Last year, HBO’s “True Detective: Night Country” captivated audiences with its haunting portrayal of the Alaskan wilderness, serving as a compelling backdrop for an intriguing mystery. Using elements of Native folklore, the starkness of rural life, and the enveloping Arctic night, director Issa López crafted a rich atmosphere central to the anthology series’ season, complementing Jodie Foster’s impressive performance.
In contrast, the Apple TV+ thriller “The Last Frontier” approaches the same setting with a more comedic and self-aware tone. While “Night Country” delivered a serious prestige drama, “The Last Frontier” leans towards a campy aesthetic, beginning with a dramatic CGI plane crash that liberates a multitude of convicts into the snowy domain of U.S. Marshal Frank Remnick (Jason Clarke), who has returned to Fairbanks following a troubled stint in Chicago. Created by Jon Bokenkamp, known for “The Blacklist,” alongside screenwriter Richard D’Ovidio, “The Last Frontier” excels when it leans into its network TV roots, pitting the gruff family man against a relentless onslaught of escaped criminals at an episodic pace characteristic of engaging procedurals.
However, the series complicates matters by pairing Frank with CIA operative Sidney Scofield (Haley Bennett) and imposing a cumbersome espionage subplot that lacks the regional flair or briskness of the main narrative. Among the escaped convicts is a mysterious asset known as “Havlock,” a dangerous man turned against his CIA handlers, introduced in a dramatic, hooded fashion. The show cleverly sets up a bait-and-switch with stuntman-turned-director Sam Hargrave playing a wild-eyed inmate who seems to be Havlock. Yet, as the story unfolds — with minor spoilers for the already available episodes — it turns out that Havlock is actually Levi Hartman (Dominic Cooper), a man with connections to both protagonists: Sidney has recruited him, and he has taken Frank’s wife, Sarah (Simone Kessell), hostage.
Once that plot twist is revealed, “The Last Frontier” becomes entangled in a serialized story that feels convoluted and less satisfying than the simpler thrill of chasing after maniacs. Instead of using Sidney mainly as a foil to Frank and his deputy Hutch (Dallas Goldtooth from “Reservation Dogs”), the show devotes too much time to her personal issues and office dynamics. The youthful Bennett struggles to convince as an experienced spy, and her chemistry with Cooper is lacking. Meanwhile, the remarkably talented Alfre Woodard and John Slattery portray her CIA supervisors, though they remain physically distant from the main action occurring in Langley, and are thus sparsely integrated into the plot. This leaves Sidney and Frank to decipher Havlock’s motives and schemes, with their tedious discussions about stolen databases, Russian hackers, and deep state revelations quickly turning into a monotonous experience.
Fortunately, just when attention may start to wane, there’s typically a thrilling action sequence featuring snowmobiles, helicopters, or unconventional elements that recaptures viewer interest (including a particularly exhilarating truck dangle over a frozen cliff). The show introduces an engaging rogues’ gallery of characters, featuring black widows, scheming con artists, and frantic doctors, presenting challenges for Frank and his down-to-earth team. In this light, Frank’s clichéd trauma and his awkward marriage — in which he makes a promise to settle down and run a quaint bed and breakfast with Sarah mere moments before chaos erupts — become more charming quirks than drawbacks, fitting with the show’s kitschy tone reminiscent of the upbeat opening credits, a stark contrast to Apple’s often polished dramas.
Regrettably, as the 10-episode season progresses, “The Last Frontier” tends to push its quirky premise further aside. The more Sid and Levi dominate the narrative — with Levi’s convoluted power plays and Sidney’s background as a nepo baby in the CIA — the more viewers might yearn for a return to the snowy wilderness, tracking down murderous psychopaths amid the harsh natural elements.
The initial two episodes of “The Last Frontier” are currently available to stream on Apple TV+, with new episodes airing weekly on Fridays.
