Netflix's latest Australian western drama television series, Area, enters the streaming service's top 10 this week. Created by Ben Davies and Timothy Lee, the six-part show follows the death of the Lawson family patriarch, plunging their cattle empire into a tense showdown between billionaires, cattle tycoons, indigenous leaders and criminal rivalries. With a score of 80% on Rotten Tomatoes, Area has enjoyed worldwide popularity for its captivating depiction of betrayal, power struggles and shifting loyalties.

Netflix has released its weekly Global Top 10, with Area Sit comfortably in third place, just below This is star sign language and just above Beauty in black. With 6.4 million views logged five days after its release, the drama's success reflects a growing interest in Shakespearean family sagas set in the Wild West.

What Territory's Place in Netflix's Global Top 10 Means

Rivals established hits like Paramount's Yellowstone

The success of NetflixArea is perhaps inextricably linked to the path taken by Paramount's award-winning American Western Yellowstone. Area also features an intense power struggle between rival factions – with alliances constantly being formed – but differs in its outback setting. The show highlights the dynamics and dysfunction of the Lawson family while showcasing the vast landscapes of the Northern Territory. Reviewers also praised the series for bringing a nuanced indigenous flavor to the seriesHow The Hollywood Reporter Daniel Feinberg, who wrote that the show “better than Yellowstone in its attempts to incorporate the indigenous perspective into the storytelling.”

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Notably, the cast includes a mix of veteran actors and up-and-coming stars, including Australian actress Anna Torv (The Last of Us) New Zealand actor Michael Dorman (patriot) and the young Australian actor Sam Corlett (Vikings: Valhalla), with thrilling performances. As tensions rise and alliances falter, viewers are drawn into a narrative that addresses not just personal ambition, but personal ambition also the broader socio-political context of indigenous rights and land ownership.

The increasing popularity of our territory

A fresh take on classic Western tropes

With his current appearance on Netflix, Area signals a growing appetite for Western dramas that explore complex relationship dynamics between kinship, money and -.most importantly: land. The show explores themes of ambition, betrayal and the struggle for power – universal elements in the name of survival that resonate with audiences around the world.

As it climbs the charts, Area appears poised to carve out a niche for itself with a series in the increasingly competitive landscape of streaming dramas Area's end of the second season. However, given that Netflix has a history of canceling shows shortly after their release, it's still a few weeks too early to know if the show will continue from here.

Source: Netflix

After the death of the Lawson family patriarch, a power struggle erupts, leaving their massive cattle ranch without a clear successor. Rival factions, from cattle barons and indigenous elders to billionaires and gangsters, vie for control. Tensions rise as the once-dominant Lawson family faces betrayal from within and without.

Pour

Anna Torv, Michael Dorman, Robert Taylor, Sam Corlett

Character(s)

Emily Lawson, Graham Lawson, Colin Lawson, Marshall Lawson

Release date

October 24, 2024

Creator

Ben Davies, Timothy Lee

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