By: Laura Moreno
A crime drama that is also a comedy, “Deadloch” returns for its second season to cement its status as one of Amazon Prime’s most successful international hits. The first season reached the top 10 in over 165 countries including the US and UK.
“Deadlock” is a modern noir series with a message that respects the intelligence its viewers as it never fails to entertain as it tackles serious issues like colonialism, sexism, wildlife management and more. What unfolds across six weekly episodes is a masterful subversion of audience expectations for a crime series.
Season Two, in delving into illegal crocodile hunting and the specifics of a tourist economy built on such dangerous reptiles, ventures into genuinely unfamiliar territory for a murder mystery. The fascinating subject matter transforms from what could have been an oddball whodunit into a startlingly original satire of survival (human, animal, and economic).
Created by the talented queer duo Kate McCartney and Kate McLennan, “The Kates” behind this global phenomenon, Season Two finds our protagonists transplanted from a mostly queer Tasmanian town to the expansive, much harsher setting of Australia’s Northern Territory.
Visually, directors Ben Chessell, Gracie Otto, and Beck Cole capture the region’s big-sky beauty as well as its sweltering heat and unique light. From Darwin’s waterfront precincts to the remote Indigenous communities, the cinematography conveys an atmosphere that is equally breathtaking and menacing while mosquitoes, sweltering heat, and deadly wildlife demand a heedful respect.
Senior Police Sergeant Dulcie Collins (Kate Box) and Detective Eddie Redcliffe (Madeleine Sami) are the odd couple who arrive in Darwin to investigate the death of a fellow detective only to be pulled into a stickier investigation. The crime-fighting duo is still deeply traumatized by the loss of their male colleague, but they’d rather keep working than unpack their feelings.
The supporting cast is also praiseworthy, with Alicia Gardiner and Nina Oyama returning as members of the ragtag law enforcement team. New cast members include Luke Hemsworth, Steve Bisley (The Great Gatsby), Shari Sebbens (The Sapphires), and Byron Coll (Time Bandits), injecting even more cool quirkiness into an already outlandishly colorful cast.
Perhaps most notably, the show features smart, interesting, memorable lesbian characters without tokenism. As Kate Box explains in an interview with Tracy Gilchrist, “The show is very, very queer with a huge queer audience, but also there’s a massive straight audience for ‘Deadloch.’”
More uncharted territory
“Deadloch” is praised for its commitment to character-driven storytelling. Eddie remains the show’s chaotic engine, her hyper energy making every grounded moment funnier by contrast, while Dulcie provides the perfect counterpoint, turning ordinary moments into comedic gold. As Kate Box describes her character, “Dulcie is very private, easily made uncomfortable and has a need to stay focused on solving crime,” while Sami describes Eddie as a young woman with “a 12-year-old male brain.”
Like Laurel & Hardy, something about these two very different actors makes them the perfect comedic partnership to push each other into the most hilarious uncharted territory.
The writing is also exceptionally sharp, with McCartney and McLennan penning at least 3 or 4 drafts of each episode and do readings together, acting out the scenes to ensure everything works.
The show features unusually long takes packed with rapid-fire dialogue filled to the brim with so many jokes that each time you laughing, you miss more jokes! Re-watching the episodes is essential.
The series also conveys a deeper subtle message about systemic failures. As Kate Box observes, “…the systems that are supposed to take care of the vulnerable people in our community and the world we have created simply don’t work.”
“Deadloch” has garnered critical acclaim with a rating of 100% from Rotten Tomatoes in addition to winning seven awards and 14 award nominations including an International Emmy nomination, Best Acting in a Comedy for Kate Box, and Best Screenplay in Television for creators Kate McCartney and Kate McLennan from the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) Awards.
With its perfect blend of comedy and commentary, exceptional performances, and stunning visuals, Season Two of “Deadloch” is proving to be one of the most distinctive and compelling LGBT shows on television today.
“Deadloch” is now streaming on Amazon Prime.