Review Details

Solo One

Product Review (submitted on 13 December 2017):

Set in Emerald and making use of the iconic Puffing Billy stream train, Solo One kicks off with Mike Brady's penned theme music. Gary Hogan has moved from Matlock to the Dandenongs and practically runs the local cop shop. This is not the reason the show is called Solo One, The name is derived from his motor bike call sign. Gary gets to know all the locals and understands the lay and the law of the land. There are numerous scenes with Gary riding his Honda 750 around the lush landscape attending to farmers and the outsiders from the town. Some memorable guest stars including Alwyn Kurts and Terrence Donovan, respective Homicide and Division 4 alumni. I enjoyed watching this again. The episode with Donovan assisting Gary rescuing two boys who have come a cropper in a wild river is one of the best. Making a success of a 'spin off' series is not always easily achieved. I rate Solo One as a good show but not as engaging as the better known police shows of a similar ilk. The episodes, no more than 25 minutes duration sail by and perhaps this does not allow the plots to be developed in any complexity. I happily have this as a companion piece with my Matlock Police collection. It may be for completists only but I still recommend it as it is reasonably priced.