Synopsis
Stella Heikkinen (Marta Dusseldorp), the CEO of a brokerage firm, is forced to move to the fictional Tasmanian town of Mystery Bay after she is attacked by assassins hired by her de facto partner.
Surrounded by quirky and enigmatic townsfolk, Stella grapples with adapting to her new life while safeguarding her children, Otis (Imi Mbedla) and Iris (Ava Caryofyllis).
The show explores the stark contrast between urban and rural settings, shedding light on how isolation in small towns can reshape social dynamics.
Review
Bay of Fires is a show that ambitiously attempts to fuse drama, mystery, crime, and dark humour – but ultimately falls short in its execution.
The overall storyline is also disconnected and far-fetched to the point where it is, at times, not believable.
One of the show’s most significant issues lies in its attempt at humour. Its deadpan quirkiness often veers into absurdity, failing to evoke the intended comedic impact.
Similarly, the acting is overdone and cheesy, which made it hard for me to take the characters seriously.
While living Sydney last year, I came to love watching and reading anything set in Tasmania because it reminded me of home. Unfortunately, Bay of Fires did not spark any nostalgia in me, nor did it make me reminisce. It misses the mark in its portrayal of Tasmania. Rather than offering a genuine representation, the show leans heavily into myths and misconceptions associated with our island, which disappointed me because I was hoping for an authentic depiction.
Despite its shortcomings, Bay of Fires does manage to salvage a bit of appeal in its cinematography. It captures the beauty of Tasmania’s wilderness, highlighting its rugged landscapes and lush forests in all their natural splendour.
I really, really wanted to love Bay of Fires, but it was ultimately a let-down for me. I actually lost interest in it by the third episode, but begrudgingly kept watching in the (vain?) hope it would improve. (It didn’t.)
If I could travel back in time and talk to my younger self, I would tell him: “There’ll come a day when you’ll want to watch Bay of Fires. Don’t bother. Eat some vegan doughnuts instead.”
Postscript: a second season of the series is currently being shot in Tasmania. Reviews of the first season varied, see below for some samples.
Callum J. Jones studied English, History, and Journalism at the University of Tasmania. He has written fiction and non-fiction for Tasmanian Times since 2018, and can be traced by the smell of fresh coffee.
Follow him on Twitter (@Callum_Jones_10) and Facebook (@callum.j.jones.creative).
