Farmed Salmon – The episode opens in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory on January 14, 1983. Vance Horsley (Rhys Muldoon) leads a meeting to discuss remote towns to relocate for Annika Van Cleef/Stella Heikkinen (Marta Dusseldorp) and her children. Airini (Rachel House) suggests it is risky relocating all of them to the same place. Horsley tells her to let the more qualified make the decision, adding insult by calling her “Irene.” Norm (Ross Marsden) sniggers when Tasmania comes to mind. Horsley describes Tasmania as “jokey.” Explaining how he and Jess stayed there during a flight change, Norm says there is nothing there. A says Tasmania gets rain 324 days a year. Horsley is on board.

Weepy, Stella tries to get Otis Heikkinen (Imi Mbedla) and Iris Heikkinen (Ava Caryofyllis) to cheer up by sharing her experience with an “old-fashioned humbug.” While choosing new names, Stella crashes into a wallaby.

44 Hours Earlier – Annika gives a speech at a “ProperAus” event. Annika’s father urges her to not portray herself as a friend. She jokes about poisoning their drinks. Reminding her of the bushfire payouts, he assures her that compassion is different than sensible business practice. Kumar (Nikhil Singh) warns that his investigation turned up something worse than expected. She schedules a meeting for tomorrow when Johann Mueller (Nikolai Nikolaeff) approaches. Holding out a USB stick, Kumar claims it is his mum’s recipes.

Annika watches the video from Kumar’s USB stick when Johann approaches. He showers her with kisses while keeping a keen eye on the video. He compliments her for everything she has done for her father’s company.

Annika alerts Kumar that she is running late. When he brings up the USB, she says it can wait until she gets to the office. He informs her of the 400 codes, not just the four she was targeting. As she returns to her car to retrieve her phone, he orders her to not come into the office when the call abruptly ends. She rushes into a shop as armed Rusian (Paul Roukchan) and Yakov (Vanya Essin) emerge from their vehicle. She is in looking through the cooler when Yakov fires his silencer weapon. When Airini informs her of the two men hired to kill her, she refuses to listen. Pulling her back, Airini urges her to do as she say if she wants to see her children again. Rusian shoots Sula (Natalie Venettacci) when she confronts him about locking the door.

Airini and Annika are hiding in the storage room when Rusian and Yakov enter and start shooting recklessly. Airini locks Rusian in the walk-in freezer before hitting Yakov when a bag. They flee to safety. Airini warns of what will happen if she and her children do not leave. Annika sends Gina (Tracy Zhou) home before ascending the stairs. While packing clothes, she hears voices downstairs. Carefully removing Otis’ snake from its cage, she tosses it on top of Rusian. She discovers Gina’s lifeless body outside where she sees Johann speaking to Rusian and Yakov.

Annika arrives at the school as Marion (Jane Longhurst) prepares to drive away with Otis and Iris. She bangs on the window to get her attention. Pretending like everything is normal, she helps them out of the vehicle.

Barkly Skate Park – Airini tells Annika that she and her children are being set up in a house in Mystery Bay in Tasmania. Annika will now utilize the alias, Stella Heikkinen. Airini gives her a rundown of things to do. Annika asks if she can have contact with friends. Airini demands she have no more contact with anyone from her past. She is required to testify about ProsperAus.

Canberra, Australian Capital Territory – Airini receives a call from a stranded Annika. After a brief scolding, she agrees to send a wrecker. The tow truck driver, Jeremiah (Toby Leonard Moore) arrives to retrieve Annika’s vehicle. He and Iris briefly discuss his tattoo before he tries to drive away without them. She demands they go with him. He jumps out of the wrecker to retrieve the wallaby for supper. They pass a “Low Radiation Area” on the route to Mystery Bay. Jeremiah assures her the radiation contamination is minor. Connor (Bob Franklin) informs her that it will take about a week to fix her car. They arrive at the real estate office to find it closed. Utilizing Otis’ phone, she calls Francis Pike (Stephen Curry) to arrange a ride to their new house. When the call ends, she receives a text ordering her to destroy the phone. She smashes it on the ground.

