If you spent 2023 obsessed with the biting wit and freezing temperatures of the Tasmanian wilderness, I have some news that will make you reach for the sunscreen and a very high-strength insect repellent. The “Kates” (McCartney and McLennan) are back, and they have officially traded the puffer jackets of the south for the oppressive, “sticky-shirt” humidity of Australia’s Northern Territory.
Prime Video has finally dropped the official trailer for the second season of the global breakout hit Deadloch, and it confirms what we all suspected: Dulcie Collins and Eddie Redcliffe are about to have a very, very sweaty time.
A Fresh Mystery in the “Tropical Gothic” Era
The first season of Deadloch wasn’t just a local success; it was a bona fide cultural phenomenon, reaching the Top 10 in over 165 countries. It managed to do the impossible: parody the “prestige crime drama” genre while simultaneously delivering a mystery so tight it kept us guessing until the final moments.
This time around, we are entering what the creators are calling the “Tropical Gothic” era. Detectives Dulcie Collins (Kate Box) and Eddie Redcliffe (Madeleine Sami) have landed in Darwin. Ostensibly, they are there to investigate the death of Eddie’s former policing partner, Bushy. However, because this is Deadloch, things go sideways almost immediately.
When a body part surfaces in the remote town of Barra Creek, the duo is pulled away from their original mission. While the local NT police are busy with a massive search for missing backpackers, Dulcie and Eddie are left to identify a “John Doe” in a town filled with cagey locals, overstretched Indigenous rangers, and prehistoric predators that could swallow them whole.
New Faces and Seven-Metre Crocodiles
While we are thrilled to see the return of the core cast, including the hilarious Nina Oyama and Alicia Gardiner, the ensemble for Season 2 is looking impressively stacked. Joining the chaos are Australian icons like Steve Bisley and Shari Sebbens, alongside Luke Hemsworth. We also get the acting debut of acclaimed writer/director Jean Tong.
The trailer teases a world that feels a world away from the misty hills of Tasmania. Instead of craft beer and artisan markets, we have “crocodile-fuelled tourism” and a humidity that looks like it’s a character in its own right. The creators have promised we’ll get “a bit sticky, a bit sweaty, and maybe even a bit wet,” which, given the Northern Territory setting, feels like a literal promise.
Why the Hype is Real
It is rare for a comedy-thriller to strike such a perfect balance, but Deadloch Season 1 walked that tightrope with five AACTA Awards and an International Emmy nomination.
Deadloch Season 2 premieres globally on Prime Video on March 20, with the first two episodes dropping at once. New episodes will follow weekly, leading up to the finale on April 17.
