Territory Season 1 Ending Explained: Who Caused Dan’s Death, What is Sandra’s Plan and Who Gets the Marianne Station?
Territory Season 1 Ending Explained: SPOILER ALERT: For generations, the Lawson family dynasty has run the world’s largest cattle station, but that could all change in Netflix’s neo-Western series Territory. After Daniel (Jake Ryan) dies, Colin Lawson (Robert Taylor) is left without a clear successor, and Marianne Station becomes a prize sought by rival ranchers, gangsters, indigenous elders, and mining magnates. Who caused Dan’s death? Who got the Lawsons’ property? Here’s what happened to the two of them. The series created by Timothy Lee (Mystery Road, Bump) and Ben Davies (Bondi Rescue, The First Inventors, Outback Ringer) begins with Daniel having a broken leg after falling from his horse. Although he tries to get up, wild dogs prevent him from doing so. This death causes billionaire mining magnate Sandra Kirby (Sara Wiseman) and infamous cattle baron Campbell Miller (Jay Ryan) to set their sights on the land.
Dan’s demise also prompts the return of Marshall (Sam Corlett), the prodigal son of Graham (Michael Dorman), Colin’s eldest son whom no one respects due to his alcoholism. Under pressure from his enemies, Colin decides to name Marshall as his successor, which upsets Graham and his ambitious wife Emily (Anna Torv), who despite her efforts fails to win the approval of her father-in-law because she is the sister of cattle rustler Hank Hodge (Dan Wyllie). Emily only wants her daughter Susie (Philippa Northeast) to also inherit Marianne Station. Landed on Netflix last October 24, the new TV series Territory has attempted to challenge the hegemony of modern westerns like Yellowstone and Succession, offering viewers stories full of twists and turns and adrenaline.
Territory Season 1 Ending Explained: Plot Summary
Created by Ben Davies and Timothy Lee (who? exactly) Territory starts from a premise that many are unaware of: the largest ranches on earth today are in Australia. Yes sir, not Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Wyoming, Argentina, or Brazil, but it is in the land of kangaroos that we have the largest cattle ranches on pasture today. Arid, beautiful, difficult, hostile land and full of wealth for those who know how to ride and raise plenty of steers, and that’s what the Lawson family has been doing for generations. Too bad, however, that the leader of the dynasty, Daniel Lawson (Jake Ryan) has the great idea of ending up thrown from his horse and then torn to pieces by dingoes.
The Lawsons have also been in dire financial straits for some time, they have debts, but at the same time they have political connections and a strong tradition that makes them a symbol in their world. Patriarch Colin Lawson (Robert Taylor) however does not trust his second son Graham (Michael Dorman) and even less his daughter-in-law Emily (Anna Torv) to keep the ranch afloat. As if that were not enough, their land is coveted by businessman Sandra Kirby (Sara Wiseman) and competing rancher Campbell Miller (Jay Ryan). The new generations will also be involved in the dispute: Susie (Philippa Northeast), Marshall Lawson (Sam Corlett), and Lachie Kirby (Joe Klocek), with the natives on the sidelines watching how and if it is possible to take back some of that land that was once theirs, or do as Nolan Brannock (Clarence Ryan): try to survive.
Territory is set in Australia, believe it or not, connected to a Western genre that is actually much richer and more interesting than you might think. Some will remember that mess of “Australia” with Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman, the best of them a cult-like “Quigley Rifle”, but then there have been many worthy titles: “The Proposal”, “The Forge”, “High Ground”, “Ned Kelly” or “The Tracker”. The points in common with the American progenitor are many not only for what concerns the cinematographic topoi, but for the historical path that is at the base of the genre, and that still makes Australia and the United States incredibly similar and not in an enviable way. Territory is set in Australia, believe it or not, connected to a Western genre that is actually much richer and more interesting than you might think. Some will remember that mess of “Australia” with Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman, the best of them a cult-like “Quigley Rifle”, but then there have been many worthy titles: “The Proposal”, “The Forge”, “High Ground”, “Ned Kelly” or “The Tracker”. The points in common with the American progenitor are many not only for what concerns the cinematographic topoi, but for the historical path that is at the base of the genre, and that still makes Australia and the United States incredibly similar and not in an enviable way.
