‘My Life Is Murder’ Recap: ‘Call of the Wild’ & ‘Oceans Apart’

Written by John Edward Betancourt 

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the season two premiere of ‘My Life Is Murder’.
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It is definitely safe to say, that the cozy crime drama is getting a little too… cozy. Because this type of story really has found a groove in popular media, to the point where one can easily figure out what to expect from a new show in this vein. In that, it will involve a detective with a sorted past that has come to some place comfortable to either finish out their career in relative peace or enjoy a new life free from the badge. All before they are quickly plunged into complex case after complex case. The kind that either challenges their past or puts up roadblocks because they no longer have a badge and well, it makes sense as to why these common formulas pop up often in this particular genre. Simply because, people adore them and their comforting and inviting nature. 

But while it is indeed wonderful to enjoy the same old, same old, this formula is problematic. Largely due to the fact that audiences like to be challenged on a regular basis and they do want to see something new and exciting that pushes the envelope of any given genre and that is why it is a wonderful thing that the Acorn TV series, My Life Is Murder is back on the airwaves. Because this is a cozy mystery that does indeed challenge the tropes of the genre by offering up a different kind of detective, since Alexa Crowe is as tough as nails and doesn’t let the past control her nor does she have to worry about rules, and those game-changing concepts are of note today, simply because they were once again put on full display in the two-hour, season two premiere of this show.  

But in classic storytelling fashion, it sure doesn’t seem as though we are going to see those concepts come into play early on in ‘Call of the Wild’. For when we catch up with Alexa here, she’s back home in Auckland, and baking bread and seemingly disinterested in further dealing with impossible crimes. But when Detective Harry Henare presents her with a juicy murder case, one where the mountain of evidence pointing to a particular suspect, doesn’t make sense… since there is no real motive for the murder in question… it doesn’t take long for Alexa to reactivate her instincts and her desire for justice and that leads to a wonderful pair of investigations. Since ‘Oceans Apart’ also sees Alexa look beyond the veil of lies and manufactured evidence to bring the true killers to justice and that process is what allows for those bold concepts to come into play. 

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For there are no tough discussions about how she is overstepping her bounds or how procedure is going to hold her back or whether or not she can even talk with a suspect because of protocol. She’s basically deputized here and by going that route, she’s confident in what she is doing, and she can work without a net and truly get down to the truth and that is so delightful to see play out here. Because you want to see the hero bask in the majesty of trust and she gets that here from Harry and that really does allow for all the conflict in this tale to take place via the case itself as she peels back the lies and as for the whole matter of the past not bothering her, well that was handled in the second episode of this mystery doubleheader. 
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For there was a chance in this surfing themed case for her to really struggle with it, since Alexa’s surfing days and championship runs were sullied by her father’s lies. For we came to learn that he used timing and observation to get his family into a summer beach home that belonged to others and eventually saw that act catch up to him. But rather than let that cloud her judgment emotionally and hamper her ability to solve the case, Alexa opted to keep the past in the past and only speak of it when it was relevant and that was supremely refreshing to see play out. In large part because it did indeed help her keep focus and bring the right criminal to justice, but more so because it helped her character to exhibit great strength and express to the audience that we are not our past and we can move beyond those tougher memories.

In the end however, this really was a wonderful way to kick off season two of this series. In large part because of everything we’ve just discussed but also because… these were just honest and earnest and raw mysteries for Alexa to solve. The kind that spoke to our flaws and our strengths and that’s genuinely what audiences want out of a murder mystery, a human element. Something  we can latch onto and relate to and properly understand, and it doesn’t hurt that these episodes are also filled to the brim with fine performances to sell all of that… with Lucy Lawless leading the way of course, since she is as comfortable in Alexa’s skin as ever and well, now that these cases have come to a close, this reviewer cannot wait to see what other genre-bending, honest tales await us as season two continues along. Until next time. 

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