Summary
This has all the hallmarks of primetime TV packaged for Netflix.
I’ll be honest; the reason I took a keen interest in Territory was because I saw that Anna Torv was leading in it. Despite only becoming accustomed to the actor from Fringe, I’m still attached to her character, Olivia Dunham, 16 years later. It’s one of the main reasons I watched Mindhunter, too.
But back to the task at hand, Territory has already been dubbed as the Australian Succession, or “the Succession of the Outback.” This is a strong claim, and when I saw the premise, I felt the creators, Ben Davies and Timothy Lee, were raving mad to take on HBO’s masterpiece.
However, in many ways, Netflix needed something serious. It requires that primetime television feeling that does not extend to selling merchandise via Stranger Things and creating a young fandom. Even the streaming company has marketed it as their Succession drama, which is something to observe as this series makes legs.
Territory could well be that series intended to compete for the throne. It’s early days, but this series has so many outrageous moments that Season 1 already has many talking points.
There were moments in Territory when I was mortified that a human being could behave that way. There’s an abundance of selfishness, violence, betrayals, and misplaced personality traits that shine throughout. Does this sound familiar?
If it does feel similar to what you’ve watched before, Territory could feel oddly nostalgic. It follows the Lawson family, who own a massive cattle station (called the Marianne Station). At the start of the series, this land, this incredible financial asset in the Australian outback, lacks an heir. Rival factions want the chance for control, which means a series of attempted land grabs to destroy the Lawson family’s declining dynasty.
Not only do attempts of control come externally, but they also come from within, with troubling relationships creating an air of paranoia between family members and close acquaintances. Anna Torv, for instance, plays Emily Lawson, the wife of one of the Lawson men; she toiled the land and earned credit by learning the trade, yet seems humble in her participation. This makes for a confusing character who is seemingly loyal to her husband but wants power.
And then you have corporate bigshots swirling from the outside in the form of Sandra Kirby, played by Sara Wiseman; she represents the ball-buster who wants to implement complex commercial deals that are difficult to understand for farmers but seem appealing. She competes with the presumed head of the family, Colin Lawson, a stubborn man who foresees the collapse of power ahead of time, so he aggressively wields his next corporate steps to prevent the family from losing it all.
That’s only a flavor of three characters, but I can say with confidence that every single character in Territory has a personality to convey, a motive to address, or a personal dilemma to convey. That’s its strength – if you enjoy character case studies and long-drawn-out character assassinations, then you will enthralled because there’s a unique plan here. There does not need to be action in this series to be explosive – the characters alone are enough. There’s no shortage of nuance.
Of course, I was slightly disappointed that the Australian series only spans six episodes, but maybe that’s a good thing. Entrenched in toxicity, power struggles, and complex relationships, Territory is forced to keep it simple throughout the story. A recognizable hierarchy between the adults and the future, their children, strengthens the narrative strands. The fear of the future exists in the present, with the past holding them back. The series recognizes that dynasties only thrive off their best success. The dynasty in this story is dismantled by its decline.
It’s far too early to tell if this is the next Succession, but you will not find me grumbling over a story of a massive cattle station up for grabs. It’s insanely compelling. Netflix could have a golden era planned here. If it means seeing this invested cast again and more brilliant performances for Anna Torv, I’m all in.
Read More: Territory Season 1 Ending Explained
