I'd not seen the film which this series follows on from, but mostly this didn't make too much difference and shouldn't put the casual viewer off (aside from suggesting spoilers to the film by virtue of where characters are when the show opens). The series Mystery Road sees Jay Swan assigned to missing person report in an outback cattle ranch, where a ute (an?) is found abandoned with nobody around. In investigating the circumstances, secrets are revealed the situation, and the wider community, threatening those involved, and Swan's own family.
The show opens with one of its main strengths, which is Australia itself - bright, hot desert, and open skies packed with stars. This cinematic and engaging imagery continues throughout the whole season, regularly offering shots where you can feel the oppressive heat, and the sense of space. Within this canvas, the show plays out at a slow pace, but offering enough in the way of reveals and twists to keep you interested. It doesn't totally pull off a sense of escalation, but it does keep a steady pace and level of intrigue which satisfies even if it doesn't ever blow the roof off. The cast match this approach and all turn in performances that convince of place and climate (weather and political). Pedersen is enjoyably tough in the lead, but is well matched by Davis, and the supporting turns are mostly strong even if not quite as good as these two.
It may lean a bit heavily on the style at times, but mostly this is a solid and well-paced thriller that evokes the place and people well, delivering a sense of oppressive heat that comes from the narrative as much as from the weather.
The show opens with one of its main strengths, which is Australia itself - bright, hot desert, and open skies packed with stars. This cinematic and engaging imagery continues throughout the whole season, regularly offering shots where you can feel the oppressive heat, and the sense of space. Within this canvas, the show plays out at a slow pace, but offering enough in the way of reveals and twists to keep you interested. It doesn't totally pull off a sense of escalation, but it does keep a steady pace and level of intrigue which satisfies even if it doesn't ever blow the roof off. The cast match this approach and all turn in performances that convince of place and climate (weather and political). Pedersen is enjoyably tough in the lead, but is well matched by Davis, and the supporting turns are mostly strong even if not quite as good as these two.
It may lean a bit heavily on the style at times, but mostly this is a solid and well-paced thriller that evokes the place and people well, delivering a sense of oppressive heat that comes from the narrative as much as from the weather.