The episode opens with forensic technicians processing the scene of human remains identified as belonging to 66-year-old Jean Grierson of Melbourne. Grierson went missing four months ago while hiking the Mount Buller to Stirling Trail. Reza Bohrani (Matt Domingo) questions why Grierson’s body was located 15 kilometers from the trail. Sergeant Andrea Whitford (Leah Purcell) suggests the killer wanted it found. Damien Stark (Henry Nixon) is working when a new report airs about Grierson’s human remains being located. Elsewhere, Sam Dryson (Ian McElhinney) hears the same news report. Back at the crime scene, Andrea informs the constables and Senior Sergeant Steve Cripps (Nicholas Bell) that the coroner identified the murder weapon as a 37 mm hunting knife. Cripps urges Andrea to bring Damien in for questioning. Andrea stresses the need to wait for more evidence when Mayor Jo approaches and puts Andrea in charge of the case. Cripps reminds her that Andrea is not familiar with the country. Jo sarcastically says local knowledge never aided in his finding Grierson.

During a psychic reading, Damien tells Rose (Linda Cropper) that she is trapped in dark woods. She claims to be getting control of her finances and hired a bookkeeper. He warns that she is under threat. She admits to pulling a shotgun on her niece’s ex. He urges her to keep her shotgun ready. Upon leaving, he encounters Sam who accuses him of killing Grierson. Damien says the sketch that he gave Andrea was for Dr. Patrick Haber (Francis Greenslade). Grabbing him by the jacket, Sam asks how he knew where the body was located. When someone approaches, Sam releases Damien and leaves.

Bryan Harris (Geoff Morrell) is repairing a fence when a horse approaches. Elsewhere, Andrea asks Sam about the Grierson case. He admits to closing it after she disappeared. She asks if there was any evidence tying Damien to her disappearance. He denies finding any evidence to connect anyone, even her friends and family to her disappearance. He says it was a death by misadventure. She reminds him that Grierson was an experienced hiker. He stresses how easy it is to get lost off the trail. She says Grierson never got lost and questions why Damien would come forward now after Luke Samson’s murder. He tells her that he confronted Damien about the sketch. Andrea describes his interest in Luke’s case as an “obsession” and suggests he go fishing. Upon leaving, she receives a call from Reza regarding a missing Claire Harris (Rose Traynor).

Helen Hartley (Sara Wiseman) informs Rose that she is losing a lot of money and suggests increasing the rent on the cabins. Rose assures her that it will work out without increasing the cabin rent. A short time later, they hike up the mountain to have lunch. Rose introduces Helen to her tenants, Tim (Ben Pfeiffer) and Robbie (Tim Clarke) After recently learning Helen is an artist, Rose offers to let her turn one of her cabins into a studio. Helen tells her that she gave up painting.

Outside the Brokenridge General Store, Damien encounters Bernice (Catherine Glavicic) and Daisy (Evie Neely). Bernice wishes him good luck on his appeal before walking away. He opens his post office box to find it covered in feces. A group of local kids laugh until they see an approaching police cruiser. Andrea walks into the police station to learn Claire’s jacket was located at Newman’s Hut. Reza says Owen dropped it off along with some other gear. Brett Sweet (Luke McKenzie) is searching the area for signs of Claire. Reza tells her that Claire’s sister denies any contact with Claire for several weeks. Bryan claims Claire left for a hiking trip the day after Sam’s retirement party. A receipt in the bag shows Claire purchased the gear from Damien’s shop on Friday. A short time later, Andrea finds Damien’s shop on closed. An annoyed man tells her that the shop was closed Saturday. She calls Brett to tell him to secure the area for a potential crime scene, not mention it to Bryan.

Kayden Shanks (Tarquin Cameron) finds Damien working on his knights. Damien says the knight is very special and he will need to come inside to see it. As Kayden steps through the door, Russell Shanks (Simon Maiden) yells at him and threatens Damien if he touches Kayden. A short time later, Andrea arrives to question Damien about his sketch which he claimed would help locate Haber. He claims his visions are sometimes unpredictable. She says his map led to Grierson’s remains. He tells her that he took a risk coming forward because he assumed she would be different than those who put feces in his mailbox. She asks why not leave. He claims his attorney warns against it before stressing his desire to be a teacher again. She agrees to let him prove himself.

Finn McKenzie (Stacy Clausen) tells Kirra (Pez Warner) that she will need to pass the test to hang with the River Kids. Elsewhere, Rose explains to Helen how she and her husband, Jean Pierre wanted an artist’s haven.

