The BEST episodes written by James Griffin
#1 - Tontine
The Brokenwood Mysteries - Season 5 - Episode 3
Cycling is very de rigour around the globe and no less in Brokenwood. When one such MAMIL (Middle Aged Man In Lycra) Lester Nyman reaches the top of a local mountain after a gruelling ride and suffers a massive coronary it doesn’t seem suspicious. But then Gina reveals his toxicology showed astronomical levels of caffeine in his system and Mike starts to look more closely. It transpires Lester was one of ten people inheriting shares in a substantial local farm. The will, left by Lester’s father Karl, is legally known as a Tontine. Curiously four members of this Tontine have recently died from natural causes or unfortunate accidents and as such their shares are absorbed by the remaining members. Lester’s brother Trevor is helpful in their enquiries but not so much his lawyer Madison Mathers. She sees her professional responsibility to execute the will to the best of her ability making sure everyone gets their fair share. And why is Reverend Greene part of the tontine? It was no secret Karl didn’t believe in the church. Was it simply that he wanted to goad the good Reverend into putting capitalist values above his service to the Lord? The further Mike and his team delve it appears this was all a grand and malevolent plan by Karl Nyman to let his friends and family tear themselves apart in a feeding frenzy of greed and avarice.
#2 - Playing the Lie
The Brokenwood Mysteries - Season 1 - Episode 3
A group of erstwhile members of the Brokenwood Golf Club, committee members no less, have gathered for their regular Wednesday morning round. They are playing their approaches to the first green when a zombie-like figure lurches from the early-morning gloom, coming towards them. It takes the golfers a moment or two (apparently) to realise this is actually Adele Stone, the Club owner - her face red and blistering; gasping desperately for breath. Then she falls from sight, into a greenside bunker. By the time the guys get to her, Ms Stone is very much dead. And so Mike and Kristin are called to investigate what appears to be homicide by poisoning.
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#4 - Every Good Quest Has a Sacrifice
The Almighty Johnsons - Season 1 - Episode 10
The time has finally come for Axl Johnson and his brothers to man up and be the Gods they truly are.
#5 - Goddesses, Axl, Come In All Forms
The Almighty Johnsons - Season 1 - Episode 6
It's hammer time, as a road trip to follow a falling star takes the God boys into uncharted territory; to a heartland of darkness where the usual rules no longer apply. The paths of the gods and goddesses cross at a rural funeral and both groups encounter the current incarnation of Thor. But will Axl mate with Derek/Thor's daughter, Delphine? Meanwhile, Olaf and Ingrid bond, and Anders and Michele spar with one another.
#8 - Hunting Reindeer On Slippery Rocks
The Almighty Johnsons - Season 1 - Episode 9
What if the one you're with isn't necessarily the one you love? And what if the one you love, you love her so much it is dangerous to her health?
#12 - Bad Things Happen
The Almighty Johnsons - Season 1 - Episode 7
Two nights out drinking lead to two different forms of temptation - both of which could end very badly for the parties concerned.
#13 - The Secrets of My Prison House
Outrageous Fortune - Season 2 - Episode 3
Wolf feels violated; Pascalle's new boyfriend has the hots for an entirely different member of the family; and Loretta and Grandpa repair a few fences and crack a safe.
#16 - Episode 6
Westside - Season 3 - Episode 6
Bert is deceived and destroyed. Rita proves there's no fury like a woman scorned, and Wolf ups his game.
#17 - Is't Far You Ride?
Westside - Season 1 - Episode 2
Ted confronts his great white whale, as Rita battles boredom. And a war with the Dallies turns up unexpected opportunities.
#18 - Dire Combustion
Westside - Season 1 - Episode 5
The biggest job yet has explosive consequences for the Wests. Oh, and Wolf has a girlfriend.
#20 - Episode 4
Westside - Season 2 - Episode 4
Rita's ambitious career path for Wolf hits some bumps. Ngaire has a dangerous liaison and Bert and Falani take on the Springboks alongside the protestors.
#21 - Episode 9
Westside - Season 4 - Episode 9
Ngaire encounters a familiar face at Cheryl's hen's party while Wolf is lead astray by an old flame at his stag do. Phineas and Bert fight for Carol.
#22 - It's Kind of a Birthday Present
The Almighty Johnsons - Season 1 - Episode 1
It is Axl Johnson's 21st birthday - which explains the fire in the sky; the Waitemata Harbour being the colour of blood; the various women who seem to want to kill him; and the sudden need for a family ceremony in a forest.
#23 - Episode 6
Westside - Season 2 - Episode 6
Times are changing for Ted. Rita wants to expand her business and keep the peace between father and son. Wolf mixes business with pleasure.
#24 - Her Grave, While I'm Dancing on it
Westside - Season 6 - Episode 1
Wolf has a problem he cannot solve, but 'help' is the hardest word; meanwhile, for Rita and Ted, the return of an old friend spells bad news.
#26 - This Is Where Duty Starts
The Almighty Johnsons - Season 1 - Episode 2
Axl Johnson learns very quickly that when you're on a quest to find one woman among millions, your heart is not necessarily the part of your anatomy you should be following.
#27 - Well That’s Not Creepy
Westside - Season 6 - Episode 4
As Wolf deals with failure, Cheryl takes some time out in a place that is like Fiji but not; meanwhile Falani finds an old friend living under a bridge.
#28 - Episode 9
Westside - Season 2 - Episode 9
Rita's in charge of her first big job and the stakes have never been higher, but can she rely on those closest to her?
#29 - Our Poison'd Chalice
Westside - Season 1 - Episode 4
The matter of the poisoned lamington splits the house of West and leads Ted and Rita to sex, drugs and rock & roll.
