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Another says: “Amazing cast … amazing locations, incredible cinematography.”
Even the less favourable reviews highlight the scenery. “Looks beautiful, fantastic to see the top end of Australia shot so glamorously.”
That will be music to the ears of director McLean, who admits he was inspired by Australia’s most successful movie.
“I still think Crocodile Dundee is one of the greatest things Australia’s ever produced, and what that movie did for the Australian character internationally – I’d love this show to do a similar thing,” he told this masthead.
Though battles over intergenerational wealth and the conflicting interests of pastoralists, miners and traditional owners are at the core of the story, Netflix clearly recognised the importance of locations, particularly to foreign audiences. In its pre-release marketing, the trailer sought to position the show as both familiar and exotic.
Kakadu National Park features prominently in the series.Credit: Tourism NT/Helen Orr
“Imagine the family drama of your favourite prime-time soap, but set in a region so rough and remote that nearly everything can kill you,” the trailer urged viewers on its Tudum website last month.
With the show cracking the top 10 in more than 70 countries, including the United States, UK, Canada, Spain and Mexico (but, intriguingly, not India or Japan), it seems plenty of people have been willing to do just that.
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