 'Next-Episode' still showing it as a 'returning-series'... we'll need wait-see if that's going to remain true... since it did become slightly more of interest in S3, will probably stick with it should a season 4 come about... and-as Acorn TV really does not have a lot of 'new' content.

I agree with previous reviews that it starts slowly but this can be forgiven for the beautiful scenery plus the quality of the production. Well worth watching.

An interesting story with a flair of the paranormal - just enough. I hope there is a second season. There are a LOT more story lines to play with!! Plus the scenery is amazing!!

Opened with promise. Then the story started wandering and asking more and more unanswerable questions. Not even that spectacular scenery can make up for a limp, garbled story. Throw in all the psychic and mysterious and empty pieces, but it just doesn't work. You get where you don't care about any of the people, the story makes no sense but you've invested enough time to slog it out to the end. To see "who done it". Thankfully there are no more than the 6 episodes. This dog is definitely a time waster. Started out so well...

Super gripping and had me guessing until the last episode. Some reviews have said that the homophobia and racism discussed in the show are unrealistic, but I disagree. The show confronts a lot of taboo subjects while not making them the main focus. Definitely worth watching and my fingers are crossed that a second season is made soon!!

Set against the majestic beauty of Queenstown I had high hopes for this... a veritable who's who of NZ actors most who have done time on Shortland St and been in various other Australasian productions... but here they are lifeless cardboard cut-outs within a ridiculous story line dressed up with psychic shtick... witness Joel Tobeck in the brilliant Tangle to see what he can do.. here he is limited to angry reactions and a range of pained quizzical faces... there is a lot of shouting, swearing, repressed and not so repressed anger ... everyone makes irrational decisions constantly... not worth investing your time in I'm afraid viewer :-(

I really enjoyed it. Had to binge the entire thing.

A classic character development story line (think List season 1) for the first three episodes then the supernatural kicks in, slowly at first but progressivly until get totally hooked on a really well written TV drama. (love the fact that half the cast came from the The Almighty Johnsons cast)

I am totally confused with the ending, the storyline was all over the place, can someone enlighten me please?

After the critical success of The Bridge (2011) I can just see a NZ producer saying "We don't have a 30k international bridge, but we have a one-lane bridge. Let's make a murder mystery!" It's hard to know where to begin. NZ has an international image of equality and tolerance, yet this show depicts racism and homophobia as daily life. Add to this alcoholism and sexism, and you have kitchen sink drama. Hardly any of the characters are decent human beings, and the overly slow lingering camera work makes this program quite painful to watch at times. A lot of the acting is pedestrian at best, though there are a few good turns. Our main protagonist is well portrayed, though do policemen really behave like that? Despite this, the writing is pretty good, and the story sort of manages to lurch from one scene to the next. But the angst is laid on thick. For people who have never visited NZ, the parochial attitudes and small town life might be a bit surprising. The splendour of the vistas that make up the country are hardly used. I assume that to New Zealanders this is normal and not worth bothering with. This is definitely TV for local consumption. Scandi noir need not worry. Based on this, NZ noir is not the new genre.

Loved this series lots of twists n turns and left us on a cliff hanger which hopefully means more episodes to come. One lane bridge well worth a binge watch. The only annoying character is the millennial daughter whose very emo.