Black Snow (TV series)

Black Snow
GenreCrime drama
Created byLucas Taylor
Written by
  • Lucas Taylor
  • Beatrix Christian
  • Boyd Quakawoot
Directed by
Starring
Country of originAustralia
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes12
Production
Executive producers
  • Rosemary Blight
  • Ben Grant
  • Kylie du Fresne
  • Cailah Scobie
  • Amanda Duthie
  • Travis Fimmel
Producers
  • Rosemary Blight
  • Lois Randall
  • Kaylene Butler
  • Milly Olrog
Cinematography
  • Eric Murray Lui
  • Mark Wareham
  • Katie Milwright
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time52 minutes
Production companyGoalpost Pictures
Original release
NetworkStan
Release1 January 2023 (2023-01-01) –
present

Black Snow is an Australian crime drama television series created by Lucas Taylor for Stan. The series is set in and filmed throughout different locations in Queensland, Australia. Each season follows a different cold case being investigated by Detective James Cormack as he struggles with his own family demons. The first season premiered on 1 January 2023 on Stan and the second season premiered on 1 January 2025. On 5 March 2026, it was renewed for a third season.

Synopsis

Season one introduces Detective James Cormack in 2019. Cormack is placed in charge of an inquiry into the cold case murder of 17-year-old Isabel Baker in 1994 in the fictional town of Ashford. A majority of the season focuses on the Australian South Sea Islander community Isabel was a part of.

Season two, subtitled "Jack of Clubs" and set in 2024, focuses on Detective Cormack investigating the missing persons case of Zoe Jacobs in 2003 in the fictional town of Moorevale. Cormack is simultaneously informally looking into the disappearance of his younger brother in 1994.[1]

Cast and characters

Main

Series 1

Series 2 (Jack of Clubs)

Series 3

Production

The first series of Black Snow was made in 2022 and directed by Matthew Saville and Sian Davies. It was written by Lucas Taylor, Boyd Quakawoot, and Beatrix Christian[2] The first season was filmed in and around Proserpine, Queensland. Ziggy Ramo made his acting debut in the first season produced the music for the series alongside along with Jed Palmer.[3][4]

On 9 April 2024, Black Snow began production for its second season, which was filmed in and around the Glass House Mountains in Queensland.[5] Fimmel serves as an executive producer for the second season and confirmed that production had wrapped on 11 November 2024.[6][7]

On 5 March 2026, the series was renewed for a third season.[8] The third season takes place in Far North Queensland.[9]

Release

Black Snow was released on Australian streaming service Stan on 1 January 2023.[10] It was renewed for a second season on 12 March 2024,[11] which premiered on 1 January 2025.[12]

In the United States, the series was released on Sundance Now and AMC+.[13] In the United Kingdom, the show aired on BBC Four in August 2023 and BBC Two in April 2025, and was released as catch-up on BBC iPlayer.[14]

Reception

The Sydney Morning Herald's Karl Quinn wrote that "Black Snow is a Trojan horse of a show. It's an effective crime drama that does pretty much all you could ask of it. But lurking inside there's a whole legion of more challenging ideas."[10] Luke Buckmaster of The Guardian gave it three stars, saying it is "a mostly well-made murder mystery that starts strong but runs out of gas as it approaches its twist-filled ending".[15]

Awards

Logie Awards of 2023
Year Category Nominee Result Ref
2023 Most Outstanding Drama Series, Miniseries or Telemovie Black Snow Nominated [16]
Most Outstanding Supporting Actor Alexander England Nominated
13th AACTA Awards
Year Category Nominee Result Ref
2024 Best Drama Series Black Snow Nominated [17]
Best Lead Actor in a Drama Travis Fimmel
Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Alexander England
Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Brooke Satchwell
Best Screenplay in Television Lucas Taylor (Episode 1)
Best Production Design in Television Helen O'Loan (Episode 1)
Best Sound in Television Mark Cornish, Tom Heuzenroeder, Justin Spasevski, Robert Mackenzie (Episode 6)
58th AWGIE Awards
Year Category Nominee Result Ref.
2026 Television – Series Lucas Taylor ("Running") Pending [18]

References

  1. ^ Knox, David (12 November 2024). "Black Snow: trailer". TV Tonight. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
  2. ^ Buckmaster, Luke (31 December 2022). "Black Snow review – Australian murder mystery has a corker of a premise". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
  3. ^ Disalvo, Tom (14 December 2022). "Ziggy Ramo to make screen debut in Stan series 'Black Snow' premiering New Year's Day". NME. Retrieved 19 January 2025.
  4. ^ "Black Snow Jack of Clubs (2024)". Screen Australia. Retrieved 19 January 2025.
  5. ^ Knox, David (9 April 2024). "Black Snow filming S2 in Queensland". TV Tonight. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
  6. ^ Laidlaw, Kyle (11 November 2024). "Stan Releases Black Snow Season 2 Trailer as Travis Fimmel Steps Behind the Camera". TV Blackbox. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
  7. ^ Wigney, James (5 December 2024). "Travis Fimmel: Dune Prophecy star on Black Snow, making beer and putting Australia first". Herald Sun. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  8. ^ Hopewell, John (4 March 2026). "Vikings Star Travis Fimmel Back For Black Snow Season 3, With AMC Networks Partnering for North America (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 4 March 2026.
  9. ^ Knox, David (5 March 2026). "Renewed: Black Snow | TV Tonight". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 5 March 2026.
  10. ^ a b Quinn, Karl (29 December 2022), "Black Snow might be the Australian history lesson you never knew you needed", The Sydney Morning Herald
  11. ^ Knox, David (12 March 2024). "Stan unveils bumper Originals slate". TV Tonight. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  12. ^ Knox, David (24 October 2024). "Returning: Black Snow". TV Tonight. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
  13. ^ Knox, David (12 July 2022). "Filming underway on upcoming Stan drama, Black Snow". TV Tonight. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  14. ^ Knox, David (11 August 2023). "Black Snow drifts to BBC Four". TV Tonight. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  15. ^ Buckmaster, Luke (1 January 2023). "Black Snow review – Australian murder mystery has a corker of a premise". The Guardian.
  16. ^ Kelly, Vivienne (19 June 2023), "Logie Awards 2023: Full List of Nominees Revealed", Variety
  17. ^ "Winners & Nominees". Aacta.org. AACTA Awards. 8 December 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  18. ^ Slatter, Sean (21 January 2026). "AWGIE nominations for 'Together' ,'The Roses' as final seasons of 'Bump', 'The Newsreader' recognised". IF Magazine. Retrieved 1 February 2026.