“Better Than Endeavour”: Scrublands Is The Gripping Detective Drama That Could Keep You Binge-Watching All Night

Fans of dark mysteries, shocking revelations and brilliantly constructed crime stories may have found their next obsession. Scrublands, the BBC detective drama adapted from Chris Hammer’s award-winning novels, has drawn comparisons to acclaimed series such as Endeavour, with an unsettling atmosphere and a mystery that becomes more disturbing the deeper its central character investigates.

Starring Luke Arnold as investigative journalist Martin Scarsden, the Australian drama begins with a shocking crime in a drought-stricken rural town. What initially appears to be a straightforward assignment soon develops into a dangerous search for the truth, with secrets that threaten to overturn everything the community believes.

With both series available to stream on BBC iPlayer, Scrublands offers crime drama fans two seasons of suspense, complex investigations and unexpected turns.

What Is Scrublands About?

BBC

Based on Chris Hammer’s award-winning novels, Scrublands opens in Riversend, an isolated town in rural Australia still haunted by a devastating act of violence.

A charismatic young priest, played by Jay Ryan, calmly opens fire on his congregation, killing five parishioners. The shocking incident leaves the community searching for answers, but the full story remains far from clear.

A year later, investigative journalist Martin Scarsden, played by Luke Arnold, arrives in Riversend to cover the anniversary of the killings. His assignment initially appears straightforward: report on the tragedy and the town’s efforts to move forward.

However, Martin soon discovers that the accepted version of events may not tell the whole story. As he follows new leads and questions what others have taken for granted, the investigation grows increasingly dangerous. What began as a routine reporting assignment becomes a race against time, forcing Martin to push himself to the limit as he searches for the truth.

The first series builds its tension around the mystery surrounding the shootings, gradually revealing a much more complicated story beneath the surface. Its dark atmosphere and carefully developed plot make it particularly appealing to viewers who enjoy crime dramas in which every new discovery raises further questions.

BBC

What Happens In Series Two, Scrublands: Silver?

The mystery continues in the second instalment, Scrublands: Silver, which was released in the UK last year.

This time, Martin returns to Silver, the town where he grew up, after his old school friend Jasper Speight is murdered. The investigation becomes deeply personal when Martin’s partner, Mandy, played by Bella Heathcote, emerges as the main suspect.

Convinced that Mandy is innocent, Martin sets out to establish what really happened. One of his first priorities is to prove that someone spiked her drink and deliberately attempted to frame her for the murder.

With his relationship and his professional instincts pulling him into the investigation, Martin must work to uncover the truth before the accusations against Mandy become impossible to overcome.

The second series shifts the setting and the circumstances surrounding the central mystery while keeping Martin at the heart of the story. His return to familiar territory adds another personal dimension to an investigation in which the identity of the real killer remains the crucial question.

Who’s In The Cast Of Scrublands?

BBC

The series features a cast of familiar faces from Australian and international television, led by Luke Arnold as journalist Martin Scarsden.

The main cast includes:

• Luke Arnold (Black Sails)
• Jay Ryan (Top of the Lake)
• Bella Heathcote (Relic)
• Robert Taylor (The Newsreader)
• Luke Carroll (Mystery Road: Origin)
• Debra Lawrance (Fisk)
• Toby Truslove (The Strange Calls)
• Sarah Roberts (Home and Away)
• Adam Zwar (Squinters)
• Zane Ciarma (Neighbours)
• Victoria Thaine (Nowhere Boys)
• Stacy Clausen (True Spirit)
• Genevieve Morris (No Activity)

Luke Arnold anchors the drama as a journalist whose determination to investigate the facts repeatedly draws him into dangerous situations. Jay Ryan plays the young priest at the centre of the first series’ devastating crime, while Bella Heathcote takes on a pivotal role in the second season as Martin’s partner, whose involvement in a murder investigation threatens to turn his own life upside down.

Is There A Trailer For Scrublands?

Yes. Viewers can get a first look at the series in the official trailer, featuring Luke Arnold as Martin Scarsden and offering a glimpse of the rural Australian setting and the dark mystery at the heart of the story.

Scrublands feat. Luke Arnold Official Trailer | New Series Premieres May 2 | AMC+ and Sundance Now

Is Scrublands Any Good?

BBC

For viewers who appreciate detective dramas with an unsettling atmosphere and mysteries that reward close attention, Scrublands is well worth considering.

The adaptation captures the spirit of Chris Hammer’s novels while building a tense television mystery around Martin’s investigation. Compared with Endeavour and Shetland, the series takes a darker approach, but its carefully constructed plotting helps keep the story compelling rather than overwhelming.

The first season is particularly suited to viewers who enjoy a dramatic finale, building towards an explosive conclusion that brings the investigation to a head.

Its combination of a remote Australian setting, a community struggling with a terrible crime and a journalist determined to question the official story gives the series a distinctive identity among detective dramas.

Rather than relying solely on the initial tragedy, the story gradually reveals why the case is more complicated than it first appears. That steady unravelling of the mystery is a major part of the show’s appeal, especially for viewers who like piecing together clues alongside the central character.

How Can I Watch Scrublands?

Both series of Scrublands, including the second instalment, Scrublands: Silver, are available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

What Other Detective Dramas Can I Watch Now?

Fox

If you’ve already watched Scrublands and are looking for another crime drama to add to your watchlist, there are several other series worth exploring.

Gracepoint

Fans of Broadchurch may enjoy Gracepoint, the American remake featuring David Tennant returning as the lead detective.

Although the story shares much of its foundation with the original British series, Gracepoint takes a somewhat different emotional approach. Its drama is not quite as devastatingly intense, making it an alternative for viewers who enjoy small-town mysteries but prefer something less emotionally punishing.

Gracepoint is available to stream on Prime Video.

In The Dark

Another option is In the Dark, a BBC crime drama centred on detective Helen Weeks, played by MyAnna Buring.

Helen is an intelligent but troubled investigator whose professional responsibilities become more complicated when she faces an unexpected pregnancy. The series follows her as she navigates the challenges surrounding her personal life and her work.

The drama has also earned praise from the original article’s reviewer, who considers it the BBC’s best series since Shetland.

All four episodes of In the Dark are available on BBC iPlayer.

Whether you’re drawn to the mystery of a seemingly inexplicable crime, the pressure of a dangerous investigation or the personal stakes facing a determined detective, these series offer plenty to explore. For viewers looking for their next crime drama binge, Scrublands is a compelling place to start.