Bay of Fires (2023– ) User Reviews

Much better than some of these reviews claim!

[npvarley · 8/10 · 25 July 2023]

I think a lot of people are completely missing the point of Bay of Fires. It is supposed to be a show that takes a family completely out of their comfort zone and drops them into a sinister village, in Tasmania, fully of quirky and mysterious characters.

The first couple of episodes are still introducing characters and setting up the situation. The cast is very strong, with some top performers, and they're all doing a great job so far.

The village is suitably grim and foreboding, the locations are really good and the cinematography captures the mode really well.

So ignore the negative reviews (written after ONE EPISODE, ridiculous, right?) and give it a chance.

BAY of FIRES S01E01 "Pilot"

[jamesbeachfishtacos · 6/10 · 18 July 2023]

Wow! These reviews are extremely harsh for what this is supposed to be?

1 reviewer went as far as to tell you how bad the show is in its entirety, and how he hopes they fix it in S02. I suppose this means he wont be watching the other 7 episodes of S01? LOL!

S01E01 of Bay of Fires is just a pilot episode created to evaluate the series' potential for success, and serves as the guiding force for elements such as tone, primary characters, and overarching narrative. Read the other reviews for plot/byline.

For a "pilot," its not as bad as its being made out to be. I was entertained. Granted, this episode was far from the level of Fargo, Ozark, or Shitt's Creek. However, it does have a looming darkness to it that is reminiscent of Ozark, quirky odd characters we know little to nothing about that we'll get to know as we go just like Fargo, and then of course there's the over the top totally cheesy humor like that of Shitt's Creek. Personally, I think that was a perfect description for the show. Yes. There is a lot of different things going on all at once, with little to no explanation, raising questions and leaving you, the viewer, wondering what exactly is going on. But, its all the different things going on mixed with the mysterious characters and the not exactly knowing what is going on or why that keeps you watching. Yes. I too, questioned some of the main characters choices, but I think it was intentional to set the tone of the character; Naïve, spoiled, dependent, and stubborn. Needless to say, I'm looking forward to E02.

Very Australian sensibility

[rstalbans-2 · 8/10 · 30 July 2023]

Watched Deadloch - loved it. I'm an Aussie living overseas so I watch most Aussie shows with promise.

This one definitely has promise but I think they sell themselves short by not including comedy in the description because it is damn funny. Looking forward to more.

We have a fairly high standard of what we watch very few US shows because they are either bad or very plastic and mass produced, complete with canned laughter. At least Australian shows (not the mainstream, soapy, ones) manage to avoid that and have a more UK sensibility about them (one of the few things to be thankful for with our association with the UK). Living in Canada with a Canadian and they were stuck with US shows in the most part.

Love to see Australia producing its own drama/comedy/mystery/whatever shows and feeling confidant for a change.

Quirky, fresh and exciting!

[Niltiac01 · 20 July 2023]

Bay of Fires is one of the freshest, most exciting shows I've seen to date. One of my pet hates is being spoon-fed a plot, and Bay of Fires is the opposite! It has everything you want in a first episode - excitement, suspense and leaves you with questions you can't wait to be answered.

The characters are unique and played by some of Australia's best - Marta Dusseldorp in a way I've never seen her, Stephen Curry with mouselike trepidation, Pam Rabe and Roz Hammond in a duo so unique you can't tear your eyes away!

I hope people give this show a chance. It has all the elements of a classic Aussie comedy with the beauty of Tasmania as its backdrop. I can't wait to watch the rest!

It's decent

[AfricanBro · 6/10 · 13 December 2023]

I mean, the story is kinda interesting, I loved that the main character ran away from trouble to somewhere full of it, literally.

The protagonist doesn't make too much sense, she is introduced as a competent individual capable of turning a failing company profitable. But the way she acts sometimes doesn't fit that description, often behaves inconsistently, losing composure and making illogical choices when the plot demands(like the damn SIM cards). The son, initially annoying, became more interesting in his forbidden love storyline.

