Welcome to the Down Under western that technically isn’t a western since it takes place in the northern reaches of Australia’s Northern Territory. The new Netflix series Territory has been compared favorably to Yellowstone, the wildly successful American streaming drama from Taylor Sheridan. It’s an apt comparison. If this first season grabs healthy viewer numbers, a second season is certain to follow. This would be good news for fans of the Dutton family saga which ends after these last five episodes.
I discovered this series in an online search for westerns, and was pleasantly surprised to find a saga that I hoped would fill the void when Yellowstone calls it quits. Exit the Dutton, enter the Lawsons.
Aussie TV has had its own share of Home On The Range TV offerings over the years as well as films. One such film that immediately comes to mind is The Man from Snowy River serving up compelling characters, stunning landscapes, and a sweeping, soaring score you’ll want to hear again and again. So Australian filmmakers and television producers are hardly derivative.
Territory takes its title, I’m assuming, from the immense Australian expanse in which it is set. More specifically here is the Lawson family’s Marianne Station, the world’s largest cattle concern. Stateside, we’d call it a ranch. We share a common language, but every once in a while, unique differences in slang and turns of phrase pop up, which adds to the richness of the story. Thus, Aussies refer to ranches as stations.
Territory wastes no time in grabbing the viewer’s attention. Marianne Station is led by an obstinate aging father, Colin (Robert Taylor), who has been grooming his anointed heir, second born son, Daniel (Jake Ryan), chosen by default because his older brother Graham (Michael Doman) is an undependable alcoholic.
Added to Graham’s sins is that he married Emily (Anna Torv), whose family is a bunch of ne’er-do-wells who think nothing of filching a cow or two from the Lawson’s herd.
Emily’s family thinks the Lawsons look down their noses at them, which is deservedly true enough, and consider her a traitor to her kin. Emily does her best to keep the peace, but the very capable Emily, who could easily run Marianne Station if she were called upon, considers herself very much a Lawson.
Old man Lawson’s chosen heir meets an untimely end. Who among the remaining characters will step up to fill the void? There’s the rub As with any series of this ilk, romance, a villain or two, ulterior motives, and redemption abound. I’ll not disclose any more of the plot to avoid spoilers. Don’t you hate those reviews that hint at spoiler alert? I do.
I highly recommend Territory. It will leave you wanting more. Stream it on Netflix.
