Territory, Netflix’s bestYellowstonereplacement, debuts to a solid score on Rotten Tomatoes. Originally titledDesert King, by creators Ben Davies and Timothy Lee,Territoryis a six-episode Western that puts the spotlight on Marianne Station. It’s the world’s largest cattle station, owned for generations by theLawson familydynasty, and a target for rivals, gangsters, and Indigenous elders, as the Lawsons engage in a battle for succession. The Australian drama recently arrived on Netflix, with reviews starting to come in.
Reviews have started to trickle in forTerritoryonRotten Tomatoes, with the dramacurrently sitting at 80%. It’s worth noting that this is based only on five reviews, with four positive and one negative, sothe score will fluctuate as more reviews come in. At the moment, itaverages out to 5.30/10.
What Reviews Are Saying About Territory
The Show Has Familiar Comforts
The comparisons toYellowstonelead off the reviews forTerritory, withThe Hollywood Reporter’s Daniel Feinberg noting: “The six-part drama is almost explicitly an Aussie version of Yellowstone.” But despite the immediate familiarity, the review cites the strengths that the new show has going for it: “…like the combination of Australian slang and cattle ranching jargon that’s practically a foreign language, the gorgeous photography of the country’s Northern Territory and, yes, the number of recognizable actors.” It seems that the Netflix Original delivers both what’s expected, while at the same time attempting to deliver something distinctive.
With aTerritorycastthat includes Emmy-nominatedLast of Usactor Anna Torv andFor All Mankind’s Michael Dorman, along with Robert Taylor and Sam Corlett among a large ensemble, Amanda Yeo’s review forMashablesees comparisons toYellowstoneand the HBO hitSuccession. Still, the review also finds that “Territory puts in the effort to set itself apart by embracing its distinctly Australian characteristics, making it different enough to be intriguing while still familiar enough to be comfortable.”
Does Territory live up to Yellowstone?
Territory gets off to a decent start with its first season, but I think it’s got a long way to go before it earns its comparisons to Yellowstone. In fairness, the Paramount series also had a bit of a lull in its first season, though it had the inherent advantage of being led by Kevin Costner. The Netflix Western doesn’t have as much star power, and its shortened episode count runs into some pacing issues, but the premise is certainly something Yellowstone fans would enjoy.
In a more negative review, Pramit Chatterjee forDigital Mafia Talkiesfound the series to be a “chore”. The review also wondered how director Greg McLean, behind such genre films asThe Belko ExperimentandWolf Creek, helmed a series lacking in style. But the bulk of reviews so fardescribeTerritoryas a familiar comfort.
Our Take On Territory
The Western Genre Is Alive & Well
Netflix has another Western coming up, with a touch more romance inRansom Canyon. That stars Josh Duhamel and Minka Kelly. The CW previously tried to put on some Western style withWalker: Independence, while Prime Video gave it a sci-fi spin with the recently cancelledOuter Range. Because of its success,Yellowstonehelped to pave the way for others in the genre. They all share commonalities. But, as withTerritoryand its big ending, there are distinctions as well.
Territory
Cast
Set against the backdrop of the world’s largest cattle station, this drama follows the intense generational conflict that ensues when a clear heir is absent. As rival factions compete for control, the series examines themes of legacy, power, and the struggle for dominance over the land’s future.