I'm mostly interested in the side characters, the show's strongest aspect. They're more captivating, easier to connect with, and keep me watching. Toby Leonard Moore's was the standout for me, and learning he's Australian was a surprise. Seeeing a blind old person driving was funny. I found the town's founding story intriguing; it adds depth to the show and the main characters' lives, introducing a touch of mystery. I have been seeing a lot of Rachel House recently, notably in "Foundation," "Next Goal Win," and now this.

I think the last episode could've gone a little better. Like Jeremiah and the lawyer meeting again. But the whole scheme was great, and I loved how they teased the Russian mob boss coming for season 2 like he was Thanos before infinity war. It's an okay series, could've been better if the main characters were likable. It's funny at times but not laugh-out-loud funny, the series doesn't take itself too seriously and I didn't find myself particularly bored at any point, making it a decent way to pass the time.

A celebration of Tassie's dark comedy

[jen-91605 · 9/10 · 22 July 2023]

It's so great to see the magnificence of western Tassie in this dark and quirky new series. And that's before the story even gets started!

Setting the audience up with all sorts of curious plot and sub plots, I'm looking forward to seeing how this series unfurls. I think if I was to watch the show a few times, I might discover new things every time. Jam packed with content and some great one liners.

A terrific collection of Australian actors too with a clear investment in local talent. This above anything else is to be commended. And thanks for making it feel very Tasmanian too...

Roll on Episode 2!

Not Australia's best

[ozzyopy · 4/10 · 27 August 2023]

I was a bit disappointed with the way this series is panning out. Some parts are clever but the plot has more holes than an old Aussie country sign post.

The woman who is putting the main character into witness protection I assume is a police woman who doesn't carry a weapon allowing 2 hitmen to kill innocent people and she does nothing about it. Not to mention you don't go into witness protection without having some sort of evidence to provide. There was no promise of her providing evidence at court. Also the police woman doesn't seem to even care about the welfare of the witness.

Can't believe there is a season 2 planned.

Quirky Tassie Classic

[marita-54015 · 9/10 · 20 July 2023]

Loved the opening episode of this new Tassie series.

What a great mix of comedy and drama all filmed in beautiful locations.

Loved that there were familiar faces in interesting roles Marta Dusseldorp, Stephen Curry ( dodgiest real estate agent ever 😂), and Bob Anderson ( just to name a few) all ending up In small town Mystery Bay. Loved the depiction of small town life miles from anywhere- very real and accurate.

I can't wait to see how the story line and characters of Bay of Fires evolve. If all episodes were available I would binge them today. This is quirky Australian comedy drama at its best!

'Kieler Street' it's not, but it should be

[mjones41-826-630736 · 6/10 · 26 September 2023]

The first episode was pretty good, some suspense and some genuine laughs, and just a little bit of cringe. But then it gets harder and harder to watch. I suspect the writers of the show have seen the really wonderful Scandinavian series 'Kieler Street" (Kielergata), or if they haven't they really should have. Because it's a much better adaptation of the story than Bay of Fires is.

The characters are cliche, 2 dimensional, and it's almost cartoonish. It's a shame because I was really looking forward to this show being set in Tasmania. My wife and I couldn't make it to the end, it's just really bad. :(

Just not believable

[seltaeb-330-797168 · 1/10 · 19 July 2023]

So let me get this straight. This woman's husband is trying to kill her so a mysterious stranger rescues her and tells her to relocate to a small town in Tassy where a house has already been purchased for her. And the woman just goes ahead and does it. She doesn't ask for details of who the mysterious woman is, what's going on....she just does it. And her kids ask no questions either. They just go too. Then the town she moves to has about six residents even though the buildings in the main drag are large and substantial. And all the residents are super weird.

If you're going to set up a plot in the first episode it needs to be just slightly believable. This isn't. It's written by the same guy that did Seachange and in a way it's kind of a repeat of that synopsis except that Seachange was believable. This isn't. I wouldn't bother.

