Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries "Murder on the Ballarat Train" #1.2 (2012) (TV)

Very entertaining, 5 April 2017

In Murder on the Ballarat Train, Miss Fisher must unravel the mystery behind the murder of a crotchety old woman named Mrs Henderson and the little orphaned girl named Jane who is in possession of Mrs Henderson's valuable jewelry. The case will take Miss Fisher from an upscale university rowing team to a rundown boarding house where lost little girls do the bidding for a crook and hypnotist named Mr Merton.

Now that's more like it. Even though I enjoyed the first episode, Murder on the Ballarat Train is closer to what I'm hoping to find in the series. Once again, the mystery isn't overly difficult to solve, but the process is what matters. The entertainment comes from watching Miss Fisher gather her information and clues in the face of police opposition. Whether it's rescuing a fellow passenger from a chloroform attack or leading the police on a search for missing woman in the middle of the night or making eyes with a young rower who has information she wants, watching Miss Fisher go about her investigation is the part I enjoy. Essie Davis is amazing. I think I could watch her do just about anything and be entertained – she just as that something about her. The regular supporting cast is strong. After two episodes, I'm especially impressed with the wide-eyed, innocent maid Dot, played by Ashleigh Cummings. She makes for a good contrast to Miss Fisher.

8/10