In a television world with hundreds of different law enforcement thrillers like “True Detective,” or “Fargo,” it is tough to keep shows new and inventive. This is the very issue that Apple TV+’s newest series, “The Last Frontier,” has run into, with the only apparent change being the actual setting.
Taking place in Alaska, “The Last Frontier” follows the grizzled U.S. Marshal Frank Remnick (Jason Clarke), who happens upon a crashed prison transport plane in the snowy tundra and must then try to protect his family and city from the hundreds of escapees running amok. As Remnick attempts to capture each prisoner, he begins to uncover a deeper plot in place involving the purposeful crashing of the plane and the transport of one exceptionally dangerous convict.
The show attempts to go beyond the generic story of a cop chasing bad guys by bringing in more espionage-based elements, introducing a decent villain in the turncoat spy Havlock (Dominic Cooper). Remnick and Havlock play a slow game of cat and mouse throughout the season, while Remnick and his team track a different escapee each episode. This structure helps to push the plot forward without constantly introducing new characters and motivations.
Beyond the more standard beats and scenes, the show does have certain standout elements. In an interview with the University News, Dallas Goldtooth, a series cast member who plays U.S. Marshal Hutch, shared how the show maintained high levels of realism throughout production. Sam Hargraves, former stuntman and the director of the hit action franchise “Extraction,” acted as executive producer for the show and helped flesh out the fights with tense and gripping action.
“We spent a week on just the first main fight sequence, choreographing everything ourselves,” Goldtooth said. “It was intense, but fun.”
The series starts off very strong, with large stakes being developed very quickly. Remnick is fully thrown into the action within the first 20 minutes, beginning his hunt for the criminals while trying his best not to lose his family and comrades. Remnick and Havlock are both solidly fleshed out, primarily through flashback sequences that help give the main hero and villain some necessary nuance.
Compared to other series from Apple TV+, this show certainly has more of the traditional crime drama aspects, hitting several character tropes like the grizzled old cop and the mysterious government employee femme fatale.
”True Detective: Night Country” from 2024 also used the Alaskan tundra setting to show the loneliness and solitude of its characters. “The Last Frontier,” however, uses it more for the cold terrain, never really letting the characters feel isolated and desperate.
Alaska also has a massive Native American and Indigenous population, so Goldtooth shared how he was honored to represent these people in the show.
“I spoke with many of them before filming, learning from [them] and making sure my performance was accurate,” Goldtooth said. “I find this type of realism very important.”
It is clear from the entire cast’s performances that these realistic elements have helped to elevate the more conventional plot.
While the show is formulaic, it is still an interesting watch. There are solid performances and a strong overarching mystery that keep viewers engaged. As of October’s end, only the first half have been released so far. With more episodes releasing weekly, there is still plenty of time to catch the action on Apple TV+.