Wish I could binge all 8

[virginiawoolf09 · 9/10 · 20 July 2023]

Bay of Fires is a fresh take on the dramedy genre with moments of high tension as well as witty dialogue that leaves your stomach sore. Marta gives an incredible performance as the hapless Anika as she attempts to navigate family, moving house and murderous Russians. The rest of the cast look promising in their various roles as the quirky townsfolk of this curious town. Most notably Stephen Curry as the hilariously anxious real estate agent. The Tasmanian landscape is showcased in all its raw glory which, alongside the cinematography, makes for a beautiful watch. The first episode does well as an establisher, leaving many questions for the audience to keep them hanging on for episode two. I for one am excited to see what happens next.

MAX DANN from Spotswood to Mystery Bay

[Trey_BigTime_Film_Critic · 6/10 · 20 July 2023]

Q/. What did you watch last night that I missed?

A/. Well I played with my phone as well but watched Bay of fires then the next thing and played with the phone a lot thru an Agatha Christie. The Australians have gone down the US road on Bay of Fires and everyone or any random person will be shot dead, so good luck to the all-star cast-off actors. Another quaint touch is to make Mystery Bay a bit more interesting - they have Computer generated old buildings. Funny because most Australian towns had fantastic interesting architecture and this town they used for Mystery Bay possibly had them too ! But that kind of architecture just a bit too, how will we say - Australian, for the blow-ins that would have demolished them.

Q/. Were you familiar with any of the creatives on the series?

A/. Only Max Dann (co-writer) - who also wrote Spotswood - because when you work in some Primary or Secondary schools some of the downtime aspects can be boring but looking for Max Dann books in the library was always an option. Any children's author who can deliver the line: "It was Ok though I was nine by then," to justify some immense tragedy is a good writer. Very disappointed that he would have to resort to guns as a drama device; especially in Tasmania, they don't even add drama (I could go on and on but I won't even name names of people in film whose only plot device are guns on a continuum - boring! I'm guessing they had that discussion, "yep, has to be gun," when in fact any clever thing you never saw coming is 100% better, I mean even a gun, you didn't expect but a couple of Russian hitmen?? Better off ..ahh you should know what I mean, anyways 6/10 for the decaying house - I like that. Oh yeah, Bay of Fires does that mean we get a good old Aussie wildfire with volunteer fire fighters going frantic to save all the buildings built basically on top of the exploding eucalyptus gums and as we pan across the bay we see all the towns (those not randomly shot) taking refuge in the sea?

Awful, just awful!

[user-663-19894 · 1/10 · 18 July 2023]

Words just don't do justice to how bad this show is.

The writers clearly have a lot to answer for, and the characters are deeply lacking in terms of believability and substance.

Surely someone running for their life would show immensely more sense than this vapid and unwatchable character.

My wife was so keen to watch this after seeing another show where Marta displayed her acting chops. Even halfway through the first episode she was cringing at the terrible plot holes and substandard acting, and put us both out of our misery when she finally succumbed to the inevitability that this wasn't worth another minute of our time.

I'd rather do my taxes than watch this drivel.

HOOKED!! Cant wait for EP2!

[shaunmcale · 10/10 · 21 July 2023]

I've only seen the first episode so far, but I'm already SUPER hooked. The show is beautifully shot, with stunning scenery of the Tasmanian coastline. The cast is also excellent, with Dusseldorp giving a standout performance as Stella. I specially like the goat. Star character in my eyes.

What I really love about Bay of Fires is its unique blend of humor and suspense. The show is funny and heartwarming at times, but it also has a dark and twisted undercurrent. I'm really excited to see where the story goes, and I can't wait for episode 2 to drop in two days. I can't wait to see what happens next. I have a feeling that Bay of Fires is just going to be a great show. CANT WAIT!

Thank God for the low score reviews

[sherpro-13339 · 1/10 · 29 July 2023]

I was reading through the reader reviews and marvelling at the high scores of many of them.

Then I read the actual reviews and realised I must have watched a completely different show.

I don't know how that happened as the "Bay of Fires" episode I watched was based on a weak plot and every cliche in TV land.

