A newly-released ABC drama series filmed on Tasmania’s West Coast is copping significant criticism from viewers.
In the show ‘Bay of Fires’, Anika Van Cleef – played by Marta Dusseldorp, a successful and powerful CEO, faces betrayal from her partner, Johann, leading to an attempted murder plot against her and her children.
To evade the danger, Anika and her 2 kids are forced to move to the secluded town of Mystery Bay in Tasmania, known for its obscurity and lack of appeal to outsiders.
The show revolves around their struggle to adapt to this new life while dealing with the ongoing threat.
The Tasmanian Government provided $1.5 million in funding for the production of Bay of Fires, partly in an attempt to bolster Tasmania’s screen presence on the national stage.
Episode 2 of the show aired on the ABC last night, but some Tasmanians say they are concerned the show could be painting the state in a bad light.
“Anyone else concerned that Tasmanians are portrayed as psychopathic weirdos and that Tourism Tasmania will have a whole new challenge?” asked one social media user on Sunday Night.
National viewers took to Twitter to share their thoughts on the show – with some calling it “unwatchable”, and others pointing out ‘several continuity errors’.
“I tried. But Bay of Fires is really just sh*t,” a Twitter user said.
“Such a cast, but so poor,” said another.
Despite being only 2 episodes in, Bay of Fires has already been given the green light for a second season.
The show comes off the back of Southern Tasmanian crime mystery Deadloch, which wrapped up streaming on Amazon Prime a week before the first episode of Bay of Fires aired
Deadloch, which was filmed around the Huon and Channel region of Greater Hobart, received rave reviews – including a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score.
Bay of Fires airs on ABC TV & iView, Sunday nights from 8:30 PM.
