As the episode opens, the police escort Owen Cooper (Aaron Pedersen) out of his house in handcuffs. Owen stares at Sergeant Andrea Whitford (Leah Purcell) as Constable Brett Sweet (Luke McKenzie) helps him into a police cruiser. Later at the police station, Owen denies knowing and killing Jean Grierson. Placing photos of a hunting knife in front of him, Andrea says it was found in his barn. He claims to have never seen it before. She tells him that forensics matched the knife tip found in Jean’s body with the hunting knife. He suggests it was planted there. She reminds him of his previous assault on a camper. He says it was self-defense. Andrea points out that Senior Sergeant Cripps (Nicholas Bell) reported it as an assault. Brett recalls the Forestry Service terminated him for arson. Owen blames his termination on Bryan Harris’ (Geoff Morrell) misunderstanding of Blackfella fire management. He calls Bryan a “racist.”

Sam Dryson (Ian McElhinney) visits the gravesite of Luke Samson. He and Tammy Samson (Leah Vandenberg) discuss Damien Stark’s (Henry Nixon) sketch that led to a woman’s body. He vows to keep his promise to get Damien convicted for Luke’s death. A short time later at The Brokenridge General Store, Sam watches Damien find Luke’s missing poster on his windshield. Damien visits the police department to file a harassment complaint against Sam. He shows Andrea Luke’s missing poster that Sam placed on his windshield. Andrea climbs into Sam’s vehicle and reminds him that he is retired. He tells her about his earlier visit with Tammy. She urges him to take it easy and go fishing. He laughs and says okay. Andrea receives a call from forensics about the print on the hunting knife found in Owen’s barn. Kelly says it does not match Owen or Jack Stoll. She returns to the police station to find Ben Cooper (Pedrea Jackson) asking to see Owen. Ben tells her that the hunting knife with a “broken tip” is his and takes them to where he found it.

At the location, Constable Reza Bohrani (Matt Domingo) questions what Jean was doing there. Andrea suggests someone brought her there or the knife fell from the ridge. She asks Ben why he hid the knife in the barn. He claims Owen refused to let him have a knife and would have reported it earlier if he wasn’t helping Kirra (Pez Warner) work on Grant’s farm. Upon arrival at the Cooper house, Andrea urges Owen to keep Ben away from the River Kids. He assures her that Ben is not part of their gang. She says Ben convinced Kirra to firebomb a caravan as part of an initiation test. After a bit of back-and-forth, he goes inside. A short time later, Andrea informs Bryan and Maddie Harris (Annie Chiswell) that Cripps has decided to abandon the search for Claire Harris (Rosie Traynor) this afternoon. Bryan asks if they are looking for a body. Maddie pleads with Andrea to not stop looking for Claire.

Andrea offers to teach Kirra how to ride a horse. Declining the offer, Kirra says Ben is helping with her community service because he feels bad about getting her into trouble. Andrea warns her to not mess up before her summary hearing and to stay away from Ben who is a murder suspect. Kirra says Andrea is not her mother. Later, Helen Hartley (Sara Wiseman) tells Andrea that she told Kirra to stay away from Ben. Andrea invites her to go picnicking and swimming tomorrow. Helen claims she is struggling to get back into painting and plans to visit The Farm. After Helen leaves, Andrea spots the white dingo again.

Sam takes Andrea trout fishing. At the cabin, Helen is painting when Rose De Vigny (Linda Cropper) arrives with a tray of lunch. Rose suggests gathering some mushrooms for tea to liberate herself. Helen thanks her but declines the offer. Back at the creek, Sam tells Andrea that Bryan’s father, Mal offered his parents money to arrange a marriage between him and his daughter. He says the money saved his parent’s farm but the marriage did not last long because he was in love with another woman, Deb. He gets upset when talking about Deb’s death a few years back.

After dropping Andrea off at her house, Sam is driving down the road when he spots Damien talking to Kayden Shanks (Tarquin Cameron) on a bike. He parks and watches Damien and Kayden. A man keeps Sam detained for several minutes and when he looks up, Kayden is getting in Damien’s car. He forces Damien to pull over. Andrea sees them involved in a physical altercation on the side of the road. She asks what is going on. Damien claims to be giving Kayden a ride home. She asks Kayden to get out of the vehicle. Kayden says they were playing Battlehacks and Damien was taking him home. Sam takes Kayden home. Damien explains how he utilizes Battlehacks to help Kayden who has a learning disability. Andrea urges him to reconsider his actions.