And bad acting!

Even Marta Düsseldorf , often outstanding but at least usually at least reliable, seemed to flounder.

All the actors seemed to have this false approach where their intentions far exceeded their abilities. One of the worst was the badly-written real estate agent, who I kept wishing would get shot or something .

The state of the house with its rotting floorboards was merely ludicrous.

I thought I'd better watch Ep2 in case I'd got it all wrong, but had to give up and turn it off.

Suspense, intrigue and the West Coast

[emilyschade · 9/10 · 20 July 2023]

Bay of Fires is proving to be everything l wanted and more - Tasmania looks amazing, the suspense has me on the edge of my seat, the characterisation is quirky and I want to know them more, and it's a total escape from my reality.

I love seeing Tasmania on screen and I've never seen Queenstown look so good!

Tasmania has featured a fair bit recently in Australian productions and Bay of Fires brings a fresh approach - all small town, but so much more. It's a bit tongue in cheek which makes for a nice juxtaposition with the underlying mystery.

While we're only at the beginning, I'm excited to watch the rest of the show and see the mystery unfold.

Yawn

[wdawson-92605 · 5/10 · 27 July 2023]

I was really looking forward to this series but when I found out it was filmed in Queenstown, the other side of Tasmania from the actual Bay of Fires (look it up, nothing to do with fires), it dulled my appetite a bit. The first episode was watchable despite the obvious plot flaws, and I made it half-way through the second episode before I started fading fast. Painting the locals as scheming, inhospitable but colourful characters seems lazy and hackneyed, and a tad too Americana for my taste. Adding the obvious potential love interest - the only rational person in town - is one-dimensional and clunky, and the dodgy real estate agent is too cliched for words. With all that talent, couldn't the series have been more original and tighter? It's a no from me. I'm gratified that the Apple Isle is attracting more filming activity, and the Tasmanian scenery is often touted as the real star of anything filmed in my home state but it needs support.

Got me hooked...

[adeneyc · 8/10 · 23 July 2023]

Loved the first episode. Unexpected twists and turns left me wanting more, much more. An eclectic group of small town characters promise to develop in ways we can only speculate about for the moment. Hints of corporate corruption and serious criminal activity dangle tantalisingly for future episodes. Small town Australia (specifically Tasmania), has never looked so dark, compelling, feral, terrifying and intriguing as the tightly written script unfolds. The central character played by Marta Dusseldorp shows believable emotion as her seemingly cosy corporate world is upended in an instant...the feeling of being on a runaway train to an uncertain and dangerous future prevails. Can't wait for episode two.

Underwhelming

[sarahb1991 · 2/10 · 25 July 2023]

Having just finished the incredible Amazon series Deadloch, I was really looking forward to another high-quality series set in Tasmania.

However, the two series are sadly not of the same ilk.

Bay of Fires is underwhelming at best, at worst incredibly frustrating when you consider the Tasmanian taxpayer funding that has gone in to a show that feels like a Netflix 'home brand' series.

From the poorly written script, unlikeable characters, lacklustre acting and predictable storyline, there really aren't many positives.

I think the creatives behind the series have gotten themselves tangled up trying to decide exactly *what* this series is meant to be. Is it Tassie-noir, a drama, a black comedy? Is it even meant to be funny or are viewers just uncomfortable?

In short, I wouldn't waste your time.

Highlight: For her short screen time, Pamela Rabe's character is the singular intriguing figure in the town of Mystery Bay.

Gripping suspenseful and funny af

[scottjules · 10/10 · 22 July 2023]

Wow! What a fantastic show Bay of Fires is. With a wonderful cast of actors, talented writers and stunning cinematography, this show promises to be one of the best series on television this year. Episode 1 has me absolutely hooked and I can't wait to find out what the government in 1980s sent to Mystery Bay, as well as how all the quirky characters develop through the series. It's so lovely to watch Marta in a role outside her usual dramatic roles, she's so funny! Being shot on the wild west coast of Tasmania, there is a certain drama in the landscape I feel, beautiful as it is. It's a mystery all of its own. Judging from ep 1, we're in for a treat for the rest of the series. Love it!