Tarquin (Ben Knight) reads a book while Otis and Iris shop for clothes. Francis rushes them into his vehicle before skidding away. He suggests not visiting the cinema right away. They briefly discuss the school in Strahan. He says Manfred (Anthony J. Sharpe) is the bus driver. Inside the house, Otis questions why the former owners left their food. Annika assures him that it is country hospitality. She practices archery when a goat grabs at her clothes. Otis and Iris look for an outlet to discover a hole in the floor. Looking further, they learn the floor underneath the furniture is decayed. Annika is outside when Jeremiah delivers an armful of coats which she tosses into a bin near the door. Iris escorts her around the holes in the floor.

Airini sings with the choir (The Queenie Choir) when her phone rings. The Minister (Rod Anderson) gives her a stern look as she walks away to take the call. Annika informs her of the house’s dilapidated condition. Assuring her that she does not care, Airini orders her to fix it before abruptly ending the call.

Jeremiah informs his father of another letter from the bank. Joseph (Tony Barry) complains about only receiving letters requesting money. Jeremiah assures him that he will handle it.

Annika, Iris, and Otis find Francis’ real estate office closed. She scolds them for wearing Jeremiah’s coats after warning them that they are contaminated with cholera. Iris says they are extremely warm. Otis points out that she is shivering before suggesting she call Francis. She says there is no phone. He demands to know what happened to his phone. Ignoring him, she leads them into the pub. Jodie (Emily Taheny) says there is no public phone or food service. After they leave, she returns to a room where illegal gambling is in progress. Kerry (Elle Mandalis) asks Francis if Graham sent Annika there. Magda (Pamela Rabe) suggests she is from Boston with an MBA degree. Jeremiah says she is running from someone.

Iris complains of being cold while Otis demands his phone. Annika is awakened by the house rattling. She rushes to find Otis and Iris watching a convoy of trucks driving through their yard. She tells them that she will go speak with them but only makes it a few steps when she falls into a hole. Underneath the house is filled with cannabis plants. The episode ends.

 

Bay Of Fires Synopsis

Annika Van Cleef is running the family business, ProsperAus Management, when Kumar detects more than 400 suspicious codes. He gives her a USB stick, under the guise of his mother’s recipes. After watching his cooking video, she decides it isn’t anything that interests her. The next morning, she calls to inform him that she will be late. He tries to tell her to not come into the office when the call ends. She enters a store followed by two men. Airini warns her that the men were hired to kill her. While uncooperative, she is able to get Annika out of the store.

Ignoring Airini’s advice, Annika returns home to pick up some clothes. The two hitmen arrive looking for her. She sees Johann speaking with the hitmen. Again, she is able to escape. She takes her children to meet Airini at a local park. Airini tells her that she and the children must leave their lives behind or die. She will live under the alias, Stella Heikkinen, in the small town of Tasmania.

After a problematic trip, Annika, Iris, and Otis arrive at their new home at Mystery Bay. The home is nearly dilapidated, with a basement full of marijuana plants.

Bay Of Fires Cast

• Annika Van Cleef/Stella Heikkinen (Marta Dusseldorp)
• Otis Heikkinen (Imi Mbedla)
• Iris Heikkinen (Ava Carryofyllis)
• Francis Pike (Stephen Curry)
• Jeremiah (Toby Leonard Moore)
• Johann Mueller (Nikolai Nikolaeff)
• Magda (Pamela Rabe)
• Airini (Rachel House)
• Joseph (Tony Barry)
• Rusian (Paul Roukchan)
• Kerry (Elle Mandalis)
• Yakov (Vanya Essin)
• Kumar (Nikhil Singh)
• Jodie (Emily Taheny)

Bay Of Fires Review

All the vital details were overlooked. There is little to no explanation as to why Annika and her children are forced to flee their home. It apparently has to do with her father’s company, ProsperAus, and Johann. It is unclear what relation Johann is to Annika and her children.

The series is riddled with inconsistencies, what-ifs, confusing scenes, and cringeworthy dialogue. This was a missed opportunity to present a solid murder-to-hire series. The oversaturated cast is questionable.

As someone who grew up in a small town, I take offense to the “country people” rhetoric. Not all people living in small towns are “backward” country folk. Furthermore, Annika’s ignorance is appalling. After witnessing firsthand how dangerous the hit men are, she goes home to pick up clothes. At the skate park, she allows her children to roam around freely, knowing they were in danger.

The series has potential but at this rate, it is bound to be a failure. The episode deserves a 5.5. Get more Bay of Fires recaps here. . Support Reel Mockery by donating to our platform. Our onsite advertising builds brand awareness, click the link to learn more.