Damien convinces Helen to hang around with others for a bit before going on. Elsewhere, Andrea scolds Sam for putting Kayden in danger. She assures him that she will not think twice about arresting him. Back at The Farm, Helen tries some of the mushroom tea. A short time later, she breaks down and confesses to killing her son. Rose comforts her. Andrea is asleep when Helen comes home.

Father Ntini (Tier Ataing) dedicates Sunday mass to Luke. He prays Andrea will bring Claire home. After the service, Ntini asks Sam when will he come back to the Lord. Sam says when he gives Luke justice. Reza informs Andrea of shots fired near Newman’s hut where Claire disappeared. She insists on going with him. Instead of going on a picnic, Helen visits The Farm. She tells Rose about her three-year-old son, Charlie who had an asthma attack while she was on her way to deliver the work for her first exhibition. Rose urges her to utilize it for her work because it is Charlie’s gift to her.

Upon arrival at Newman’s hut, Reza and Andrea are forced to take cover as shots ring out. After putting on Kevlar vests and getting armed, they make their way to the hut. She kicks open the door and finds an intoxicated Maddie sitting on the floor. Maddie demands they find Claire. Andrea tells her that the gun is illegal. Maddie claims it belongs to Nash Mason (Nathaniel Dean). Andrea drives out to the Mason farm while Reza drives Maddie home. Finds Andrea a stash of guns, hunting knives, ammo, and a barrel of human remains. Nash and Liam Mason (Manie Timony) approach from behind. Grabbing her gun, she orders them to get down on the ground and calls for backup. A short time later, Brett inspects the barrel to find it is deer, not human remains. The Mason’s guns are all registered. They deny the gun owning the shotgun that Maddie had in her possession. Nash explains how they replace the knife handles and sell them to tourists.

Reza calls Andrea to tell her that Nash and Liam’s story is confirmed and suggests the shotgun belongs to Bryan. She tells him to destroy the gun. Kirra declines Andrea’s dinner offer because she will be Facetiming her “delinquent” friends.

Brett tells the locals about Andrea mistaking deer remains for human remains. Rachel Griggs (Jess Harris) orders a round of drinks for everyone. Showbag (Michael Logo) refuses to start a new tab for her. She throws cash on the bar. Brett continues his story about the deer carcass when Andrea enters and orders a whiskey. Sam reminds Brett about a welfare check at Bob Dunstan’s place. He says after Brett sees Bob passed out, he breaks in through the backdoor and sees cat feces everywhere. While Brett is checking for a pulse, Bob wakes up and Brett falls, killing the cat. The bar patrons crack up laughing. Bob is so irate that he has a heart attack. Rachel teases Brett about being a “loser.”

Kirra and Ben see each other against their parent’s orders. At the cabin, Helen works on her painting. A vehicle mows Rachel down on an isolated road. The episode ends.

 

High Country Review

Cripps suspends search and rescue for Claire Harris. Bryan takes the news well. Refusing to believe Claire is dead, Maddie takes a borrowed shotgun to Newman’s hut. Andrea and Reza find her intoxicated after she fires off several rounds. She claims the shotgun belongs to Nash. Preparing to charge Nash and Liam with possession of an unregistered gun, Andrea visits their farm where she finds a stash of guns and knives and human remains that turn out to belong to a deer. No charges are filed when the guns turn out to be registered. Reza believes Maddie’s shotgun belongs to Bryan. Andrea tells him to destroy it.

Helen tries a mushroom-based tea and breaks down sobbing. She tells Rose that she killed her son, Charlie. Rose comforts her. Helen blames herself for Charlie’s death because she forgot his rescue inhaler on a trip to deliver some documents. Charlie has a severe asthma attack and doctors cannot safe him. She returns to painting like before.

Rachel who generally runs a tab has cash to pay for a round of drinks. Andrea enters the pub as he is telling about her mishap at the Mason farm. Sam spares Andrea by telling about a time Brett accidentally killed Bob Dunstan’s cat during a welfare check. Bob is so irate that he has a heart attack. Rachel calls him a loser. Later, someone mows her down in a car.

 

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 new and classic movies and TV shows, crimes, and more.