In its new season, Scrublands: Silver picks up the story a year later, with Bella Heathcote’s Mandy accused of murder most foul and her investigative reporter partner out to clear her name. Stephen A Russell does some investigating of his own.
Most folks know you should never go on holiday with Miss Marple or Hercule Poirot. Wherever they unwind, at least one poor soul (probably a good few) winds up dead. If you’re unlucky enough to tag along, it might be you!
Investigative reporter Martin Scarsden had better watch out, or he will be booking an Airbnb for one from now on. Created by seasoned journalist-turned-author Chris Hammer, the unfortunate at work or play figure at the centre of his best-selling crime novels leaves a similar trail of destruction whenever he takes a week off.
Curly-haired and charismatic actor Luke Arnold, who portrayed Michael Hutchence in INXS: Never Tear Us Apart, plays Scarsden in the gripping first season of Stan original series Scrublands. Adapted by Felicity Packard from Hammer’s book of the same name and directed by Wolf Creek scaremonger Greg Maclean, it saw the Sydney Morning Herald writer with PTSD from one too many scarring stories sent to drought-stricken town Riversend.
Also, never travel to a parched outback spot in an Australian noir. Ignoring this advice, Scarsden was in Riversend to whip up a Sunday supplement piece marking the anniversary of a horrific massacre in which a well-liked priest (played by Creamerie’s Jay Ryan) turned a sniper rifle on his congregants. While, in fairness, Scarsden wasn’t around when those killings occurred, the locals aren’t too happy with the out-of-towner showing up to pick at the scab. But his tenacity soon reveals dark secrets buried in the bloody pulp just below the crust.
Bloody hands
One of those covered-up no-need-to-knows involved bookshop owner and single mum Mandy Bond’s surprising connection to the rogue priest. As portrayed by the brilliant Bella Heathcote of Relic and The Neon Demon fame, Mandy was as much a hindrance as a help to Scarsden as he snooped around that first fatal mystery, but their chemistry was undeniable.
Fast forward to Scrublands: Silver, and now you definitely don’t want to tag along with Scarsden in person, though don’t miss watching from a safe distance streaming at home. Because now that he and Mandy are a couple—not sure about the journalistic ethics at play here—things are about to get way deadlier.
She’s left Riversend behind, settling in the far more idyllic surrounds of Byron Bay-channelling seaside town Port Silver. Scarsden’s joining her there for a week of supposed rest and relaxation. Only it’s stressful from the off, because this is where he grew up, leaving town under a cloud as a teenager.
The once-thriving fishing industry has floundered, and a fair few folks hold him responsible, thanks to his habit of fishing around in other folk’s business. Instead, a woo-woo lifeline has been thrown by yoga retreat Hummingbirds, run by Scarsden’s estranged aunt Jay Jay (Ten Pound Poms’ Caroline Brazier).
But before he can even face down frosty glares from his extended family and assorted other townsfolk, Scarsden receives a frantic phone call from his childhood mate Jasper (Hamish Michael, The Twelve). Jasper’s heard Scarsden’s on his way back and wants to warn his long-lost mate about something he can’t possibly discuss over the phone.
If you’re even halfway familiar with the tropes of a crime thriller like this, you’ll know they’re never going to have that convo. It’s no spoiler to reveal that Scarsden arrives at Jasper’s house to discover a body in the opening minutes and a groggy Mandy with bloody hands cradling a kitchen knife. Eep!
Breaking news
With Mandy allegedly unable to recall anything about the night before, the long arm of the law is onto her as the prime suspect. A fact made all the more awks given top cop Scotty (played by Play School star Luke Carroll) is another high schoolmate of Scarsden’s—listen out for a Wheatus needle drop in flashbacks to their teenage years.
His newspaper is fishing around for information, too, with Mandy fretting they’ll call her the black widow after what went down in Riversend. Scarsden says no self-respecting journalist would ever write that, but salacious TV reporter Doug (Toby Trustlove) promptly shows up, having been decked by Mandy last season.
It’s a cracking set-up for a twisty-turny second season that promises more bodies, more secrets and a town turned against them both. Will Scarsden’s family have their back, including David Roberts as his Uncle Vern and Tasma Walton as his partner Josie? How will Jasper’s mum, Denise (Debra Lawrence), respond when she finds out who the police think is responsible. Does Mandy’s kayaking lawyer, Nick (Luke Pegler), have a clue? Is Joel Jackson’s boofhead footy player mixed up in it? Or what about money-grabbing property developer Tyson St Clair?
The problem is, everyone’s a little bit fishy in a town that can no longer make a cent off that business. But can Scarsden prove Mandy’s supposed innocence in time?
Ben Young (Population: 11) picks up the directorial reins this time round (also look out for a cameo appearance from him onscreen), working from an adapted screenplay by Felicity Packard again. She’s joined by co-writers Fiona Kelly (Home and Away) and Hammer’s fellow crime novel scribe Jock Serong, who knows a thing or two about Australian noir. Like, never go on holiday to a small town stacked with secrets with a character like Martin Scarsden.
It’s bad for your health, even if it is good stuff for us murder and mayhem-obsessed viewers.
