Territory, Netflix’s latest Aussie drama in collaboration with NT Government, is a visually stunning contemporary Western that gives Kevin Costner’s Yellowstone a run for its money, writes Kelly Malkin.
Set against the breathtaking landscapes of Australia’s Northern Territory, Territory blends family drama with the raw beauty of the Outback, creating a gripping narrative centered around the Lawson family’s power struggle over the world’s largest cattle station ‘Marianne’.
The six-part series does a brilliant job of using the natural environment as more than just a backdrop. The Northern Territory’s vast and iconic locations like Kakadu National Park, Litchfield National Park and Berry Springs come alive on screen, making Territory not only a dramatic story but a visual love letter to Australia’s unique landscapes.
The aerial shots of Kakadu’s cliffs and the serene wetlands of Tipperary Station add a sense of awe and scale that reinforces the grandeur of the story’s stakes.
And it’s not just the landscape that’s easy on the eye. Territory showcases a plethora of the emerging Aussie stars with WAPPA graduate Sam Corlett as Marshall Lawson and indigenous actress Kylah Day as Sharnie Kennedy.
Crockett’s character plays ‘Marsh’ the wayward Lawson grandson who is unwittingly set to inherit the family legacy from patriarch Colin Lawson played by Robert Taylor. Heavyweight Anna Torv from The Last of Us fame plays Emily, a Lawson by marriage struggling to earn the respect of her in-laws.
At its core, Territory is a story about family, survival, and power. It follows the struggles of a family left to determine who will take control of their massive cattle empire when the patriarch dies, leading to explosive dynamics and intense interpersonal drama.
While the storyline itself is engaging, it’s the characters’ connection to the land and its traditions, including nods to Indigenous culture, that elevate this series from being just another drama to “world class” status.
What sets Territory apart from other Outback dramas is its authentic depiction of life on a cattle station. Filmed on location at Tipperary Station, the series weaves the daily realities of station life into the narrative with help from locals who appeared as extras. The inclusion of crocodiles, water buffalo and other wildlife native to the Top End adds an exciting level of danger and unpredictability to the story.
Greg McLean’s direction keeps the pace of the series taut, mixing slow-burning tension with moments of action. The show also benefits from excellent production value, which is unsurprising given that this is the largest project ever undertaken in the Northern Territory. With strong performances, dramatic landscapes, and a storyline that hits close to home for many Australians, Territory is a proud showcase of the region’s natural and cultural heritage.
For those captivated by the visuals, the show also serves as an inadvertent tourism ad. Locations like Bullo River Station, Bamurru Plains and Finniss River Lodge, which feature heavily in the series, offer luxury outback experiences that may tempt many viewers to visit. Territory is more than a TV show; it’s an invitation to experience the Northern Territory’s raw beauty firsthand.
Territory is a must-watch for fans of Australian dramas, Westerns, and anyone who appreciates the majestic beauty of the natural world. Its combination of family conflict, stunning cinematography, and authenticity to life in the Northern Territory makes it one of Netflix’s standout productions of the year.
Feature image: Robert Taylor as Colin Lawson in Territory. Photo: Courtesy Netflix © 2024
