Mate, if thrilling stories, beautiful views, and family drama that almost tops your own holidays are your thing, you’ve probably checked out Territory by now, the latest Australian show on Netflix.
And for those of you who haven’t, I can say chugging water was annoying, but watching this show made me feel refreshed inside! Having a mix of Yellowstone and Succession would feel like putting them in the middle of the wild and untamed beauty of Australia’s Outback.
When I saw the trailers for Territory, my first thought was that it was yet another family drama.
Seen it.” However, when I saw the stunning views of the North, the large cattle ranchers, and the toughness in their eyes, I became interested right away. Something like this is quite remarkable.
It’s not only about the property’s ownership; there are also long-held lands, differences in cultures, and secrets hidden below the ground. Australian stoicism and tension are perfectly captured in the series.
The main setting in The Outlanders is Marianne Station, a giant area in the Northern Territory said to be as big as Belgium. Following the untimely death of Daniel, Daniel’s brother decides to take over, raising an outcry in the community.
Now, the Lawson family is at risk, and everyone looking to take advantage—rival cattle owners, Indigenous chiefs, wealthy miners, and all the sharks—starts circling.
Now, let’s explore the interesting, confusing, and sometimes frustrating characters from drama stories and the skillful actors who bring them into being.
1. The Lawson Family: Push, Punishment, and Pitfalls
The Lawsons have survived in the Top End for many years, but they are faltering and are at risk of losing everything.
Anna Torv as Emily Lawson did an outstanding job in the series. You could recognize her from Fringe, Mindhunter, or as the tough Tess in The Last of Us. In this series, she is cast as Emily, the wife of Daniel and also the daughter-in-law of Colin.
Because she is a Hodge, Emily has had to strain to get recognized by the Lawsons. She has a sharp mind and strong skills and usually says the most rational things when others are emotional.
Colin thinks Cody only goes after him for his money, but it is actually Cody who is holding their relationship together. Watching how she runs this family feels like she is managing a group of lively cats… that are on fire.
In the series, Michael Dorman (who has acted in For All Mankind) is Graham, Colin’s last son and Emily’s husband.
Alcoholism sets in for Graham after he loses his first wife. Rocky is on a quest to redeem himself and prove to both his father and himself that he is deserving.
Colin Lawson (Robert Taylor) is the male head of the family. You can see the classic Aussie-tough style in Colin because, as Sheriff Walt Longmire on Longmire, Robert Taylor did a superb job.
He is the chief authority at Marianne Station, a person who prizes following old-fashioned notions of toughness. His sons keep letting him down, and he is searching for someone who will carry on like he did.
Although you admire what he does, you feel like giving him advice from time to time.
Sam Corlett, from Vikings: Valhalla, is cast as Marshall, the grandson of Colin. Jason is not close to the family anymore, as he’d rather stay away from all the drama on the station.
Marshall has mixed feelings about his past and his own future as he tries to figure out which way to go. His appearance causes a lot of confusion, especially when he tries to keep the family’s secrets and protect everyone dear to him.
Emily and Graham’s daughter is named Susie Lawson (Philippa Northeast). Susie, who is played by Philippa Northeast (from Home and Away), is confident and enjoys what she does at the station.
Yet, Colin, her grandfather, disregards Cinderella as an heir just because she is female. As Fleur tries to be recognized and experience a forbidden romance, more problems are added to the family.
2. The Gamblers and Their Plots: Stalking Sharks
With the Lawsons failing, other groups move ahead.
Sara Wiseman (as Sandra Kirby from A Place to Call Home) gave a memorable performance in this film. She intends to take over Marianne Station because the coolant there is valuable.
She represents the greedy drive of corporations that could wipe out traditional living and also has a personal plan that might bring the entire Lawson family to ruin.
Sandra’s son is named Lachie Kirby (Joe Klocek). Lachie is played by Joe Klocek, and he ends up doing whatever his mother wants.
As James Bond grows closer to Susie Lawson, it brings about a love between them that could unite or separate the rival families even more. It reminds me of a Shakespeare play, if only there were more buffalo and choking dust.
Jay Ryan (IT Chapter Two) takes on the role of Campbell Miller, a powerful figure who went from living in poverty to riches. He’s not to be trusted because of his past and how unpredictable he can be.
I wouldn’t want to cross paths with him in a deserted area or a dark corridor.
Emily is the sister of Hank Hodge (Dan Wyllie). Many Australians will recognize Dan Wyllie from television, and now he plays the proud cattle thief Hank.
He proudly stands by what he inherited, even if it comes with a hint of light grand criminality. He includes witty jokes and always keeps things exciting by stirring the pot.
3. The Indigenous Community: Place, Tradition, and Fairness
A key feature of Territory lies in the way it focuses on the lives of Indigenous people, mainly Traditional Owners. It brings a unique angle to Hollywood dramas that is seldom explored.
Nolan is an Indigenous station owner and cattle rancher, played by Clarence Ryan in the original series Mystery Road. Typically, he stands between the quarreling groups, trying to handle both what he wants for his life and his duties to the people in his community.
He shows the ongoing struggles that Indigenous people encounter in getting their ancestral lands back and holding on to them.
The role of Uncle Bryce in the movie is played by Hamilton Morris. He values his people’s heritage and has no trust in outsiders looking to use the land for their own profit.
He illustrates the strength and knowledge passed from Indigenous culture. The film proves interesting by showing how greed affects the others while Peck remains solid in his goals.
4. A Divergent Look at Why the Cast Is So Strong
This film is brilliant because its expertly crafted plot is matched by the strong performances of its cast. All of the actors are very talented, with many coming from traditional Australian and New Zealand programs, so the show feels very realistic.
The writers show how such families suffer from past traumas, grow angry over them, and stick by one another. You sense the burden of what happened in the past, the dust along their path, and the sun rising on their shoulders.
It was thanks to Ann Todd, the casting director, who made this look absolutely perfect.
5. The Untamed Co-Star was filmed at different locations.
The Australian outback, taken as a whole, is almost a character in the book. The program was made in wide-ranging areas in the Northern Territory and South Australia, which all seem like significant characters by themselves.
Tipperary Station is where the location for Marianne Station is found. The scale of what happens is truly impressive, as you can see in the film.
Kakadu National Park is known for its UNESCO World Heritage-listed status and its variety of incredible, untouched nature, home to many Indigenous landmarks.
Some scenes are from Adelaide, and the rest were created in the Adelaide Plains and studios at the time.
This makes the scenes more realistic and gives them a natural-looking touch. Mentioning the snake found under his bed made it clear to me just how wild and challenging life can be as a soldier in that place. Experiences like that are what real Australians are all about!
6. Overall, the land is a place worth protecting.
The story in Territory is told with the help of an excellent cast and the stunning setting, making it both straightforward and expansive. It involves more than cows; it is also about leaving a history, having authority, and differences in values and beliefs.
The show gives us a rare look at a world full of interesting characters, some you’ll adore, others you won’t, and a few you’ll just wish to yell at on your screen.
If your list of things to do is making you chuckle, taking a few hours to watch Outback Australia may be a great way to cope.
Those who like stories about families will find Territory to be an interesting watch. Give this show a try. When your future self looks back, they will be happy you explored this world.