37/38
Land grabs threaten to destroy the declining dynasty
Synopsis
When the vast Lawson cattle station fails to produce an heir, Australia’s rival factions see a chance to seize control. The series was filmed in the Northern Territory and South Australia in locations so remote they are barely inhabited – let alone shown on screen. Locations include the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park – with special permission from the Traditional Owners – and Tipperary Station, a real, working cattle station that is so large it has its own airfield and school.
It could make for a lovely stage drama
There are shows that you start watching and have high hopes. This one is about a family who owns a large amount of land in the Oz countryside. The land and its charisma are unfortunately ruined by some extremely poor writing.
There is a lot of crime and drama going on, which again is poorly written
It’s overly dramatic, has characters who are almost caricatures and there are a lot of completely unbelievable things happening. While as a viewer you want to be drawn into a story about a family that has characters with depth and complexity. They try to do that, but the characters fail to form a family that you can relate to.
Apparently people are constantly shooting, robbing, and hurting each other in the great land down under
So I really wanted to like this, but the writers made it a second-rate cop show that, despite some great actors, doesn’t deserve a high rating. However, I will hold out hope for a second season if they tone down the drama and violence a lot and let some smart people write it. There is a foundation with the setting and a good cast that they can build on.
