Chapter Three: Adventure – The episode opens with Lady Sarah Ashley (Nicole Kidman) apologizing to The Drover (Hugh Jackman) for the absence of Kipling Flynn (Jack Thompson). He says he’s not surprised because don’t change while pointing out they won’t be able to do what they intended to do with only six people. Elsewhere, Kipling is shown drinking as he replays his earlier conversation with The Drover and Lady Ashley. At the ranch, Nullah (Brandon Walters) is the first to see Kipling racing up on his horse. After a warm greeting, The Dover takes charge and lays out the rules for the task at hand while mentioning the potential dangers. After the risks are accepted, he opens the corral and lets the livestock out. King George (David Gulpilil) watches them from a nearby mountaintop. Several seconds later, the traveling herd crosses the Marmont River with ease.
At The Pearl, a group of locals watch newsreels from the war while King Carney (Bryan Brown) tries to convince Captain Dutton (Ben Mendelsohn) to sign the cattle contract. Dutton claims he’s only hesitant because the Air Force just reported 1,500 head of cattle crossing the Marmony River. After hearing this, Carney asks the nearby Neil Fletcher (David Wenham) if he’s running cattle out of Faraway Downs. When Fletcher says he doesn’t work there anymore, Carney jokes about Lady Sarah running the cattle. After a laugh, both Dutton and Administrator Allsop (Barry Otto) agree that someone is helping her run the cattle.
As The Drover continues to lead the herd, Lady Sarah finds herself often surprised by the true beauty of the land. As night quickly falls, the traveling herd sets up camp where Nullah goads Kipling into playing “Over The Rainbow” on his harmonica. Kipling is later surprised to learn that Nullah learned the song from his grandfather, King George. As their discussion continues, it’s revealed that King George has been tracking their movements and is in the process of setting up his own camp. Elsewhere, Lady Sarah questions The Drover about Goolaj (Angus Pilakui) and Magarri’s (David Ngoombujarra) chanting, which he quickly explains as signing to keep the cattle calm. A slight disagreement ensues when he reveals that the singing will need to be done in shifts throughout the night and Nullah is expected to pitch in. Although Nullah is enthused to pitch in, he volunteers to take his spot. The Drover doesn’t allow it and encourages everyone to get some rest.
As morning arrives, Bull (Eddie Baroo) and Fletcher start a fire that sends the cattle running towards a cliff face. Kipling and Nullah are already in the middle of the herd trying to redirect their path before anyone else in camp realizes what’s going on. Fletcher and Bull follow the pursuit from the mountaintops while King George watches separately. Nullah and Flynn manage to safely turn the herd but Fletcher and Bull start another fire that sends the herd racing towards its original path. Kipling is thrown from his horse and into the middle of the stampede when his horse suffers a leg injury. With the chanting of his grandfather, Nullah manages to get ahead of the herd at the cliff’s edge and stop them.
As the action settles and Lady Sarah comforts Nullah, The Drover discovers Kipling barely clinging to life. Before he passes, Kipling gifts The Drover his harmonica and requests he share a drink from his hidden stash with everyone in camp. He also mentions Lord Ashley being killed with a glass-tipped spear. Later in camp, Nullah is shown playing the harmonica while The Drover shares the bad news about Kipling’s death, the loss of most of their supplies, and Fletcher’s attempts to frame King George.
While Fletcher receives word about the herd pushing further north during the night, The Drover shares a drink from Kipling’s hidden stash with his travel companions. Lady Sarah claims another before dinner won’t hurt and before they know it the bottle is empty. That festivities and a request to dance lead Lady Sarah and The Drover to sharing a kiss. From the top of a nearby tree, Nullah interrupts by asking if they are doing wrong-side business. After trying to awkwardly explain away their encounter Bandy Legs (Lillian Crombie), orders him out of the tree and claims it’s filled with bad spirits. Once alone, Lady Sarah asks The Drover if he’s ever gotten into wrong-side business. He answers by sharing the story of how previous marriage and how she from TB because the hospital refused to treat her.
The following day, Lady Sarah and The Drover face another touch decision when they learn Fletcher and the Carneys have tainted the water bore. The Drover mentions the next bore being a 5-day trip but suspects Fletcher has already reached that one as well. Magarri says they can have water in the next three days, but it will require crossing Kuraman, also known as “Never, Never Land.” The Drover claims Never, Never Land isn’t even a possibility because there is nothing to guide you. A slight argument that’s broken up by the arrival of King George ensues when Lady Sarah suggests they attempt the trip anyway. King George offers to guide them to water with a song.
As they attempt the journey, The Drover explains how the ancestors created songs for everything and linked them. King George’s song can arrange them and reveal the path. The episode ends on a bit of a cliffhanger with the group 5 days into the journey and several near-death encounters.
Faraway Downs Review
The series has an old-feel Bonanza or Gunsmoke-feel that I can appreciate, but there is just something about it that feels off. Although I wouldn’t call the acting horrendous, I will say that even the action scene felt a bit dull. It’s a good thing that each episode is only a half hour because, at times, even that feels really long-winded and drawn out. There is some interesting history here and I find the Carneys and war efforts appealing, but I can’t say much for the rest. I’d give the episode a 4.5 out of 10.
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