The run of the thriller series “The Last Frontier” on Apple TV+ has now come to an official end. The platform has decided to cancel the show after only one season, putting to rest any hopes of seeing this drama, led by Jason Clarke, continue for a second season. This ends the story for a show that launched with a compelling idea and big-name talent, but simply failed to find its niche.
Clarke played the lead role of Frank Remnick, a tough U.S. Marshal who is posted in the deep Alaskan backcountry, tasked with keeping the peace in this vast and untamed land. When a prison transport plane goes down in the woods, a huge number of deadly convicts are let loose on the surrounding countryside, and Remnick starts off trying to protect the local town, but soon comes to realize that the plane crash is just the beginning of a deadly conspiracy.
A promising setup in a harsh setting
On paper, The Last Frontier had all the elements to become a success. The setting of the series in such a beautiful Alaskan landscape provided a great backdrop to the story. The mystery at its core was expected to provide more complexity as the series progressed. The series premiered on Apple TV+ on October 10 with its first season comprising a total of ten episodes. The series already boasted a talented cast with Dominic Cooper, Haley Bennett, Simone Kessell, Dallas Goldtooth, Tait Blum, and Alfre Woodard.
However, the critical response was that the follow-through did not live up to the promise. While the early episodes promised a rapidly paced and intense experience, the show soon toned down and paced itself accordingly. Instead of building on the explosive premise, the storyline allowed the constrained story resources to stretch out over the entire season.
Why the story didn’t break through
In The Hollywood Reporter, reviewer Daniel Fienberg noted how the series premiered during a point in time where viewers craved escapism and excitement, only for it to offer “something much more muted in return.” Fienberg stated how the series “relied too heavily on telegraphed twists, military parlance, and home-front melodrama,” so much so that it left most of its dramatic possibilities on the table, even with its seasoned cast and talented creatives on board.
The Last Frontier had some strong talent behind its production, thanks to its creation by writers Jon Bokenkamp and Richard D’Ovidio and director and executive producer Sam Hargrave. The program will be joining many recent big ideas in streaming television that failed to be viable in this increasingly difficult landscape.