Way too clichéd

[nsset · 2/10 · 29 July 2023]

Exactly as others have said, so clichéd!!

I love Toby Leonard Moore, was looking forward to seeing him. He was almost unrecognisable but at least he was believable.

Marta Düsseldorp is also usually excellent but she lays it on too thick: this out of place upper class highly educated white woman who is so naive that it's not funny, in a quaint, dank and dark Tassie town.

Huge fan of Stephen Curry but his character is annoying to the point of not being watchable. His whole schtick is not believable.

Only other hope was seeing Matt Nable but he was not visible in episode 1

I wanted to love this but no I cannot watch another minute.

Instant Classic

[Tranby_Schultz · 9/10 · 23 July 2023]

Set in the wild and isolated West coast of Tasmania, this quirky and darkly comedic show looks surely to be a classic in the making.

Having only seen the first couple of episodes, it is impossible to give a full and detailed review, but the early signs are good. Very good.

With so much media content today being made to the same tedious formula, when something original comes along that breaks the mould, I sit up and take notice. Bay of Fires does that. And it does it without showing its hand. Something is building, but I know not what. It feels like it is going to get even darker and I suspect that somehow it will keep getting funnier also.

Everything I thought it wouldn't be

[lucy_kearn · 2/10 · 6 August 2023]

Bad writing, terrible acting, completely unbelievable moments (and not unbelievable in a purposeful, comic sense - but unbelievable in a cringe, badly done sense).

Fantastic cinematography and sets rescued it from a 1 star rating.

I was so surprised and disappointed with this series - I've been looking forward to it for months, since it was initially promoted. I won't be finishing watching it - it really doesn't deserve that. So bizarre that it's turned out so badly, I would have expected otherwise with such an amazing cast, and especially with some of the writing and production decisions coming from Marta Dusseldorp.

Edit: I did finish watching it, and regret that I did. No change to my rating or review.

This show is an amazing drama! Extremely underrated!

[chxrlesy · 10/10 · 20 July 2023]

Bay of Fires is just such a joy to watch, thanks to its strong cast, sharp writing, and stunning visuals. Marta Dusseldorp is particularly excellent as Stella, bringing a depth and complexity to the role that is rarely seen in female characters in this genre. She is surrounded by a talented supporting cast, including Toby Leonard Moore, Kerry Fox, and Aaron Pedersen.

The writing on Bay of Fires is sharp and witty, with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments. But the show also has a dark edge, and it doesn't shy away from exploring difficult topics such as violence, trauma, and corruption.

The visuals are another highlight of the show. The Tasmanian wilderness is beautifully captured on screen, and the show makes great use of its remote location. The cinematography is stunning, and the show is full of memorable images.

Overall, Bay of Fires is a must-watch for fans of crime thrillers, dark comedies, and Australian television. It is a well-made, well-acted, and visually stunning show that is sure to keep you entertained from beginning to end. If you're looking for a well-made, entertaining, and thought-provoking show, then I highly recommend Bay of Fires. It's a show that I'm sure I'll be thinking about long after I've finished watching it.

Dismay of Fires

[rosebx-60362 · 3/10 · 16 July 2023]

When I found out Marta Dusseldorp was not only acting in Bay of Fires, but she also created it, and was one of the writers and producers , I thought wow, this has got to be worth watching! What a disappointment. Marta herself described it as Ozark meets Fargo meets Schitt's Creek, well I tell you what Marta, this show is definitely up the proverbial creek without a paddle. For a start, Ozark and Fargo had a lot more genuine spine tingling suspense. Some of the humour is way too predictable and there's more cheap "sight gags" than old black and white slapstick movies, like falling through rotten floorboards, running over a wallaby and walking a pet pig down the main street. I'm giving it a three star rating, one because that's the minimum stars allowed and two stars for the beautiful Tasmanian scenery.