Honestly, if you’re still thinking about that cliffhanger, you aren't alone. Doctor Blake Season 5 wasn't just another run of the mill procedural; it felt like the end of an era, even if we didn't know it yet. For years, we watched Lucien Blake cycle around Ballarat, solving murders that seemed way too frequent for a quiet country town. But by the time the fifth season rolled around in 2017, the stakes shifted from the morgue to the drawing room.
It was personal.
Craig McLachlan’s portrayal of the haunted, gin-loving surgeon reached a fever pitch here. We finally saw the payoff of that agonizing "will-they-won't-they" tension with Jean Beazley. It’s rare for a show to maintain that kind of chemistry for 44 episodes without it feeling stale, but somehow, they stuck the landing. Or at least, they tried to before the real world intervened.
The Evolution of the 1960s Ballarat Landscape
The year is 1964. The world is changing, and Ballarat isn't immune. In Doctor Blake Season 5, the writers leaned heavily into the encroaching modernism of the sixties. We weren't just looking at backyard stabbings anymore. The season tackled everything from the rigid social hierarchies of the local debutante ball to the murky waters of international espionage and the Cold War.
Remember the episode "A World of Love"? It wasn't just about a dead body at a French-themed pop concert. It was about the generational divide. Lucien, a man deeply scarred by the Second World War and his time in Singapore, found himself navigating a world where the youth were screaming for pop stars. It highlighted his isolation. He’s a man out of time, yet he’s the only one with the forensic mind sharp enough to see the truth.
The production design this season was particularly crisp. The art department, led by Ben Morieson, really leaned into the saturated palettes of the mid-sixties. Everything felt a bit brighter, yet the shadows in the Blake house felt longer. It’s that contrast that made the show a global hit, selling to over 130 territories. People in the UK and US weren't just watching for the mystery; they were watching for that specific Australian Gothic atmosphere.
Why the Jean and Lucien Dynamic Defined This Season
Let’s talk about Jean. Nadine Garner is the unsung hero of the entire series. In earlier seasons, she was the housekeeper, the moral compass, and the quiet observer. By Doctor Blake Season 5, she became the backbone.
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The proposal was a massive moment for fans. After years of repressed Victorian-era sensibilities, seeing them finally acknowledge their feelings felt like a relief. But it wasn't easy. The season forced them to navigate the scandal of their living situation. In a small town in 1964, a doctor living with his "housekeeper" was fodder for the gossip mills.
Their relationship was tested by the arrival of figures from Lucien's past. The show has always been about trauma—specifically Lucien’s trauma from the war—and how it manifests as alcoholism and obsession. Jean doesn't just "fix" him; she provides a reason for him to stay tethered to the present. Without Jean, Lucien Blake is just a man drifting toward a bottle of Scotch.
The Cases That Kept Us Guessing
The mysteries in the fifth season were notably more complex than the early "poisoned tea" tropes. We had the death of a reformer at the local reformatory, which opened up a massive can of worms regarding how the state treated "wayward" children. This was a gutsy move for a period drama. It touched on real historical grievances in Australia’s social history.
Then there was the finale. "The Visible World."
A body found in the planetarium. It was poetic, really. Lucien looking at the stars while dealing with the grit of a murder. The cinematography in the observatory was some of the best the show ever produced. It felt grand. It felt like the show was finally breathing.
- Episode 1: A boxer dies in the ring. Is it sport or murder?
- Episode 4: A death at the debutante ball. Social climbing turns lethal.
- Episode 8: The finale that changed everything.
The pacing of these episodes was deliberate. Some critics at the time thought it was too slow, but they missed the point. The Doctor Blake Mysteries was always a character study disguised as a "whodunnit." The mystery was the engine, but the characters were the destination.
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The Controversy and the Ghost of Season 6
You can't talk about Doctor Blake Season 5 without addressing the elephant in the room. This was the last full season featuring the original cast and format on the ABC. Shortly after it aired, allegations surfaced regarding Craig McLachlan’s conduct during a stage production of The Rocky Horror Show.
This threw the entire franchise into chaos.
The ABC dropped the show. Production was halted. Eventually, it was picked up by Channel Seven, but it was rebranded as The Blake Mysteries, centering on Nadine Garner’s Jean Blake. While Garner was brilliant, the absence of the titular doctor felt like a limb was missing. For many fans, Season 5 is the "true" final season because it’s the last time we see the central duo working in tandem before the narrative fractured.
It’s a complicated legacy. It’s possible to appreciate the craftsmanship of the writers, the supporting cast like Joel Tobeck (Chief Superintendent Matthew Lawson), and the historical accuracy while acknowledging the turmoil behind the scenes.
Why the Show Still Ranks High on Streaming
Even years later, Season 5 pulls huge numbers on streaming platforms like BritBox and Amazon Prime. Why? Because it’s "comfort TV" with an edge. It’s the visual equivalent of a warm cup of tea laced with a bit of arsenic.
The show tapped into a specific niche: the regional noir. By setting it in Ballarat rather than Melbourne or Sydney, it felt intimate. You knew the streets. You knew the pub. You knew the police station. By the time the fifth season rolled around, the audience felt like citizens of Ballarat. We weren't just observers; we were neighbors.
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The technical execution remained high. The use of period-accurate medical equipment—often sourced from actual vintage collections—gave the show an air of authority. When Blake performs an autopsy, it doesn't look like a Hollywood set. It looks like a cold, damp room in 1964.
Moving Forward: How to Experience Doctor Blake Today
If you’re looking to revisit the series or dive in for the first time, don't just binge the episodes. Pay attention to the subtext of the mid-sixties transition.
Watch for the subtle shifts in Jean's wardrobe. As the season progresses, she moves away from the drab domesticity of the fifties into sharper, more confident silhouettes. It mirrors her growing agency in the household and the town.
Check the background details. The showrunners were meticulous about the newspapers and radio broadcasts in the background. They often reference real Australian news from 1964, grounding the fictional murders in a very real world.
Seek out the telemovie. If you finish Season 5 and feel a void, there is the "Family Portrait" telemovie. It serves as a bridge, though for many, the final episode of Season 5 remains the more poignant ending.
The most effective way to enjoy the series now is to view it as a complete historical capsule. Despite the off-screen drama that eventually halted the original run, the work put into the fifth season stands as a testament to Australian television production. It proved that a local story, told with grit and heart, could resonate globally.
Next Steps for Fans:
Start by re-watching the Season 5 finale with an eye on the cinematography of the planetarium scenes. Then, compare the character arcs of Matthew Lawson and Charlie Davis from Season 1 to Season 5. You’ll see a masterclass in slow-burn character development that is rarely seen in modern "fast-food" television. For those interested in the history of Ballarat, visiting the actual filming locations at the Sovereign Hill area and the Lydiard Street precinct offers a fascinating look at how the show transformed a modern city back into a post-war gold rush town.