The original post: /r/television by /u/Vitebs47 on 2025-08-02 16:42:52+00:00.
Credit where credit is due, the series establishes from the very first episode exactly the extent of how cliched it is: we have a burned-out cop with a dark past, ex significant other whom they still seem to have feelings for, dead kid, drinking issues, the cop is seen as a bit weird by colleagues, is pals with some small time drug dealers, has a rookie assigned to him, blah blah, we get it.
Sam Neill’s character was so obviously up to no good and trying to derail the whole investigation by dismissing pertinent evidence and insisting the protagonist leave the park that no viewer who’s seen/read more than 5 crime thrillers in their life would miss it. I was waiting for a moment where he’d say to Eric Bana: “Listen dude, I’ve read the horoscope today which said everyone investigating a murdered girl in a national park should immediately pack up and leave, why don’t you do just that? Please?”. Our experienced guy who’s supposed to know what he’s dealing with finds a tent of the park’s wildlife control emploee who he knows has a rifle, is a good shooter and suspect and just stands there out in the open waiting for a bullet? Stupid.
However, despite all that, the actors do their best with whatever they have to work with and save the whole series, at least to an extent. I was never bored and the 6 episode series didn’t drag for too long. I’d give it a solid 7.5/10, if only for the magnificent scenery and solid cast.