#30 - Episode 7
Westside - Season 2 - Episode 7
Ted and the boys go hunting South Africans while Rita has a mess to sort out with her growing business and an explosive affair.
#32 - Episode 10
Westside - Season 2 - Episode 10
Ted gets one final crack at the South African money. Meanwhile, Wolf's at war with his parents, and the rest of the country are at war with themselves.
#33 - This Is Not Washing Powder, My Friend
The Almighty Johnsons - Season 1 - Episode 5
When something seems too good to be true, this is inevitably because it is too good to be true. And this is a lesson Axl Johnson is about to learn - big time.
#34 - But Never Doubt I Love
Outrageous Fortune - Season 1 - Episode 6
Pascalle realises she has a secret admirer, while Grandpa West finds love.
#35 - God's Gift to Zebras
The Almighty Johnsons - Season 1 - Episode 3
One of the things about Goddesses is that they can show up anywhere - be it in a library or at a bar. But whether they are the Goddesses you're looking for is a whole other matter.
#36 - And Then She Will Come To You
The Almighty Johnsons - Season 2 - Episode 1
Several months have passed. Mike is now living with Axl and Zeb, and has still not dealt with the end of his marriage. Ty and Eva have an interesting and passionate relationship, while Agnetha sends Anders off to Norway to secure a mysterious object. Axl expresses frustration that his brothers appear to have abandoned the quest for Frigg, while Loki continues to manipulate the situation. Agnetha discloses her real identity as their mother to Axl, Mike and Ty. An old acquaintance of Olaf prophesies that Axl must become a man before he can be a god; and then Frigg will come to him.
#37 - The Infants of Spring
Outrageous Fortune - Season 1 - Episode 5
As Cheryl starts to realise that going straight is harder than it looks, the family tries to help out in the only ways they know how to.
#38 - The Steep and Thorny Way to Heaven
Outrageous Fortune - Season 2 - Episode 8
Wolf goes to work; Van goes to the rescue and Cheryl goes to purgatory.
#39 - My Dearest Foe
Outrageous Fortune - Season 1 - Episode 8
Pascalle discovers all is not beautiful in the modeling world, Grandpa takes up poker and Cheryl has yet another job.
#40 - The Fat Weed That Roots Itself
Outrageous Fortune - Season 1 - Episode 10
Pascalle bags herself a real live TV star and Hoochie Mama's finances end up in the wrong pockets.
#41 - Get Thee to Bed
Outrageous Fortune - Season 2 - Episode 11
There are all manner of bedfellows � some more unlikely than others.
#42 - It Cannot Come to Good
Outrageous Fortune - Season 1 - Episode 11
The crime of the century - in a Van West style; Cheryl is the victim of rumour and innuendo; and Pascalle gets a taste of fame.
#43 - A House Divided
Defenders of the Earth - Season 1 - Episode 4
When Africa suffers a sudden and unexplained climate change, the Phantom and Jedda head there to investigate. In the process, the Phantom learns that his estranged brother, Kurt - whom he has never mentioned to Jedda - has (courtesy of Ming) acquired the power to control the weather.
#44 - Family Reunion
Defenders of the Earth - Season 1 - Episode 20
Ming captures the Phantom and Jedda as they return from the race against N'Dama (really the Phantom's brother Kurt Walker) for the Jewel of Zandoon. Once again his old self, Kurt Walker stows away on Ming's ship, and back at Ice Station Earth he watches as Ming places the Phantom in the Deep Freeze Chamber. Small Fry, a monkey the Phantom and Jedda picked up in Africa, sabotages the wiring of the Freeze Chamber, buying the Phantom more time and allowing Jedda and Kurt to escape into the corridors of Ming's hideout. Jedda saves Kurt's life more than once before he finds the Golden Chamber and turns himself back into N'Dama; however, he refuses to help Jedda save the Phantom until she promises to reject the Phantom's birthright and becomes his protege. Using his skull ring the Phantom escapes the Freeze Chamber and is horrified to find Jedda in the uniform of the Weather Demon. N'Dama steals the valuable mineral Thalacitrate, which will allow him to remain N'Dama forever, from Ming. The Phantom and Jedda, poised for take-off from Ice Station Earth, benevolently save N'Dama's life, prompting the Spirit of the Winds to restore her birthright before he disappears in a mysterious flash of light.
#45 - To Be Honest as This World Goes
Outrageous Fortune - Season 1 - Episode 12
In the fallout from the Tongan job, Van's having problems with the woman in his life; Cheryl's having problems with the men in hers; and Wolf is presented with a 'Get Out Of Jail' ticket.
#46 - By a Brother's Hand
Outrageous Fortune - Season 2 - Episode 12
Van tries to buy a dream home and Pascalle finds her dream job. Meanwhile Munter's middle name is Iago; Judd feels like Judas; and Jethro does a Hamlet.
#47 - Go, Bid the Soldiers Shoot
Outrageous Fortune - Season 1 - Episode 13
Will Wolf get out? Will Van go inside? Will Draska get her man? Has Cheryl got one man too many?
#48 - An Old Man Is Twice a Child
Outrageous Fortune - Season 2 - Episode 13
Grandpa�s safe cracking attempts nearly bring down the house, and also raise a ghost; and Loretta gets the awful truth about a very important question.
#49 - Slings and Arrows
Outrageous Fortune - Season 1 - Episode 1
When Cheryl's husband Wolf is sentenced to prison, she decides that the family is leaving the crime business.
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#50 - The Affliction of His Love
Outrageous Fortune - Season 2 - Episode 6
Three women are prisoners of love � and two men are knights in shining armour.