Mystery Road: Origin is an Australian television crime mystery series. It is a prequel to the TV series Mystery Road, which first aired on ABC TV from 3 June 2018. Both series are spin-offs from Ivan Sen's feature films Mystery Road and Goldstone. The series focuses on the early career of indigenous detective Jay Swan, and his relationship with his future wife Mary. Jay and Mary are played by Mark Coles Smith and Tuuli Narkle, succeeding Aaron Pedersen and Tasma Walton, who played the roles in the film and earlier series.
The first series aired from 3 July 2022, with the second debuting on 21 September 2025.
Synopsis Season 1 The year is 1999, and a young Jay Swan moves back to his home town of Jardine to join the local police force. He must cope with his estranged father Jack and his feelings for local girl Mary Allen, as well as contending with a mysterious gang of robbers.
Season 2 Six months on from the previous season, Jay and Mary are settled into a small town in Mary’s mother's country, and Mary is working at a local hospital.
Cast Season 1 Mark Coles Smith as Jay Swan Tuuli Narkle as Mary Allen Toby Leonard Moore as Abe Daniel Henshall as Patrick Steve Bisley as Peter Lovric Salme Geransar as Anousha Lisa Flanagan as Catherine Clarence Ryan as Sputty Caroline Brazier as Geraldine Hayley McElhinney as Max Serene Yunupingu as Lartesha Kelton Pell as Jack Swan Leonie Whyman as Cissy Nina Young as Fiona Jayden Popik as Xavier Grace Chow as Cindy Megan Wilding as Ziggy Ling-Hsueh Tang as Poppy (2 episodes) Geoff Morrell as Phillip (6 episodes) George Shevtsov as Rex
Season 2 Mark Coles Smith as Jay Swan Tuuli Narkle as Mary Allen Geoff Morrell as Philip Helen Morse as Sister Kelly Robyn Malcolm as Sgt Simmo Nicholas Bell as Garry Steve Le Marquand as The Cowboy Aswan Reid as Swayze Shantae Barnes-Cowan as Lana Luke Carroll as Joey Eloise Hart as Anya Marley Sharp as Sam Scarlett Yarran as Scarlett
Episodes
Season 1 (2022) Mystery Road: Origin went to air on Sunday 3 July 2022 and ran until 7 August. All six episodes were made available on iview. The writers include Blake Ayshford, Steven McGregor, Kodie Bedford, Timothy Lee and Dylan River.
Season 2 (2025) Season 2 of Mystery Road: Origin went to air on Sunday 21 September 2025 and ran until 26 October. All six episodes were made available on iview.
Production Season 1
Mystery Road: Origin was filmed in Western Australia, around Kalgoorlie, Boulder and Coolgardie.
Mark Coles Smith plays a younger version of Swan.
Season 2 In June 2023, Mystery Road was renewed for a fourth series. It is another prequel series under the "Origin" title, and went to air from 21 September 2025.
Jub Clerc co-directed with Wayne Blair. Simkin and Jowsey again produced, while the executive producers were Ivan Sen, Brett Sleigh, and Rachel Okine.
Mystery Road: Origin was filmed in south-western Western Australia around Pemberton.
Release Season 2 premiered on Sunday 21 September 2025 at 8.15pm on ABC TV, with all episodes available to stream on ABC iview.
Reception Season 1 In The Sydney Morning Herald, Kylie Northover gave Mystery Road: Origin a rating of five stars, while The Guardian gave it four (out of five).
Season 2 Anne Rutherford of Australian Book Review gave season 2 of Mystery Road: Origin 4 out of 5 stars, writing: "The scripting in season two is a little more uneven than in earlier seasons – occasionally the dialogue is less nuanced and a few moments are overly reliant on the music to carry the dramatic impact – but, directed by Wayne Blair and Jub Clerc, the characterisation is strong and, as is usual for Bunya Productions, the casting and performances are superb". She singles out Robyn Malcolm (Sergeant Simmo), Aswan Reid (Swayze), Shantae Barnes-Cowan (Lana), and Luke Carroll (Joey) for extra praise.
Awards and nominations Season 1 Season 1 of Mystery Road: Origin won an Equity Award for Most Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series.
Other awards include: AwardCategoryNomineeResultRef12th AACTA AwardsBest Television Drama SeriesDavid Jowsey, Greer SimpkinBest Screenplay in TelevisionEpisode 3 – Timothy Lee, Dylan RiverEpisode 6 – Blake Ayshford, Steven McGregor, Dylan RiverBest Lead Actor in a Television DramaMark Coles SmithBest Lead Actress in a Television DramaTuuli NarkleBest Guest or Supporting Actor in a Television DramaSteve BisleyDaniel HenshallBest Guest or Supporting Actress in a Television DramaHayley McElhinneyBest Direction in Drama or ComedyDylan RiverBest Cinematography in TelevisionTyson Perkins – Episode 3Best Costume Design in TelevisionTerri Lamera – Episode 3Best Editing in TelevisionNicholas Holmes – Episode 3Best Production Design in TelevisionHerbert Pinter – Episode 3Best Original Music Score in TelevisionVincent Goodyer – Episode 3Best Sound in TelevisionLuke Mynott, Wes Chew, Trevor Hope, Dylan Barfield – Episode 3
Home media SeriesRelease dateRegion 1/ARegion 2Region 4Region 4 13 December 202231 December 202231 August 2022
Key = Indicates availability only on DVD = Indicates availability on both DVD & Blu-ray
References
External links