Dave (Dom Phelan), Bryan, Sam, and Maddie Harris (Annie Chiswell) attend a meeting to discuss search efforts for Claire. Andrea explains how the search will be coordinated when Nash Mason (Nathaniel Dean) and Liam Mason (Manie Timony) enter. Bryan asks if the “psycho,” Damien has been brought in the help find Claire. An argument breaks out between the locals. Sam intervenes and dismisses the meeting. Andrea tries to explain but Tammy Samson (Leah Vandenberg) says it isn’t necessary. She tells Sam that Grierson was in Damien’s shop on Friday and it was closed on Saturday when she left. Brett denies telling Bryan about Damien and blames it on Reza. She explains her scheme to trip Damien up by involving him in Claire’s search. Later, Helen tells Andrea about Rose’s artist haven. Andrea urges her to consider painting again.

Andrea and Damien arrive at the headquarters for the search party. The locals stare as they enter Newman’s hut. Damien claims Claire was not happy being married to Bryan. She grills him with questions. He tells her that he cannot concentrate when Brent pulls her away to see two bootprints, one of which is a size 12, in an outside toilet. When Damien leaves with Brett, she measures his bootprint. She contacts Reza to find out the size of Haber’s boots. He says they are size 12, True Blues. A short time later, she meets with Owen Cooper (Aaron Pedersen) who claims to have located a spooked horse that a Myrtleford man rented last Saturday. She finds a phone in the saddle bag pocket. Laying out a map, she says Claire left home at 7am and arrived at Newman’s hut at noon. She questions if Claire could have encountered Haber there. Aunty Gladys Cooper (Trisha Morton-Thomas) says the Wirrk-Wirrk is responsible. Interpreting for her, he says an old woman who lived in the bush kept children who wandered away from their camp. Aunty Gladys urges Andrea to find her mob.

Damien retrieves a letter from his post office box. Reza informs Andrea that David Miers, a retired judge from Myrtleford, rented the horse on Saturday. He says Miers was wearing Bundstones, size 12 which match the boot print at Newman’s hut. With access to Miers’ phone, she drives out to the Harris farm. She tells Bryan that David Miers and Claire were together at Newman’s hut and now they are both missing. He denies any knowledge of their affair and threatens to get her fired if she starts a rumor about it. She shows him their text correspondence. He demands she find Claire and orders her off his property.

Andrea finds Damien’s place vandalized. He admits to doing it before showing her his appeal denial. He expresses his love for teaching. She assures him that he is someone who will help her locate Claire.

Mansfield Private Hospital – Andrea visits her mum, Liz Whitford (Jelissa Jaffer) who does not recognize her. When Andrea returns home, she learns Kirra is out with friends. She tells Helen that Aunty Gladys stresses the importance of knowing your mob. Elsewhere, Damien is eating when a Molotov cocktail is thrown through the window. He rushes outside and watches his camper burn. Andrea wakes up after a nightmare about her mum. She goes outside to find herself face-to-face with a white dingo. Kirra declines a ride to school. After Andrea leaves, Helen sobs when she finds a photo of a young boy.

Andrea arrives at Damien’s burnt camper. Looking through the debris, she finds what is left of a Molotov cocktail. She orders Brett to question the residents but he refuses. She threatens to bring charges against him if he leaks information again and urges him to find another job if he cannot work with her.

Helen offers her bookkeeping services free for the use of Rose’s cabin. Rose accepts once she knows Helen is sincere about painting again. Elsewhere, Andrea asks Sam if he knows where Damien would go. He urges her to find him before he harms someone else.

Rose gets out of her vehicle to move a vehicle out of the road. She tugs on the branch when someone attacks from behind. A short time later, she comes to in the boot. When the car stops, she kicks the boot open, jumps out, and takes off running but falls over an embankment. Someone shines a flashlight over the embankment. The episode ends.

 

High Country Review

Claire Harris is reported missing by her husband, Bryan after going on a hiking trip. Owen finds Claire’s jacket and camping gear at Newman’s hut. A size 12 Bundstones print and Claire’s boot print are found inside an outside toilet. Andrea measures Damien’s print but later learns the print belongs to a missing Myrtleford man, David Miers. Owen finds the horse that Miers rented on Saturday. Miers’ phone puts him and Claire together at Newman’s hut. Bryan denies any knowledge of Claire’s affair. Damien tells her that Claire is unhappy in her marriage.

Damien gives Rose a psychic reading. He warns that a threat looms over her. She is attacked while trying to move a large branch out of the road. She wakes up in the boot of her car and manages to get away but falls over an embankment.

Kirra is put to the test before she can hang out with Finn and his friends. She is not home when someone throws a Molotov cocktail into the window of Damien’s camper. Already upset about his appeal denial, Damien goes missing.

 

It is possible to see where the story is leading. While there is hardly any originality, the suspense may be enough to keep viewers watching. The night scenes are barely visible. It is difficult to see how Rose’s abduction and escape play out. I watched the scene several times and finally gave up.

The episode deserves a 5.8 out of 10. Get more High Country recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by donating. Learn how advertising with us can help build your brand awareness. Join our newly established forum to discuss the latest TV show and movie releases, sports, crime, and celebrity happenings.