Territory from this point of view is an excellent reminder, it reminds us that in addition to imitating the star-spangled cowboys in terms of looks, hats, music, or values connected to the land and tradition, the Australians have been similar in humiliating the natives, and there in the great spaces for better or for worse the law is often the one you make yourself, possibly armed. Sure, now there are helicopters, trucks, off-road vehicles, motorcycles, GPS, repeating rifles, and ranchers’ associations, but there are also cattle rustlers, poachers, family feuds, and capitalism that looms and tries to wipe out everything and everyone, in the name of profit. All elements that Territory recovers and mixes, with a certain balance of writing must be admitted, without showing too much and above all linking to the initial death, the engine of the various revolutions of this world, and the very calibration of the characters, distorting what we thought of them.
Territory Season 1 Ending Explained: Who Caused Dan’s Death, What is Sandra’s Plan and Who Gets the Marianne Station?
When Marshall goes off with his friends Rich (Sam Delich) and Sharnie (Kylah Day) to steal some of his grandfather’s motorcycles, Graham tries to take matters into his own hands and runs for president of the Federation, but pressure and a conversation with Sandra Kirby push him towards drink. Campbell Miller takes the job, which undoubtedly leaves the protagonists of “Territory” vulnerable. As Emily makes a deal with Colin to secure her daughter’s future and Susie struggles to prove herself a worthy heiress, Graham gets drunk, grabs a gun, and ends up in prison. Meanwhile, Sandra Kirby takes advantage of Nolan’s estrangement from the Aboriginal community to close the port deal and makes another deal with Indigenous community spokeswoman Keeley Redford (Tuuli Narkle). Elsewhere, Marshall and his friends continue their “business,” but Rich’s jealousy of his girlfriend Sharnie disbands the team. When Rich and Sharnie go ahead with a dangerous robbery, they end up cornered by gunmen. Marshall saves Sharnie, but they don’t get very far. Colin’s grandson discovers that Miller is behind it all and calls Emily, who comes to the rescue. Although Sharnie survives, Marshall believes her to be dead.
Who Murdered Daniel Lawson?
When Daniel’s mount turns up, it raises questions that lead Emily to the mysterious Elton, who reveals that he saw everything that happened. Daniel was planning to make a deal with Sandra. Emily finds out and confronts him about his betrayal. After the argument, Emily shoots Dan’s horse, causing it to fall. With Marshall’s return, Susie’s initiative, and Graham’s release, Marianne Station seems to be on the mend. However, another tragedy strikes the Lawsons. Lachie (Joe Klocek), Sandra’s son, tries to win back Susie’s love, but she rejects him. Marshall intervenes and a fight ensues that ends with Susie being killed by a bull.
The first season of Territory on Netflix ends with episode 6. Until the end, the viewer witnesses an action-packed plot, including shootouts and clashes. The plot revolves around the Lawson family, who have owned Marianne Station, the largest cattle ranch in the world, for generations. When the owner Daniel Lawson dies, various characters begin to find stratagems to take power. In the season 1 finale, Colin Lawson seems to finally turn the page, giving the main house of the ranch to Emily and Graham. Shortly after, the mysterious man with Daniel’s horse, who we saw at the beginning of the season, appears. This is where the flashback begins, where we see Emily shoot Daniel and leave him to die. She had already told Graham what she had done, but now Colin realizes what happened. The man, who gives Colin the horse and two bullets, lets him know that Daniel’s death was truly heartbreaking. Surely, in season 2, Colin will want to find out who killed Daniel.
What is Sandra Kirby’s Plan?
Devastated by Susie’s death and his mother’s incomprehension, Lachie decides to reveal Sandra’s plan: to have Campbell blow up the indigenous people’s “sacred site” to build a road leading to some old gold mines, where he wants to store radioactive waste. All this to destroy the Lawsons and get Marianne. Upon learning of the situation, the Lawsons and the revered elder of Acacia Plains, Bryce (Hamilton Morris), make a deal to get their land back. Although they try to stop the explosion, they are unsuccessful. Meanwhile, Colin is unable to reunite with the rest of his family because he is kidnapped by Rich, who already has Marshall and seeks to get his hands on the contents of the Lawson safe.
However, Sharnie arrives to free the grandson and grandfather, who shoots Rich dead. He plans to do the same to the young girl, but Marshall convinces him not to. After that traumatic moment, Sharmie decides not to stay and return to her family. Marshall also prefers to leave. What was in the smaller safe? At the end of Territory, Colin hands over the keys to his house to Graham and Emily, but before they can celebrate their triumph, homeless man Elton (Matthew Sunderland) shows up to Colin with Daniel’s injured horse. Will he reveal the truth? What does it mean for Emily? Will there be Season 2?
