“Better Than Endeavour”: This Dark Australian Detective Drama Could Be Your Next All-Night Binge
A shocking mass shooting, a remote Australian town haunted by unanswered questions, and an investigative journalist who discovers that the official story may be hiding something far more disturbing. Scrublands, the BBC crime drama adapted from Chris Hammer’s award-winning novels, delivers a tense mystery that has drawn comparisons to acclaimed detective series such as Endeavour and Shetland.
Led by Luke Arnold as journalist Martin Scarsden, the series combines an unsettling rural atmosphere with layered investigations, dangerous secrets and revelations that gradually change the way viewers understand the crimes at its centre. With two seasons available on BBC iPlayer, it offers a compelling choice for anyone searching for their next crime drama obsession.
What Is Scrublands About?
Set in the drought-stricken Australian town of Riversend, the first season begins with an act of violence that leaves the community devastated.
A charismatic young priest, played by Jay Ryan, opens fire on his congregation, killing five parishioners. The shocking attack leaves residents struggling to understand what happened and why, while questions surrounding the tragedy remain unanswered.
A year later, Martin Scarsden, played by Luke Arnold, arrives in Riversend to report on the anniversary of the killings. Initially, his assignment appears straightforward: revisit the tragedy and examine how the town has attempted to recover.
But Martin soon begins to question the accepted account of the shooting. As he investigates the people connected to the case and follows leads others have overlooked, the story becomes increasingly dangerous. What begins as a journalistic assignment develops into a race to uncover the truth before more damage is done.
The first season builds suspense by gradually exposing the secrets beneath the town’s seemingly settled narrative. Its remote setting, psychological tension and carefully paced revelations make it particularly appealing to viewers who enjoy crime stories where every answer raises another question.
What Happens in Season Two, Scrublands: Silver?
The second instalment, Scrublands: Silver, shifts the mystery to a place with personal significance for Martin.
He returns to Silver, the town where he grew up, after his former school friend Jasper Speight is murdered. The investigation becomes even more complicated when Martin’s partner, Mandy, played by Bella Heathcote, emerges as the main suspect.
Convinced that Mandy is innocent, Martin sets out to uncover what really happened. Among his priorities is establishing whether someone spiked her drink and deliberately attempted to frame her for the killing.
With his relationship now entangled in the case, Martin faces a particularly difficult investigation. He must follow the evidence while confronting the possibility that the truth could have serious consequences for the people closest to him.
The second season retains the investigative suspense of the original while giving Martin a more personal stake in the mystery. His return to familiar surroundings adds another layer of tension as he tries to discover who killed Jasper and clear Mandy’s name.
Who Stars in Scrublands?
Luke Arnold leads the series as Martin Scarsden, the determined journalist whose investigations repeatedly draw him into dangerous territory. The supporting cast features performers familiar to audiences of Australian and international television.
The principal cast includes:
- Luke Arnold (Black Sails) as Martin Scarsden
- Jay Ryan (Top of the Lake) as the priest at the centre of the first season’s tragedy
- Bella Heathcote (Relic) as Mandy Bond
- Robert Taylor (The Newsreader)
- Luke Carroll (Mystery Road: Origin)
- Debra Lawrance (Fisk)
- Toby Truslove (The Strange Calls)
- Sarah Roberts (Home and Away)
- Adam Zwar (Squinters)
- Zane Ciarma (Neighbours)
- Victoria Thaine (Nowhere Boys)
- Stacy Clausen (True Spirit)
- Genevieve Morris (No Activity)
Arnold anchors the drama with Martin’s determination to challenge accepted explanations and pursue evidence others may have overlooked. Ryan plays a pivotal role in the first season’s central crime, while Heathcote becomes central to the second season’s murder investigation.
Together, the cast brings the series’ troubled communities and tangled personal relationships to life.
Is There a Trailer for Scrublands?
Yes. An official trailer featuring Luke Arnold offers a glimpse of the series’ rural Australian setting, its unsettling atmosphere and the mystery driving Martin’s investigation.
The trailer was released under the title Scrublands feat. Luke Arnold Official Trailer | New Series Premieres May 2 | AMC+ and Sundance Now.
Is Scrublands Worth Watching?
For fans of detective dramas built around complicated investigations and unsettling secrets, Scrublands is a strong option to consider.
The adaptation draws on Chris Hammer’s novels to create a television mystery that unfolds gradually, allowing new evidence and revelations to reshape the case. Its remote Australian setting gives the story a distinctive identity, while the community’s struggle to recover from a devastating crime adds emotional weight to the investigation.
Compared with Endeavour and Shetland, the series takes a darker approach. Its appeal lies in the way it balances atmosphere with a steadily developing mystery, keeping viewers invested as Martin challenges the version of events accepted by those around him.
The first season builds towards a dramatic conclusion that brings the investigation to a head. Rather than relying on the initial shooting alone to sustain interest, it gradually reveals why the case is more complicated than it first appears.
For viewers who enjoy piecing together clues alongside a determined investigator, that slow unravelling is one of the drama’s biggest strengths.
Where Can You Watch Scrublands?
Both seasons, including Scrublands: Silver, are available to stream on BBC iPlayer in the UK.
What Other Detective Dramas Should You Watch?
If you have already watched Scrublands or want another mystery to add to your list, two other crime dramas are worth considering.
Gracepoint
Fans of Broadchurch may want to try Gracepoint, the American adaptation starring David Tennant as a detective investigating a crime in a close-knit community.
The series shares much of the original British drama’s premise but takes a somewhat different emotional approach. For viewers drawn to small-town mysteries who want a variation on the Broadchurch formula, it offers another way to explore the genre.
Gracepoint is available on Prime Video.
In the Dark
Another option is the BBC crime drama In the Dark, starring MyAnna Buring as Helen Weeks, an intelligent but troubled detective whose professional responsibilities become more complicated when she faces an unexpected pregnancy.
The story follows Helen as she navigates the pressures of her personal life alongside the demands of her work. The original article’s reviewer also praised the series, describing it as the BBC’s best offering since Shetland.
All four episodes are available on BBC iPlayer.
Whether you prefer the secrets of an isolated community, the pressure of a dangerous murder investigation or the personal struggles of a detective caught between work and family, these dramas offer plenty to explore. For anyone searching for a gripping crime-series binge, Scrublands is a compelling place to begin.
